Year: 1864

put into execution at the very earliest mo,
ment What it was the reader will dis
cover in the sequel.


Henry said she to her son next morn
ing, i w~nt you to stop at deacon Ban.
croft's as you 90 to school, and ask him if
he will come and see me in the morning
or afternoon, just as he finds it most con.
venicnt.


Deacon Bancroft was a little surprised
at this SUMMONS However, about eleven
O'clock he called in. Ire widow had got
on the dinner, anu had leisure to SIT down.
She appeared little embarrassed


Henry told me you would like to see
me, he commenced.


Yes, deacon, do But I am verv
much afraid you will think strange-at
least OF what | have to say to you


The deacon very politely promised not
to be surprised, though at the same time
his curiosity was very much excited.


Suppose, said the widow, casting down
her eyes, mind | was only supposing a
case-suppose a person should find pot
OF gold pieces in their cellar, would the
law have a right to touch it, or would it be.
long to them p


The deacon pricked up his ears "A
pot of gold pieces, widow? Why, unques
tionahly the law would have nothing to do
with it.


Aud the one who had formerly owned
the house couldn't come forward and Claim
it, could he, deacon 2 inquired the widow
with apparent anxiety


No, madam, unquestionahly not; when
the house was disposed of everything went
with it, as matter of course


Il am glad to hear it, deacon. You
wont think strarge of the question, but it
happened to my mind. and | thought
would like to have il satisfied


Certainly, certainly said the deacon,
abstractedly.


And, deacon, as you are here, hope
you will stop to dinner will US. 1t will
be ready punctually at twelve


We'll, no, said the deacon, rising, Pm
obleeged to ye, but they'll be expecting
me home


'At any rate, deacon said the widow,
taking steaming mince pie from the ov-
ell, you won object taking piece of miuce-
pie You must know that rather pride
myself on my mince pies


The W I'm pie sent forth such delicious
odor, that the deacon was soreiy tempted,
aud after saying, We'll, really with the
intention OF refusing, he finished by say
Ing, 'on the whole guess will, as it looks
SO nice


The widow was really g1od cook, and
the deacon ate with much gusto the gen
erous slice which the widow cut Tor him.
aud after chatting upon unImportant sub
Jects, withdrew IN some mental perplexity


Was it possible, thought he, that the
widow could have found pot of gold ia
her cellar ?-she did not say so, to be sure,
but why should she have shown so much
anxiety to know as to the proprietorship of
the treasure thus found if she had not
happened upon some? To be sure, so TAR
as his knowledge extended, there was no
Que who occupied the house who would
be iu the least likely to lay up such all
Amount OF gold; Int then the house Was
one hundred aud fifty years old, at the
very least, aud had had many occupants of
which he know nothing 1t might be at
ter all. The widow earnest Gesre to have
him think i ~ only curl 'slty. likewise gave
addii"n,l probability 10 the suppostion
entertained


i will wait and watch thought the
worthy deacon.


1t so happened that deacon Bancroft
was one OF the directors in saving institu
ton situated In the next town, and accord
iDgly used to ride over once or twice a
month. to attend meetings of the Board


On the next occasion of this kind, the
widow Wells sent over to know if he could
carry her over with him, as she had lit
tie business there.


The request was readily granted Ar,
irving at the village. Mrs. Wells requested
to be set Gown at the bank.


'Ha !! ha !! thought the deacon, that
means something.


tie SAID nothing, however, but deter
mlHed 10 come back and find out, as he
could readily from the Cashier, what bus
ness she had With the bank


ne widow trIpped into the office, pre-
tenHlng 70 look very nouchslent


Can you give me small bills ior five
dollar gold piece ? she inquired.


With pleasure was the reply.


by the way, she said, the bank is in a
very fourishing condition, is it not p


None In the State on a better footing ,
was the prompt reponse


You receive deposits, do you not7'


Yes; madam, we are receiving them ev.
ry day


Do you receive any as high as-as FIVE
thousand dollars 2


No, said the cashier; 'or rather, we do
not allow interest on so large sum. One
thousand dollars is our limit. Do YOU
know OF any one who


1t Is Of no CONSEQUENCE said the widnu