The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-06-28
lNi5ccllanrnus.
THE BURIED TREASURE.

III OORICC RCHOORC.
My mother, with great basket of stock.
| ings 10 darn beside her, was seated by the
kitchen fire lamcntng dollar, Of which a
pedler had cheated her that day.
al might as well have buried 1t in the
ground " she said,
talking OF buried money" said my grand
father from his corner, there was queer
thing happened when was boy. don't
know as ever told you about it."
My brother Joe and looked at each other
and gigged We knew the story by heart
but my father, who had taken up the county
paper to rest himself after hard days work
in the field, laid it down respectfully.
what was it, sir r. he said as though he
had never heard it before
Grandfather was very old, and mumbled
when he talked Joe and | were Smelling
corn into a great tub, trying which could
heap up the highest pile Of cobs. should
not have listened to the story, which heard
several times, il it had not been for my
Cousin Will, who lived in the city, and had
come to visit us before going to work in the
mill. The story was new to him.
Buried money ~ he said, pulling his chair
up close to grandfather and turning his thin,
sharp face up to him. whats that? What's
that?" he said. Buried money!
could understand grandfather well
enough, though his teeth were gone, and he
fell asleep now and then woke with start.
! When he was u boy, near Philadelphia,
soon after the Revolution, his father, being
Il Quaker Tory, was unpopular in the neigh
| borhOod. He resolved to move into the
wilderness OF Central Pennsylvania. He
therefore sold his farm and house, and taking
part of the money with him, buried the rest
on the farm, as he was afraid to carry so
large an amount with him into the wild
country. He intended when he had settled
his family in their new home to come back
for it.
Thought he'd live forever" grandfather
grumbled, But he died sudden that spring.
And there the money is yet We'd all have
been rich folks if we had it,"
"But did nobody go to find II" asked
Will, breathlessly.
Who'd go? Mother was weakly and
couldn't make the journey again. l was n
little chap. When grew up, went But |
never could find the farm nor the house.
Things had altered so round Philadelphy, |
reckon the house was clean gone"
"Where did he bury it Did he tell you ?"
asked viii, putting up his chair closer.
Let me see" grandfather winked and
knitted his brows trying to remember an
the cellar of the smoke-housc, he allays said,
in tin box"
"The smoke-house? What does he meang'
Will said, turning to us.
"The house for smoking pork and beef"
Joe said. Good gracious don't you know
anything Of Pennsylvania Every farm
house has one
smoke-house ?" asked Will, going back to
grandfather.
"No; nor of the house neither 1t must
have been a grand house in its day too. 1t
was built of stone, and had plough cut on
the side and the date, 11lj. 1t was in Della.
ware county"
Did you ever go to look for it, uncle ?"
Will asked of my father
"Never," he answered gruilly. I've got
no time to waste travelling hundreds of miles
for nothing"
Will was very quiet that night The next
day lie piled grandfather with questions
until the poor old man was tired OF his lavorite
story.
VIII had but three days to stay with us.
His father had died, leaving him alone and
pennilcss in the world. My father, who was
II poor farmer, had, with much trouble,
secured places for him and Joe in an iron
mill jist opened in the valley. They were
| w btBin WI u INC uthb uh1
TITS not easy work. boys" father said that
night. "lt's hard. And you begin at the
bottom. But there's a chance for you 10
rise"
F'rll try, sir; said Joe. His face was red
and his eyes shone had never seen him so
excited. lie was quiet plodding noy.
But Will said nothing until father had
gone to bed; then he sprang up, speaking
very loud and quick.
"Im not going into the mill. Nor shall
you, Joe, if can help it, Why should we
work like slaves for years when fortune is
waiting for us? Wen go to Philadelphia and
hunt out the old farm house and find that
buried money u
"Whew |" Joe gave long whistle. "You
don't mean what you say, Bin" He caught
sight of me. go to bed, Jenny. Girls
oughtn't to be sitting up listening to what
men say"
crept upstairs and cried half the night,
listening to the subdued voices of the boys
below me. Could Joe be tempted to run
away? 1t would break my fathers heart.
But the adventure, the mystery, would be al
Turing TO any boy. Young rs was, l knew
that. heard them, toward morning, creep
ing up to the garnet where they slept; and
worn out with my watch, fell asleep.
When | went down the next morning they
were at breakfast, for their work began soon
after dawn in the mill. Joe was unusually
silent. Will talked necessarily, breaking
into shouts Of laughter without any cause
My father was restless and excited. He laid
his hand on Joe's head as he passed him
once
~ wish had something more to give you
than this chance in the world, my boy" he
said in n low voice.
Inc nn1lpI There W fDor In 10
but he said nothing.
Was lie going to the mils was sick
with terror
Presently the boys passed me and heard
Will say Foot it to the canal and then get
work as drivers. Once in Philadelphia wen
easily get plenty of work fit for gentlemen,
until we find the money"
was only a foolish child, or should have
gone to my father with what knew. But
| was afraid. ran to the barn, from which
| could see the road to the mill and that
which led eastward across the mountains.
Joe came to find me. He kissed me.
"Wish mo good luck, little sis" he said
But could not speak My father was
hard at work in the field. He nodded as the
boys passed him and then, shading his eyes
with his hand, watched Joe until lie was out
of sight. No day In all his life, think, had
seemed to him as important as this when his
boy went out to begin work in the world.
climbed up into the hay-mow to see them
more distinctly. Will carried a bundle
Were they taking away their clothes? The
sun came out, and shone on the white lime
stone road Near a great sycamore tree it
divided. The road to the left led eastward
that to the right to the mill. My eyes were
so dim with tears that could scarcely see
the two black figures nearing the sycamore;
but prayed with all my childish heart that
Joe might be kept with us. If he took that
, road to the left, thought he would never re.
turn