The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-08

treasure of which Janet had told her.
even though its outward appearance
did not come up to her expectations.
She went over and tried to unfasten
it, and had just succeeded and was drag
ging it away, when-a man appeared on
the scene; big, rough-looking fellow
that it frightened poor Nelly even to
look at!
"Hey, there, what're you about?" this
man demanded, roughly.
"Oh, please, SIR" cried Nelly, still
holding fast to her treasure, Use come
all the way from home after it, cause
my papa needs some money awful bad.
and knew I'd find it at the end of the
rainbow-and, oh dear, oh DEAR" and
Nelly broke down and sobbed in her dis
appointment and fright.
whats you talkin' about?" asked the
man, not so roughly. stop your eryin'
and tell me what all this nonsense is
about the rainbow. I'm not goin' to
hurt you"
Somewhat treasured, Nelly stopped
crying and Looked up.
"Why, don't you know" she asked, i'll
surprise, "that there's always a pot Of
gold at the end of the rainbow? L saw
it come down here in the woods and
ran all the way to get it for my pape,
who wants some money dreadful bad"
Does, Ell? That's funny. Well, SO
do IT,
"But you won't now, cause you've got
all this. Oh, dear, wish I'd got here
sooner, cause you're big man and can
easy get another"
"Why, bless yer life," said the man, at
last comprehending Nelly's meaning,
''that amt no pot of gold. only wish it
was. That there's my supper | was just
goin' to cook, only every things so wet, |
don't know how I'm goin' to do it. Here,
look for yerself, if you don't believe
me-" he said, as Nelly appeared incredu,
lous, and he lifted the lid, displaying
to her Mortified gaze some ordinary po'
tatoes lying in their jackets ready to be
cooked.
Then all Nelly's courage disappeared
on the instant, and she cried in terror.
ooh, I want to go home! Use so afraid
Oh, dear, oh, dear!"
Just then they heard a sound outside
the woods of some one calling: SHELLY,
Nelly!"
ooh, that's me, and somebody's look
in for me! Oh, Use so glad! Yes, Use
COMM and Nelly darted away from
the deceitful stewing pot and its owner,
and at the edge of the woods was caught
in the arms of no other than dear, long
lost Uncle Ben.
Then once more safe and happy, kind
hearted little Nelly remembered the
lone man in the woods who had fright
ened her so, and who was so dreadful'y
ignorant about rainbows, and nothing
would do but Uncle Ben should go back
and see him, with the result that gen
erous piece of money found it's way into
the pocket of the forlorn stranger!
"Now, Nell, you rogue, tell me why
you ran off like this and scared your
mother so," said Uncle Ben, as he pulled
one of the wet golden curls that lay on
his shoulder. Here I come to see yon
and find the house in confusion and
everybody running around calling for
Nelly. And nobody knows anything
about the naughty girl, only Bridget
thought she saw her run down the hill,
anu tHCu ICOh ObQ OllOlC 1OC1l1 W1lAl LIZ
rheumatism and neuralgia, has to go
out after his bad child, and finds her
talking to a tramp in the woods Now
tell me what it all means, miss"
sob, Uncle Ben said Nelly, 81 didn't
tell mamma cause l wanted to s'prise
her and papa. Iran off to find the pot Of
gold at the end of the rainbow, that
Janet, told me about, cause papa's got
to sell the house and move away if he
don't get some money. And, OH
didn't find it, after all."
Uncle Ben laughed.
Poor Nell, and she didn't find it.
Well, don't try again, or you may meet
tramp not quite so harmless as your
friend of the stewing pot. But what's
all this about moving, Nelly? You know
I'm stranger and haven't heard all the
news"
So Nelly gave her version of the
troubles that had overtaken the family,
and how she was going to set every
thing right by bringing home the treas
ure from the end of the rainbow, and
then how it all ended.
"But now you're here, Uncle Ben, and
you'll do Just as well, }" Nelly concluded,
with perfect confidence in his ability
and willingness to furnish untold quar-
titles of riches.
"Well, WE'LL" was all Uncle Ben said:
81 came just in time. Wen have to sec
about things, you and I. Nell" and
Nelly knew that Uncle Ben's methods
of ''seeing about things" were always
satisfactory.
Uncle Ben was as good as his word,
and, though Nelly never knew how it
was managed. she knew it was through
him that their pretty home was not sold.
But the mystery of the rainbow an.l
it's wonderful treasures has not yer
been quite solved to her satisfaction
Good Housekeeping.