The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-08-20
TREAsURETROVE.
BY s. Barring GOULD,

holder in each Of these parishes claims
rights on the common Of his parish,
over which, moreover, the manoriaI
lord asserts paramount authority, and
enforces it when he can. The dllehy
Of Cornwall, however, to which the
forest belongs, processes a sort of soy
ereignty over all these commons.
Now, there lived in the parish OF
South TawtOH, in the curious old VIII
lage OF Zeal, where every house is an
archaeological curiosity. and every
householder IS independents poor
young man Of the name of Josiah Day,
commonly known as young Rainy Day.
The nickname was acquired by him
through his excessive caution, AS the
slothful man, according to Solomon,
excuses himself from doing anything
and going anywhere, by saying: There
Is lion in the street, so did Josiah
Day shirk yenturing on any undertake
ing, or investing small earnings in any
speculation to which the risk of loss
adhered, on the plea that he must look
out for and provide against rainy
day.
Joe was not lazy man, yet his ex-
aggerated prudence led to much the
same results as inertness-he let slip
opportunities that could never reeur,
gnd which went to benefit men less
able, honest and industrious than him
self.
1t sometimes happens that plums
drop into the mouths of those who
stand gaping at the clouds. All they
then have to do is to close their mouths
on the plums and to make the most of
them.
Such a plum dropped into the mouth
of Josiah one Christmas Eve. He did,
indeed, snap his jaws On it-but that
was ell.
lie was working on the common,
cutting up granite blocks, wherewith
to construct a new take" wall. It is
the opinion Of every householder in
Iarish that has commons that he has
q right to as much open ground as he
can inclose-subject, if enforced, to a
payment to the lord of the manor, and
thencefOrth his own in perpetuity.
Whilst thus engaged Joe came on n
"harrow" or cairn of small stones. He
cleared away these as too small to
serve his purpose, and discovered be
Meath them granite slab. This he
levered aside, without much difficulty,
and to his surprise discovered a stone
cist OF coffin constructed Of rude blocks.
He crept in, aud was still further sur
prised when he found within pot con-
tanning charred bones and ashes, and
near it a cup Of yellow metal, and some
rings and hoops, some weighing six,
others ten and fifteen ounces apiece.
He hastily scrambled forth, and as
the setting sun cleaned out, he exam
med his find by its light. He rubbed
the cup and the rings on his sleeve, and
''By gingerl" said he, IF it amt all
solid gold. Comel I'm in Iuck's way.
This shall stand over against a rainy
day"
81 wasn't called young Rainy Day
for nothing" said he. "Ill put it all
back again where I found it, and there
it shall remain till I have real occasion
10 lift it."
So the young man replaced the COW
ering block, then hesped the small
stones and earth over it and disguised
the fact that the place had been dis
turbed.
He returned home very satisfied with
himself and with his prospects. Now
he could look forward without blinking
to the inevitable rainy day, At pres
eut he had health, strength and youth,
and with these he could earn his liveli-
hood. But" as Jos put it, II can't
reckon on these lasting. I knows sew
eral young chaps as has had colds set
tied on their ehestesses, and have died
of a decline, And Tom EndicOtt, he
dislocated his hip, and now can't hob
bic up On to the moor after granite
no more; md as to old age and de
crepitude-there's no denying it, every
day and hour and inmate brings me
higher to it."
Accordingly, Jos went on breaking
up stone aud inclosing, and instructive
" he extended his new take" wall IN
the direction of the cairn and stone
chest that contained his treasure.
On the verge Of the moor, on the con
fines Of culture, Lived girl named Mary
Aggett, with her bedridden mother,
She made a livelihood out Of plovers'
eggs, which she collected and sold, out
Of some poultry she lsspt, out Of flint
arrow heads, which, by searching, she
found on the moor, and which she dis
posed Of 70 an arebasOlogist. She also
did some needlewOrk and went cut char
ring.
Jos passed the cottage twice daily
on his way out and on his way home,
aud very frequently be saw Mary at her
door, or she was searching on the moor
near where he worked, and they never
met without exchange Of salutations.
On one occasion, when overtaken by a
hailstorm, he had been invited into the
cottage, and had been given a cup Of
tea that warmed his heart as if it had
been peppermint, and got into his head
as if it had been whisky.
One day when they met on the moor
The northeast blast was so cutting that
they retired together under shelter Of
rock to eat together their lunch Of
cold pasty. Considering how cold the
weather was, Jos put his arm round Pol
II, and, having an cyereost, he threw
one arm Of 1t over her shoulder.
The ensuing night was one Of sore
temptation to JOS. lie tossed On his
bed. He could not sleep. He sailed
very early from his house and went to
the moor, resolved to raise his treasure.
dispose Of ii, dare fortune and marty,
As ne passed the cottage Of Mary Ag-
gett he did not see her. He was glad Of