Connecticut western news., 1885-02-25

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 "I know the desire of your heart, my | pretty gentleman" said the gypsy. 'It is certain maiden not hundred miles | away, only you have the faint heart that seldom wins 8 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. as you may suppose, they were just then pretty long and wide, and capable of taking in large amount
 "You must dig up every foot of land you possess" proceeded the gypsy; '.you mustn't grow weary in your search you must dig and dig, continuously, and plant and harvest, and dig again, if necessary; and, mark my words, before 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 injunction so we'll that all the countryside took to talking of him after the gypsy disappeared. He not only dug, but he plowed and sowed and narrowed; he seemed taken with sud- den mania for farming and work, which before had seemed distasteful and monot- onous, now, that he had an object in view, was full of excitement and ins 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 growing every day more in- terested in his efforts. .
 "What on earth has got into Ezra AL den ?" asked the neighbors, one of an-- other. "Why, he has taken to working like all possessed. He's hired man, too, and the pair of lem are at it from the first dawn of daylight to nightfall.
 "Whatever has got into him he's going to have the best crops of the year," an- swered one. "Lucky fellow. Just when there's going to be rise in four, too, and he has no end of wheat growing, and in splendid condition"
 "Why, Clara, isn't that Ezra Alden's farm p asked the squire, as his daugh- ter one day drove him past it in her pretty pony carriage.
 "Yes, sir," returned Clara, with a faint pink stealing into her clear pale cheek.
 "Has some one else farmed it, then ?" asked the squire. 'There isn't another farm around here fit to compare with it."
 The pink in Clara's cheek deepened to lovely crimson.
 "Oh, no, papa" she said, softly, ''it seems Ezra-Mr. Alden, has just de- veloped sudden talent for farming"
 "And very frst-rate talent, should say" said the old gentleman. "A man who can show such farm as that can hold his head as high as any one."
 Clara's eyes gIowed and sparkled. She touched her ponies lightly; and her happy thoughts rushed off into the future at pace to rival even their fast trotting.
 | As the neighbors had foretold, Ezra Alden had particularly fine crops that season; and his success at farming hay ing also developed his commercial abil- | ity, he sold all that he had to sell to ex- cellent advantage.
 "Well," said Ezra, as he counted his gains, and tied them securely in his money-bag, "I haven't found my pot of money, but this little pile is not to be despised, and I shall keep on. By George I wonder if this was 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 more hopeful
 spirit.
 'I will speak to her father," he
 thought; "and, if he gives me encour-
 agement, I will ask Clara, plump, if she
 will marry me-"
 Now, some young men would have
 thought it safer to win the daughter s
 consent first; but Ezra was too honor
 able for that.
 ''Ir the squire won't have me-" he
 said to himself, 'tit's no use to ask Clara. She would never disobey her l father. I shouldn't care half as much for her if she would" So he took his money-bag in his hand and sought the presence of Squire Scudder.
 The squire sat reading a novel of the Pickwick Papers in his handsome old. fashioned parlor, and being in very : genial mood, he received Ezra with the most encouraging kindness, and listened to all that he had to say with 8 be : nignant smile.
 "It is not great deal," concluded
 Ezra, holding up his money-bag, 'bu : there's plenty more, where found this l sir"
 "And pray, where did you find it 3 MT. Alden ?" asked the squire rathel r taken aback.
 a "At the roots of my wheat and bar q ley," answered Ezra, adding, with g t laugh: "To tell the truth, sir, con 8 suited fortune-teIler, and she told mt f to dig and dig, and I would certainly . find pot of money. haven't found : it yet, but I intend to keep on digging :, and don't doubt but shall find it b, s and by."
 ). Squire Scudder burst into a heart, s laugh, and kindly patted Ezra on tn # shoulder.
 7 "I don't doubt but you will, my lad, o he said, cheerily. "Honest industry is D the best pot of money any young mar @ ever found. As for Clara, you cal
 talk over that matter with herself I she's sitting there by the window, hid @ den behind the curtains" tt Now that was dreadfully mean of tn IS squire. not to have given Ezra hint (