News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-03-19
MONEY

Scudder, and sometimes in moments of
great exaltation-for he was a modest
youth, as every true lover should be-he
BAD dared to think that she did not
rown upon his passion. But Clara was
she squire's daughter and an heiress,
while Ezra was but small farmer, and
30 far from successful in that pursuit
that it seemed absurd as we'll as impos.
sible that he should aspire to the hand
OF the lovely Miss Scudder, who had
been courted in vain even by fine city
| gentlemen. So he had sighed and cast
longing looks from his place in the
choir (where he sang in a fine tenor
voice on Sundays) into the squire's pew;
and more than once he thought pretty
Clara blushed brightly, and he knew
well enough that she always smiled
sweetly, and her voice when she spoke
to him had caressing sound, and alto
gether her manner toward him was not
discouraging.
But Ezra would not be encouraged.
He felt that it was useless for him to ask
the squire for his daughters hand un-
less he had good pot of money in his
own hand with which to back his pro-
posaI. So, instead of trying to compass
the desired end by increased industry
he neglected his littie farm more than
before, and spent his whole time in
wishing that he could find a pot of
money somehow, in the manner of old
fashioned stories-at the foot of tree
or under the foundation of his house. I
believe he would even have sought it at
the end of the rainbow, like the boy in
the nursery rhyme, if he had been told
there was a good chance of finding it
there.
Suddenly rumor spread abroad that
a wonderful gypsy had appeared, who
was telling people fortunes that came
true in the most remarkable manner,
and all the countryside was in state
Of excitement on the subject. She was
OF somewhat exclusive character. this
madam gypsy, and could only be con-
suited in certain place, in the shadow
Of wych elm, in the open air, and dur
ing certain hours-these hours being
between the last rays of the declining
sun and the first shadows OF coming
night.
OF course the rumor Of the gypsy's
marvellous fortune ne-telling reached Ezra
Alden, and equally, of course, he was
much exercised in mind concerning it.
He found out the place where the for
tune teller OWNED these fair fortunes,
and one evening, after watching the sun
slowly disappear behind the western
hills, he repaired there stealthily, and
little afraid of meeting CLARA Scudder
somewhere in the vicinity, for the wych-
elm was just on the further side OF the
squire's farm. However, he met no one
except hurried squirrel fast speeding
to its home, and it was even more scared
at being met than Ezra was so he has
tened to the wych-elm, and there, sure
enough, was madam gypsy, sitting
curled up against the trunk, and look
ing precisely as if she were waiting for
him.
She was a very old woman, bent al
most double; her lined and wrinkled
face was the color of butternut, and
the tangles Of her hair hung in ef-like
grizzled locks about her brow and over
her cheeks; but her black eyes had
wonderful brilliancy and such keen
look that they seemed to see right
through him. She was wrapped in
tattered old scarlet cloak, and hood of
the same was drawn well over her head.
She gave quick nod to Ezra, and mo-
toned him to take q seat at her feet.
which he did with his heart humping as
if he were before the Delphie oracle.
And when she spoke he had to bend his
head and listen very attentively, for not
only did she mutter her words in 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
81 was expecting you, my son, and l
know what you come for" and then she
held out q hand even more butternut
than her face-a shaking and tremulous
hand; and Ezra made haste to cross the
palm with silver, that being, as he
knew, the time e-honored custom. This
happened before we had begun the re-
turn to specie basis; and silver was
scarce, but Ezra had in his pocket a
half-dollar piece, with hole in it and
cross drawn on its face, which he had
kept many years for luck. So, as there
could be no more auspicious occasion
than the present for using IL, he timidly
placed it in the gypsy's hand, and again
bent his ear attentively to listen to her
unintelligible mumbling.
'T know the desire of your heart, my
pretty gentleman" said the gypsy. 'It
is a certain maiden not 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,