The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-09-20

i
hearing her. But be made out thai
she said:
Il was expecting you my sou, and
know what you come for;" and then
she held ouss hand even more butter
nut than hefsfaec shaking and t-emu-
lous hand; and Ezra made haste to
cross the pain with silver, that being,
as be knew she time honored custom.
This happe1sd before we had begun
the return tosspecie basis; and silver
was scarce, but Ezra had in his poek-
ct half dollar piece with a hole in
it, and q cross drawn on its face,
which be had kept many years for
luck. So, asthere could be no more
suspicious occasion than the present
tor using it, b timidly placed ii in
the gipsy's hand, and again bent his
ear attentively to listen to ber unin-
telligible mumbling.
Il know the desire of your heart,
my pretty gentleman, said the gipsy
"It is certsin maiden not hundred
miles away, only You have the faint
heart that seldom wins fair lady.
But if you cduld find pot of money,
your spirit would be bolder. Listen
TO me, and obey me, and you shall
have your Wish"
Ezra did listen, with all his ears,
and as you nay suppose, they were
just then pretiy long and wide, aud
capable of taking in large amount.
You must dig up every foot of
land you possess," proceeded the
gypsy; you mustn't grow weary in
your search-you must dig and dig,
continuously, ,and plant and harvest,
and dig again, if necessary; and, mark
my words, before very long time,
you will find The pot of money, and
the maiden will be yours"
Ezra listened with faith, and de-
parted with joy in his heart He full
filled the fortune teller's igjunctions
so well, that all the country side took
to talking Of him after the gypsy dis
appeared.-He not only dug, but be
ploughed and sowed and narrowed
be seemed taken with sudden mania
for farming and work, which before
had seemed distasteful and monoto-
nous, now, that he bad an object in
view, was full of excitement and
interest. At 6rst be dug and dug,
looking for bK pot Of money; but as
it did no: turn up. be continued to
dig, full of faith. and growing every
day more interested in his own ef
forts. ~
What on iarth has got into Ezra
Elden?" aske1 the neighbors, one Of
another. Why has be taken to
working liIn all possessed? He's
hired a man, 100, and the pair of 'em
are at it fronlsthe FIRST dawn of day
light to nishqAlln = ssse 4.
{, "Whafever has got into BIN be IL
going to have the best crops of the
year." answered one. Lucky fel-
low. Just when there going to be
rise in -four, too, and be has no end
of wheat growing. and in splendid
condition"
"Why, Clara, isn't that Ezra FL
denis farm?" asked the squire as his
daughter one day drove him past it,
iu her pretty pony carriage.
"Yes sir, returned Clara, with
faint pink stealing into her clear, pale
cheek.
"Has some one else farmed it
theng" asked the squire There
isn't another farm around here fit to
compare with it."
The pink in Clara's cheek deepened
to lovely crimson
20, no, papa" she said softly, sit
seems Ezra-Mr Eden, has just de-
veloped sudden talent for farming"
"And very first rate talent, |
should say,n said the old gentleman
a man who can show such a farm
as that, can bold his head as high as
any one,"
Clara's eyes glowed and sparkled.
She touched her ponies lightly; and |
her happy thought rushed off into the
future at pace 10 rival even their
fast trotting
As the neighbors had foretold,
Ezra Eden bid particularly fine crops
that season; and bis success at farm
ing having also developed his COM
mercial ability, be sold all be had to
sell to excellent advantage
"Well," said Ezra, as be counted |
bis gains, and tied them securely in
his money bag, IL haven't found my |
pot of money, but this little pile is
rot TO be despised, and ! shall keep
on. By George! l wonder if this is
what the old gipsy meant"
Ezra had some time on his hands
now for dreaming; and be took to
signing for Clara once more, but 10
a much more hopeful spirit.
Il will speak to her father" be
thought; and if be gives me encour-
agement | will ask Clara, plump, if
she viii marry me-"
Now some young men would bave
thought it safer to win the daughters
consent first; bat Ezra was too honor
able for that
If the squire won't have me-" be
said to himself, fits 40 use to ask
Clara. She would never disobey
her father. | shouldn't care half as
much for her if she would"
So be took mis- money bag in his
hand aud sought the presence ofsluire
Scudder
The squire sat reading volume OF
The Piek~ick papers 10 bis handsome
old fashioned parlorj and being in a
very genial mood, be received Ezra
with the most encouraging kindness,
and listened to all be had to say with
q benignant smile.
1T is not a great deal" concluded
Ezra. holding up bis money bag,
but there's p.enty more where
fouud this SIR"
And pray where did you fad it,
Mr. Aldens" asked the squire, rather
taken back i
AT the roots of my wheat and
barley" answered Ezra; adding, With
a laugh. ITO tell the truth, sir, 1 con-
suited q fortune teller, and she told
mo m dig aod dio and uoutd cor