The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-18
A POT OF GOLD.


w. voice in the kitchen.
This waters never
goin' to boil"
"It does beat all how some folks
make money" Hiram continued.
Seem to pick it right up off the
ground, someway. They say there's
pot OF gold at the end of every
rainbow; l wish I could find one of
'em, that's all!''
care you going after that wood,
Hiram Briggs" demanded Mollie,
appearing in the doorway. eff you
don't you won't get your pot of cof-
fee for breakfast, an I reckon you'll
miss that more'n you will the pot of
gold that's at the end of that rain
bow" .
"Oh, Pm goin' Mollie! You're al
ways in sech q hurry about every
thingn' exclaimed Hiram, testify,
dragging his lank figure to it's full
height and sauntering off toward the
wood pile.
"Pot of gold, indeedy' said Mollie
to herself as she returned to her
work. eff there was pot of gold
in every acre of the farm Hiram
Briggs'd never dig enough to find it.
He might "a had a deal more gold
out of it than he has if he'd a dug a
little harder"
care you goin' at the south lot
this morning, Hiram?" she asked at
breakfast. Hiram was slow at reply
ing. "Well, you see," he began at
last, "I'm rather afraid that'll have
to wait till afternoon. There's some
men I promised to meet down to the
village Mollie made no reply. 1t
was not much for ten years expert
ence of Hiram Briggs character to
have taught her that replying was
apt to make matters worse instead
of better.
"The fact is, Mollie," he said, as
he rose, ''I've about decided to
sell the old farm and invest
in somethin' paying. can't stand
any more of this everlastin' drudg-
ery!" He looked at her with little
apprehension. Mollie had risen and
stood confronting him with blazing
eyes. The thought flashed across
him that Mollie was a handsome
woman.
"Sell the farmP' she cried. "Sell
the place where I was born an where
my father was born before me! That
you shan't! Not one inch of ground
or stick of timber. Maybe you have
the right in law" she held up her
hand as he was about to speak, "but
you knowyou haven't the real right,
and III never let you do it, never!"
Hiram's only reply was strong
slam of the door as he passed
through. She watched him cross
the orchard and strike theroad lead
ing to the village. She watched him
as far as she could see him and then
turned to her work with sigh.
II don't know how it'll end" she
thought drearily. "I'm tired of fight
ing and scolding, but I'll fight to the
very end before he shall sell my fa-
theirs farm" she finished, with fierce
tears in her eyes. "
Hiram did not come home to din
ner, but that did not alarm Mollie.
He very often did not come home to
dinner when there was south lot
waiting for him. Night came and
still he did not return, but he had
even staid away night before now,
SO at midnight she closed the house
and went to bed
Maybe I said more than need"
she thought, as she blew out the
light.
Toward evening of the next day a
man sauntered up to the house. ''Be
you Mis- Briggs?" he asked of Molly.
eagerly watching from the door.
Eyes, she said. What is it?'
"Wall, l got q letter. somethin'
fer ye," tumbling in his ragged peck
cts.
"Wall, swan he exclaimed fin
ally, ''ei l heven't lost it'll"
''Lost it!'' cried Mollie; "where'G
you get it!''
''Wall, Hi Briggs sed eff I was
a-comin' your way some time to-day
i might bring it. He said as how
'twould explain itself, an to tell you
tibet he was a-goin' after the pot of
gold under the rainbow, + some sech
stuff"
The next day Mollie folded and
packed away Hirnm's clothes. IF
he don't come back till he finds his
pot of gold," she thought, "he'll
never come back at all, and if he
comes back withoutit he'll need 'em. .
II wonder what could have been in
the letter!" she thought. She was
soon to know.
In less than week buggy drove
up to the door, a man alighted and
tied his horse, and Mollie opened
thn door for him with stronoo fool