The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-08-18
THE POT OF GOLD.

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 parliance, pretty sharp look
out for the main chance, peculiarly
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. It
might be- supposed that under these
circumstances the elder, who was fully
able to do 80, would have found help
mate to share his house and name.
But the elder was wary. Matrimony
was to him, in some measure, q matter
of money, and it WAS his firm resolve
not to marry unless he could thereby
enhance his worldly prosperity. Un-
happily the little village of Oldville and
the towns in the immediate vicinity con-
tanned few who wers qualified in the i'm.
portant particular, and of those there
were none probably 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 Ave, or thereabouts
-AuO btI11 uuL0hIIISue 60O 4Ah04J w To-
main so. But in all human calculations
of this kind, they reckon i'll who leave
widows out.
Elder Boyd's nearest neighbor was a
widow.
The Widow Hayes, who had passed
through matrimonial experience, was
some four years younger than Elder
Boyd. She was still buxom, comely
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 six, to be enumerated in the schedule
of her property, though hardly to be
classed as productive" of anything 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
riageas method of bettering her condi.
ton? 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
accord her q prominent social posi-
ton. 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 o good disposition,
kind-hearted, and no doubt would make
very good sort of husband. Widows
are, take it (if any shall do me the
honor to read this story, I trust they
will forgive the remark LESS disposed to
weigh sentiment in 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, q fact to be seriously consid-
cred; for in the present case it was ex-
ceedingly doubtful whether the worthy
elder, even if he had known the favora-
bic opinion of his next neighbor, would
have been inclined to propose changing
her name to Boyd, unless, indeed, q
suitable motive was brought to bear
upon him. Here was chance for lit.
tie managing. wherein widows are said,
as general thing, to be expert.
One evening, after day of fatiguing
labor, Widow Hayes sat at the fire in the
sitting-room, with her feet resting on the
feuder.
''If ever I am situated so as not to
have to work so hard" she murmured
IT shall be happy. It's a hard life, keep
ing boarders. If was only as we'll of
as Elder Boyd"
Still the widow kept up her thinking
and by and by her face Frightened. She
had an idea which she resolved to pu
into execution at the earliest possible
moment. What it was the reader viii
discover in the sequel.
Freddie" said she to her SON thu
next morning, ''I want you to stop a
Elder Boyd's when you go to school and
ask him if he will call on me in th,
course of the morning or afternoon, jus
as he finds it most convenient"
Elder Boyd was little surprised a
this summons. However, about clever
o'clock he called in. The widow hat
got on the dinner, and had leisure to 81
down: She appeared little embar
Tassed.