Middletown transcript., 1877-07-21

phie oracle.
And when she spoke, he had to
bend his head and listen very atten-
lively, for not only did she mutter her
words in a very toothless fashion, but
she spoke in so low tone that he had
some difficulty in hearing her.
But he made out that she said
aI was expecting you, my son, and 1
know what you come for"
And then she held out hand even
more brown than her face-a shaking
and trembling hand.
Then Ezra made haste to cross the
palm with silver, that being as he well
knew, the time-honored custom.
Ezra had in his pocket a halferown
piece with hole in it and a cross
drawn on its face, which he had kept
many years for luck.
So, as there could be no more auspi-
cious occasion than the present for
using it, he timidly placed it in the
gypsys hand, and again bent his ear
attentively to listen to her almost un-
ineligible mumbling.
q know the desire of your heart,
my pretty gentleman" said the gypsy.
at is a certain maiden not a hundred
miles away, only you have the faint
heart that seldom wins fair lady,
But if you could 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 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 land
you possess" proceeded the gypsy
"you must not grow weary in your
search-you must dig and dig contin-
uously, and plant and harvest, and dig
again, if necessary and mark my
words, sooner or later, you will tind
the pot of money and the maiden will
be yours"
Ezra listened with faith and depart
ed with joy in his heart.
He fulfilled the fortnne-teller's in
junction So we'll that all the country
side took to talking Of him after the
gypsy disappeared.
He not only dug, but he plowed, and
sowed, and narrowed
He seemed taken with sudden
mania for farming and work, which
before had been distasteful and mon
otonous, now that he had an object in
view, was full of excitement and in
terest.
At first he dug and dug, looking for
his pot of money; but as it did not
turn up, he continued to dig, full Of
faith, and growing every day more in
terested in his own efforts.
"What in the world has got into
Ezra Alden ~ asked the neighbors
one of another. @Why he has taken
to working like one possessed. He's
hired man, too, and the pair Of EN-
are at it from the first dawn Of day
light to nightfall."
Whatever has got into him, he is
going to have the best crops Of the
year." answered one. Lucky fellow.
Just when there's going to be a rise in
-four, too, and be has no end Of wheat
growing, and in splendid condition"
4Why, Clara, isn't that Ezra Alden's
farm n said the Squire, as his daugh-
ter one day drove him past it in her
pretty pony carriage.
Eyes, sir" she replied, with a faint
pink stealing into her clear pale cheek.
@Has some one else farmed it?
There isn't another farm around here
fit to compare with it.
The pink in Clara's cheek deepened
to lovely crimson.
"Oh, no, papa" she said softly, "it
seems Ezra-Mr. Alden-has just de-
veloped sudden talent for farming"
sAnd a very first-rate talent, Ishould
say. A man who can show such
farm as that can hold his head as high
as any one
Clara's eyes glowed and sparkled.
She touched her ponies lightly. Her
happy thoughts rushed off into the
future at a pace to rival their fast
trotting.
As the neighbor had foretold, Ezra
Alden had particularly fine crops that
season.
His success at farming having also
developed his commercial ability, he
sold all he had to sell at excellent adj
vantage.
"Well, said Ezra, as he counted his
gains and tied them securely in his
money bag, Il havn't got my pot Of
money, but this little pile is not to be
despised, and shall keep on. By
Georgel | wonder if this is what the
old gypsy meant? ?"
Ezra had some time on his hands
for dreaming. He took to signing for
Clara once more, but in much more