Year: 1876

Ezra Elden was in love with Clara
Scudder; and sometimes in the mo-
ments of great exaltstion-for be was
modest youth, as every true lover
should be-he had dared to think that
she did not frown upon his passion.
But Clara was the squire's daughter
and an heiress while Ezra was but
small farmer, and SO far from sue
cessful in that pursuit, that it seemed
absurd as well as impossible, that he
should aspire to the hand OF the love-
ly Miss Scudder, who had been court
ed in vain even bv fine city gentle
men. So be had sighed and cast
longing looks from his place in the
choir (where be sang 10 fine tenor
voice on Sundays) into the squire's
pew; and more than once be thought
pretty Clara blushed brightly and he
knew well enough that she always
smiled sweetly; and her voice, when
she spoke to him, had q caressing
sound; and altogether her manner to-
ward him was not discouraging.


But Ezra would not be encouraged.
He felt that it was useless for him to
ask the squire for his daughters
hand unless be had good pot of
money in bis own hand with which
to back his proposal. So, instead Of
irving to compass the desired end by
increased industry be neglected his
little farm more than before, and spent
his whole time in wishing that he
could 6nd a pot of money somehow,
in the manner of the old fashioned
stories-at the foot of a tree; under
the foundation of his house l believe
be would even have sought for it at
the end of the rainbow, like the boy
in the nursery rhyme. if be bad been
told there was q good chance OF find
ing it there.


Suddenly rumor spread abroad
that a wonderful gipsy had appeared,
who was telling people fortunes that
came true in the most remarkable
manner, and all the country side was
in a state of excitement on the sub
ject. She was Of somewhat exclusive
character, this madam gipsy, and
could only be consulted in a certain
place, in the shadow of wyeh-elm,
10 the open air. and during certain
hours-lhese hours being between
II e last rays of the declining sun, aud
the first shadows of the coming night.


Ofcourse the rumor Of the gipsy's
marvellous fortune telling reached
Ezra Eden, and equally of course,
be was much exercised in mind con-
cerning IL. He found out the place
where the fortune teller OWNED these
fair fortunes; and one evening. after
watching the sun slowly disappear
behind the western hills, be repaired
thilher, ealIhily aud little afraid
of meeting Cara Scudder somewhere
in the vicinity, for the wyeh-elm was
just on the further side OF squire's
farm. However, lie met no one. ex-
cept hurried squirrel fast speeding
to It's home, and il was even more
scared at being met than Ezra was,
SO be FASTENED to the wych-elm, and
there sure enough, was madam gypsy,
sitting eurled up against the trunk,
and locking precisely as if she was
waiting for him, She was a very
old woman, bent almost double; her
lined and wrinkled face was the color
of butternut, and the tangles Of her
hair hung in elf-like, grizzled locks
about ber brow aud oyer her cheeks;
but her black eyes had q wonderful
briIliancy and such keen look that
they seemed to see right through,
him. She was wrapped 10 tattered
old scarlet cloak. and hood Of the
same was drawn well over her head.
She gave q quick nod to Ezra, and
moticned him to take . seat at her
feet, which be did with his heart
humping as if he were before the Del