St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-13
MONEY.
BY E. C.

der, and, sometimes, in moments OF great
eXaltation-for he was a modest youth, as
every true lover should be-he had dared to
think that she did not frown upon his pas
sion. But Clara was the squirrels daughter
and heiress, while Ezra was but a small
farmer, and so far from successful in that
pursuit that it seemed absurd as well as i'm
possible that he should aspire to the hand of
the lovely Miss Scudder, who had been
courted in vain by even fine city gentlemen
So he had sighed and cast longing looks
from his place in the choir (where he sang
in fine tenor voice on Sundays into the
squirrels 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 a
caressing sound, and, altogether 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 unless he had
a good pot OF money in his own hand with
which to back his proposal. So, instead Of
| trying to compass the desired end by in
creased industry he neglected his little farm
more than before, and spent his whole time
in wishing that he could find pot of money
somehow in the manner of old-fashioned
stories-at the foot of tree or under the
foundat of his house.
Suddenly a rumor spread abroad that
wonderful gypsy had appeared. Of course
the rumor reached Ezra Alden, and equally,
of course, ne was much exercised in mind
concerning it. He found out the place where
the fortune-teller OWNED these fair fortunes,
and one evening, after watching the sun
slowly disappear behind the Western hills, he
|
old woman, bent almost double; her lined
and wrinkled face was the color of butter
nut, and the tangles of her hair hung in
elf-like grizzled locks about her brow and
over her cheeks; but her black eyes had a
wonderful brilliancy and such keen look
that they seemed to see right through him.
81 know the desire of your heart, my
pretty gentleman said the gypsy. sit is
certain maiden not a hundred miles away,
only you have p faint heart that seldom wins
a fair lady. But if you could find a pot of
gold your spirit would be holder. Listen to
me and obey me, and you shall have your
wish. You must dig up every foot of land
! you possess; you mustn't grow weary in
your search-vou must dig and dig continu-
ously, and plant and harvest, and dig again
if necessary; and mark my words. before a
very long time you will find the pot Of
money and the maiden will be yours
Ezra listened with faith and departed with
joy in his heart. He fulfilled the fortune
teller's iniunctions so we'll that all the coun-
trysde 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 seemed distaste-
full and mon otonous, now that he had an OBJ
iect 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 grow
ing every day more interested in his ef-
forts
Ezra Alden had particularly fine crops
that season; and his success at farming hav-
ing also developed his commercial ability, he
sold all that he had to sell to excellent ad-
vantage.
''Well," said Ezra, as he counted his
| gains and tied them securely in his money
bag, 81 haven't found my pot of money, but
this little pile is not to be despised, and 1
shall keep on. By George! wonder if this
is what the old gypsy meant:'
Ezra had some time on his hands now for
dreaming; and he took to signing for Clara
once more, but in a more hopeful spirit
81 will speak to her father" he thought;
| anu IL Hc gives INT L WILL
ask Clara, plump, if she will marry me.''
So he took his money-bag in his hand and
sought the presence of Squire Scudder.
''The squire sat reading volume of the
Pickwick Papers in his handsome old-fash-
| Toned paror, and, being in q very genial
mood, he received Ezra with the most en-
couraging kindness, and listened to all that
| he had to say with benignant smile.
''It is not great deal,' concluded Ezra,
holding up his money-bag, ''but there's
plenty more where | found this, sir"
''And, pray, where did you find it, Mr.. Al
den!' asked the squire, rather taken aback.
''At the roots of my wheat and barley
answered Ezra, adding, with laugh: ''To
tell the truth, sir! l consulted a fortune
teller and she told me to dig and dig, and 1
would certainly find a pot of money. L
haven't found it yet, but / intend to keep on
| digging, and don't doubt but that l shall
find it by and BY"
Squire Scudder burst into a hearty laugh,
and kindly patted Ezra on the shoulder
81 don't doubt but you will, my lad" he
said, cheeriy "Honest industry is the best
pot of money any young man ever found.
AS for Clara, you can talk over that matter
with herself-she's sitting there by the win
dow, hidden beneath the curtains"
Now that was dreadfullv mean of the
squire not to have given a hint of Claras
| presence before; but he didn't mean 1t. 1t
seems quite impossible for these old gentle
men to realize how serious such matters are
to boys and girls.
| Squire Scudder rose with nod and
smile and went away, leaving Ezra in dire
confusion staring at the window curtains,
and wishing the floor would open and swal-
low him. But it didn't. Instead, the win
dow curtains opened and a lovely young
lady stepped out from them.
$50 Mr.. Alden,' she said, stepping for
ward, ''you consulted the gypsy fortune
| teller, too.'
''Oh, Miss Scudder-Clare-you have
heard everything stammered Ezra, sink
ing into the chair from which he had risen
in his first CONSERVATION. 'sWhat terrible
fool you must think mep'
"But don't-have great confidence in
that gypsv's predictions"
''Then you consulted her, tool" asked
Ezra.
'Dozens oftimes-she beguiled me of all
my small silver.''
''Well, she got but sin gle piece from me,
that's some comfort" said Ezra, recovering
somewhat, and venturing to laugh slightly.
WAS it anything like this?'' asked Miss
Scudder, producing one from her pocket, and
holding 1t toward Ezra on the palm Of
hand like cream. Ezra looked and started
and gave a little cry. IT was his own lucky
silver piece. He glanced into the laughing,
blushing face; and then for the first time
he looked straight into Clara Scudder's eyes.
They were very, very dark and wonderfully
brilliant; but this time they did not seem TO
look through him-they sank beneath his
glance, and yelled themselves under lovely,
long, black Iashes.
son, Clara 7" murmured Ezra; ''you were
the gypsy"