Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-10-20
Selected Mgistellanp,
A POT OF MONEY.


Scudder, and sometimes in moments Of
great exultation-for he was modest
youth, as every true lover should be-
he had dared to think that she did not
frown upon his passion But she was
the Squire's daughter and an heiress.
while Ezra was but a small farmer, and
so far from successful in that pursuit
that it seemed absurd as well as impos-
sible that he should aspire to the hand
of the lovely Miss Scudder, who had
been courted in vain even by fine city
gentlemen. So he had sighed and cast
longing looks from his place in the
choir, where he sang in a fine tenor voice
on Sunday. into Squire's pew, and more
than once he thought pretty Clara blush
ed very brightly, and he knew we'll
enough that she always smiled swcetly,
and her voice when she spoke to him,
had caressing sound, and altogether
her manner towards him was not dis
couraging.
But Ezra would not be encouraged ;.
He felt that it was useless for him to
ask the Squire for his daughters hand
unless he had good pot of money in
his own hand with which to back his
proposal. So, instead of trying to com
pass the desired end by increased indus
try, he neglected his little farm more
than before and spent his whole time in
wishing that he could find apot of money
somehow, in the manner of old-fashioned
stories-at the foot of tree, or the
foundation of his house. believe he
he would even have sought for it at the
end of the rainbow, like the boy in the
nursery rhyme, if he had been told there
was good chance of finding it there.
Suddenly rumor spread about that ;
wonderful gypsy had appeared, who wal
telling peoples fortunes that came tru'
in the most remarkable manner, and al
the country side was in state Of excite
ment on the subject. She was of some
what exclusive character, this MADAM
Gypsy, and could only be consulted in I
certain place, in the shadow of
wychelm, in the open air, and during
certain hours, these hours being between
the last rays of the declining sun and tn
first shadows of the coming night.
Of course, the rumor Of the gypsy
marvellous fortune telling reached Err
Alden, and equally, of course, he wa
much exercised in mind concerning it
He found out the place where the for
tune teller OWNED these fair fortunes
and one evening, after watching the SUI
slowly disappear behind the western
hills, he repaired tbither, stcalthily, ant
little afraid Of meeting Clara Scudde
somewhere in the vicinity for the wycheln
was on the further side on the Squire
farm. However, he met no one, cx
cept hurried squirrel, fast speeding t.
its home, and it was even more frightenet
at being met than Ezra was, so he hasten
ed to the wychelm and there sure enough
was the madam gypsy. sitting curled u
against the trunk, and looking precisel.
as if she were waiting for him She wa
very old woman, bent almost double
her lined and wrinkled face was tn
color of butternut, and the tangles 0
her hair hung in elf-likc, grizzled locks
about her brow and over her cheeks, bu
her black eyes bad wonderful brlllianc
! and such a keen look that they seemed :
, see right tbro' him. She was wrappe
in a tattered old scarlet cloak and hoo
Of the same was drawn well over be
head. She gave a quick nod to Ezra, an
r motioned him to take seat at he
feet, which he did with bis heart thump
, ing as if be were before the Delphi
! oracle. And when she spoke he had +
bend bis head and listen very attcntivcly
for not only did she mutter her words j
a very toothless fashion, but she spoke i
so low tone that he had some difficult
in hearing her. But he made out tina
= she said:
Il was expecting you, my sou. and
know what you came for And the
e she held out hand even more butLernu
than her face-a shaking and tremulou
J. hand and Ezra made haste to cross th
e palm with silver, that being, as be kneV
). the time-bonored custom This happier
ed before we had begun the return
specie basis, and silver was scarce. b.
Ezra had in bis pocket half-dollar piec
With hole in il, and cross drawn {
its face. which he had kept many yea
for luck. So, as there could be no mo
auepIeious occasion than the the prese