The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-04-07
THE POT OF GOLD.

Elder Boyd, though very good man
in the main, and looked up to with re-
spect by all the inhabitants of the vii
lage of Oldville, was rumored to have,
in Yankee parlance, pretty sharp look
out Tor the main chance, n popularity
from which elders are not always eX-
empt.
In worldly matters he was decidedly
well-to-do, having inherited fine farm
from his father, which was growing
yearly more and more valuable. 1t
might be supposed that under these
circumstances the elder, who was fully
able to do so, would have found help
mate to share his house and name.
But the elder was wary. Matrimony
was to him, i'll some measure, matter
of money, and it was his firm resolve
not to marry unless he could thereby
enchance his worldly prosperity. I'M
happily, the little village of Oldville and
the towns in the immediate vicinity con-
tanned few who were qualified in the i'm
portant particular, and of those there
were probably none with whom the ell
der's suit would have prospered. So it
happened that year after year passed
away, until Elder Boyd was in the
prime of life-forty- or thereabouts
and still unmarried, and likely to
remain So But in all human
calculation of this kind, they reckon i'll
who leave widows out.
Elder Boyds nearest neighbor was q
widow.
The Widow Hayes, who had passed
through matrimonial experience, was
some four years younger than Elder
Boyd She was still buxom, comedy
woman, as widows are apt to be.
Unfortunately the late Mr.. Hayes had
not been able to leave her sufficient to
make her independent of the world. All
that she possessed was the small, old
fashioned house in which she lived, and
a small amount of money, which was in
sufficient to support her and little son
of 6, likewise to be enumerated in the
schedule of her property, though hardly
to be classed as productive of any
thing but mischief.
The widow was therefore obliged to
take care of three boarders to exc out
her scanty income, which, of course, i'm
posed upon her considerable labor and
anxiety.
Is it surprising that under these cir
cumstances she should now and then
have bethought herself of second mar
rage as method of lettering her con-
ditlon? Or again, need we esteem it a
special wonder if, in her reflections
upon this point, she should have cast her
eyes upon her next neighbor. Elder
Boyd? The elder. as we have already
SAID, was in fourishing circumstances.
He would be able to maintain wife in
great comfort, and, being one of the
chief personages in the village, could ac-
cord her prominent social posi-
tior. He was not especially handsome,
or calculated TO make a profound i'm
preston upon the female heart ; this was
true, but he was of a good disposition,
kind-hearted, and would no doubt make
very good sort of husband. Widows
are, take it (if any shall do me the
honor to read this story, / trust they
will forgive the remark) less disposed to
weigh sentiment in a second alliance
than first, and so, in the widows
point Of view, Elder Boyd was very
desirable match.
Some sagacious person, however, has
observed that it takes two to make q
match, a fact to be seriously considered:
for in the present case it was exceed
ingly doubtful whether the worthy
elder, even il he had known the favora-
BILE opinion of his next neighbor, would
have been inclined to propose changing
her name to Boyd, unless, indeed, a
suitable motive was brought to bear
upon him. Here was chance for lit
tie managing, wherein widows are said,
as a general thing, to be expert.
One evening, after a day of fatiguing
labor, Widow Hayes sat at the fire in the
sittng-room, with her feet resting on the
fender.
Z" IL ever I am situated 80 rs not to
have to work so hard" she murmured,
CT shall be happy. It's q hard life,
keeping boarders. III was only as well
of rs Elder Boyd"
Still the widow kept up her thinking,
and by-and-by her face frightened. She
had an idea which Shs esolved to put