The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-28
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 for the main chance, peculiarly
from which elders are not always eI-
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. II
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, in some measure, a matter
of money, and 1t was his firm resolve
not TO marry unless he could thereby
enchance his worldly prosperity. Un-
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 -four, or thereabouts
and still unmarried, and likely to
remain 80. But in all human
calculation of this kind, they reckon Ill
who leave widows out.
: Elder Boyd's 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 a buxOm, comelY
xxnrnon oa ri1orxc ora ont 70, he
Unfortunately the late Mr.. Hayes hsd
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 shehved, and
a small amount of money, vhlch was IN
sufficient to support her snd little son
of 6, likewise to be epamerated In the
schedule of her proprty, though hardly
to be classed as productive OF any
thing but mischSf.
The widow was therefore obliged to
take care of three boarders TO eke out
her scantyincome, which, of course, i'm
posed upon her considerable labor and
anxiety.
X it surprising that under these cir
czmstances she should now and then
nave bethought herself of second mar
riage as a method of bettering her con-
dition? Or again, need we esteem it .
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 fiourishing 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 q prominent social posi-
tor. 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 good disposition,
kind hearted, and would no doubt make
. very good sort of husband. Widows
are, I take it Gf any shall do me the
honor to read this story, 1 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, fact to be seriously considered;
for in the present case it was exceed
ingly doubtful whether the worthy
elder, even if 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 a chance for lit
tie manasing, wherein widows are said,
: as genera thing, to be expert.
one evening, after day of fatiguing
iapor, widow Eayes sat at the fire in the
sitting-room, witt her feet resting on the
fender.
"H ever am srqated 80 as not to
have to work SO hard, she murmured,
''I shall be happy. Its a hard life.
keeping boarders. If was onlv as well
off as Elder Boyd"
Still the widow kept up her thinking.
and by-and-by her face brighteaed. she
had an idea which she resolved to put
into execution at the earliest possible
moment. What it was the reader win
discover in the sequel.
Freddie" said she to her son the
next morning, !" want you to stop al
Elder Boyd's when you go to school and
ask him If he Will call on me in the
course of the morning or afternoon.
Just as he finds it most convenient"
Elder Boyd was little surprised at
this summons. However, about II
h'cIock he called in. The widow had goi