The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-02-09

no more auspicious occasion than the pres
ent for using it, he tmidly placed it in the
| gipsy's hand, and again bent his ear atten
lively to listen to her unintelligible mum
| bling.
81 know the desire Of your heart, my
pretty gentleman" said the gypsy. at is a
| certain maiden not a hundred miles away,
wins fair lady. Blu. if you could find a
! 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 may suppose, they were just then pretty
long and wide and capable of taking in a
large amount.
"You must dig up every foot Of ground
you possess" proceeded the gipsy; "you
mustn't grow weary in your search you
must dig and dig continuously, and plant
and harvest and, mark my words, before a
very long time,you will find the pot of mon
ey, and the maiden will be yours"
Ezra listened with faith, and departed
with joy in his heart. He fulfilled the for
tune teler's inunctons 50 well that all the
country side took to talking of him after the
gypsy had disappeared. He not only dug,
but he ploughed, sowed and narrowed he
seemed taken with a sudden mania for farm
ing and work, which before had seemed dis
tasteful and monotonous, and now that he
had an object in view, was full of excite
ment and interest. AT first he dug and dug.
looking for his pot of money; hut as it did
not turn up, he continued to dig, full of faith
and growing every day more interested in
| his own efforts.
"What on earth has got into Ezra Arden %
asked the neighbors, one and another.
| "Why has he taken to working like all pos
| sessed? He's hired man, too, and the
pair of 'em are ut it from the first dawn of
daylight to nightfall"
whatever has got into him he is going
to have the best crops of the year." answer
ed one. Lucky fellow. Just when there's
going to be rise in flour, too, and he has
no end of wheat growing, and in splendid
condition"
"Why, Clara isn't that Ezra Ardens
farm ?' asked the squire, as his daughter
one day drove past it, in her pretty pony
carriage.
"Yes, sir" returned Clara, with faint
pink stealing into her clear, pale cheek.
Has some one else farmed it then %
asked the squire. "There isn't another farm
around here fit to compare with it."
The pink in Clara's cheek deepened to a
lovely crimson.
"Oh, no, papa" she said softly, sit seems
Ezra-Mr. Arden, has developed sudden
talent for farming"
And very iirst-rate talent, should say, y
said the old gentleman. "A man who can
show such farm as that eau hold hi, head
aS high Is any one"
Clara eyes glowel and sparl'el. Sut
touched her pouie- gntiy, and her hap, )
thoughts rushed off into the future IL pace
to rival even their fast lrolting
As the neighbors had toretold, Ezra Al.
den had particularly fine crops that season
and his success at farming having also de.
veloped his commercial ability, he sold al
that he had to sell to excellent advantage.
"Well, t" said Ezra, as he counted his gain.
and tied them securely in his money bags
81 haven't found my pot of money, but thi
little pile is not to be despised, and shal
deep on. By George! ! wonder if this il
what the old gypsy meant"
Ezra had some time on his hands now 70
dreaming, and he took to signing for Clari
once more, but in much more hopefu
spirit.
81 will speak to her father" he thought
'and if he gives me encouragement will asl
Clara plump if she will marry me"
Now some young men would have though
it safer to win the daughters consent first
but Ezra was too honorable for that.
off the squire won't have me" he said t,
himself, "it's no use to ask Clara. She
would never disobey her father. shouldn'
care half as much for her if she would"
So he took the money bag in his hand an,
sought the presence of Squire Scudder.
The squire sat reading volume of the
Pickwick papers in his handsome old, fash
ioned parlor; and being in very genia
mood he received Ezra with the most en-
couraging kindness, and listened to all tina
lie had to say with a b .nignant smile.
at is not great deal, concluded Ezri
holdingup his money bag, "but there's plen
ty more here found this, sir"
"And pray, where did you find il, Mr. Ar
den?" asked the squire ratoer taken aback.
AT the roots of my wheat and barley,
answered Ezra, adding, with a laugh, "T'
tell the truth, sir, consulted fortune tel
Ter, and she told me to dig and dig, and
would certainly find pot of money.
haven't found it yet, but | intend to keel
digging, and don't doubt but shall fin,
it by and by"
Squire Scudder burst into hearty laugh
and kindly patted Ezra on the shoulder
II don't doubt but you will my lad, h,
said cheerily. "Honest industry is the bes
pot of money any young man ever found
As for Clara you can talk the matter owe
with herself-she's sitting there by the win
dow, hidden behind the curtains"
Now, that was dreadful mean of tn
squire, not to have given Ezra hint o
Clara's presense before but he didn't mea
it. 1t seems quite impossible for these ger
tlemen to realize how serious such matter
are to boys and girls.
Squire Scudder rose with nod and
smile, and went away, leaving Ezra in din
confusion, staring at the window curtain
and wishing the floor would open and swa
low him. But it didn't. Instead the VIII
dow curtains opened and lovely young Ii
dy stepped out from them.
80, Mr., Arden she said, coming forwar
; you consulted the gypsy fortune telle
= too ?"
80, Miss Scudder-Clara- have hear
everything" stammered Ezra, sinking In