The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-07-02
TREASURE-TROVE.
BY y. RARING GoIIn-

The forest of DartInoor is ssurr,Dund-
ed on every side by wide stretches of
moorland that belong TO the several
contiguous parishes, and every house
holder III each OF these parishes claims
rights on the common of his parish,
over which, moreover, the manorial
i"rd asserts paramount authority, and
tnforces 1t when he can. The duchy
OF Cornwall, however, to which the
foreSt belongs, processes a sort of SOY
creignty over all these commons.
Now, there lived in the parish Of
South Tawton, i'll the curious old vii
laSe OF Zeal, where every house is an
archaeological curiosity, and every
Householder is independent-a 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 anyw here, by saying: There
* a lion in the street." SO did Josiah
Day shirk Nenturing on any undertake
ing, or investing small earnings i'll any
speculation to which the risk of loss
adhered, on the lea that he must look
out for and provide against rainy
day.
Joe was not lazy man, yet his eN-
aggerated prudence led to much the
same results as inertness-he let slip
opportunities that coulG never recur,
aI.d 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 all.
lie was working on the common,
cutting up granite blocks, whereNrith
Ia construct Il new take" wall. II Is
the opinion OF every householder in a
Parrish that has commons that he has
Il right to IT'S much open ground as he
can inclose-subj ject, If enforced, To 4
uaNment to the lord of the manor, and
th-nccfurth his own in perpetulty.
Whilst thus engaged Joe came on a
barrow" or cairn of small stones. He
cleared away these as too small 10
serve his purpose, and discovered be
heath them granite slab This ne
leVered aside, without much difficulty.
and To his surprise discovered stone
cist or coffin constructed Of rude blocks.
lie crept in, and was still further sur
prlsed when he found within a pot con
tanning charred bones and ashes, and
near il a cup of yellow metal, and some
rings and hoops, some weighing SIX,
CtEers ten and fifteen ounces apiece.
lie hastily scrambled forth, and as
the setting sun CLEANED out, he exam
iIed his find by it's light. He rubbed
the cup and the rings on his sleeve, and
BY pinger!" said he, If it amt all
solid gold. Come! Fm in luck's way
This shall stand over against rainy
day"
Il wasn't called young Rainy Day
for nothing" said he. I'll put it all
back again where | found it, and there
il shall remain till have real occasion
10 lift it."
So the young man replaced the GOV
ering block, then heaped the small
stones and earth over it and disguised
the. fact that the place had been dis
turbed.
He returned hnme very satisfied with
himself and with his prospects. No"
he could look forward without blinking
To the inevitable rainy day. At pres
t-nt he had health, strength and youth,
and with these he could earn his livelI-
hood But" as JOS put it, Il can't
reckon on these lasting. l knows sew
eral Young chaps as has had colds set
tied on their chestesses, and have died
of a decline. And Tom Endicott, he
dislocated his hip, and now can't hob
bic up on TO the moor alter granite
no more; and as to old age and de
crepitude-there's no denying il, every
day and hour and minute brings me
higher to it,
Accordingly, Jos went on breaking
up stone and 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 a girl named Mary
Aggett, with her bcdridden mother.
She made IA livelihood out of pIovers'
eggs, which she collected and sold, out
of some poultry she kept. out of flint
found on the moor, and which she dis
posed of to- an archaeologist. She also
did some needlework and went out char
ring.
JOS passed the cottage twice daily
on his way out and on his way home,
and very frequently he saw Mary at her
door, she was searching on the moor
near where he worked, and they never
net 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 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
a rock to eat together their lunch of
cold pasty. Considering how cold the
weather was Jos put his arm round Pol
Iy, and, having an overcoat, he threw
one arm of il over her shoulder.
The ensuing night was one of sore
temptation To Jos. He 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 it, dare fortune and marry.
As he passed the cottage OF Mary Ag-