Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-04-25

She gave quick nod to Ezra, and mo-
toned him to take seat at her feet,
which he did with his heart humping as
il he were before the Doiphic 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 n tone that he had some difficulty in
! hearing her. But he made out that che
said
u was expecting you, my son, and
know what you come for" and then she
held out a 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. .honored custom. This
happened before we had begun the re-
turn TO specie basis; and silver was
scarce, but Ezra had in his pocket o
half-dollar piece, with hole in it and o
cross drawn on its face, which be had
kept many years for luck. SO, as there
could be no more auspicious occasion
than the present for using it, he timidly
placed it i'll the gypsy's hand, and again
bent his ear attentively to listen to her
unintelligible mumbling.
81 know the desire of your heart, my
pretty gentleman" said the gypsy. SIT
Is 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, ana,
MS 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
a very long time, you will find the pot of
money.and the maiden will be yours"
Ezra listened with faith, end departed
with Joy in his heart. He fulfilled the
fortune-tellers 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 a sud-
den mania for farming and work, which
before had seemed distasteful and n onot-
onous, now, that he had an object 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 growing every day more in
terested i'll his efforts.
"What on earth has got into Ezra Al
den = asked the ncighbors, one of an
other. why. he has taken to working
like all possessed. He's hired man,
too, aud the pair Of EN- are at it from
the first dawn OF daylight to nightfall. ;
Whatever has got into him he's going
| - .Au 'N"i' az
S"efeo one. LUCKY te!loW. just
"heh there gong to be a rise III flour
700, ana ne mas no ehd oi wheat growing,
and III splendid condition..
Why, Clara, isn't that Ezra Alden's
farm ." asked .ba s,,irs os h;s ao,ah
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