Year: 1875

placcntly, "I can see into milestone
about as far as most people" A state,
ment the literal truth of which l defy
anyone to question, though as to the
prime fact of people being able to see
into milestone at all, doubts have now
and then forced themselves upon my
mind.


The next Sunday the widow Hayes ap-
pearcd at church in new and stylish
bonnet, which led to some such remarks
as these:


"How much vanity some people have,
TO be sure"


"How woman that has to keep board,
ers for living can afford to dash out in
such bonnet IS more than | can tell.
should think she was old enough to know
BETTER


This last remark was made by a young
lady just six months younger than the
widow, whose attempting to catch a sec
ond husband had hitherto proved utterly
unavailing.


Il suppose" continued the same
young lady, she is trying to catch sec
ond husband with her ,tnery. Before I'd
condescend to such means, Fd-I'd drown
myself"


In this last amiable speech the young
lady had unwittingly hit upon the true
motive The widow was intent upon
catching Elder Boyd, and she indulged in
a costly bonnet, not because she supposed
he would be caught with tinery, but be-
cause this would strengthen in his mind
the idea that she had stumbled upon hid
den wealth. The widow calculated shrewd
ly, and the display had the effect she an,
ticipated. Monday afternoon the elder
had found an errand that called him over
to the widows. 1t CHANGED to be just
about tea-time He was importuned tC
stay to tea and somewhat to his own sur
prise actually did.


The polite widow, who knew the elders
weakest point, brought one of her best
mince pies, a piece of which her guest
partook of with Zest.


you'll take another piece, l KNOW
said she persuasively.


Really, I am ashamed" said the
elder; but he passed his plate. "The
truth is" he said apologetically, "youI
pies are so nice l don't know when tc
stop"


"Do you call those nice?" said the
widow, modestly. 81 call them common
| can make good mince pies when | sci
out to- but this time didn't have as good
luck as usual"


- shouldn't want any better" said the
elder, emphatically.


"Then l hope, if you like them, you
will drop into tea often. We ought to be
more neighborly, Elder Boyd"


Elder Boyd assented, and he meant
what he said The fact is, the deacon be-
gan to think that the widow was a very
charming woman. She was very comely,
and then she was such an excellent cook.
Besides, he had no doubt in his own mind
that she was worth considerable sum OF
money. What objection could there be to
her becoming Mrs. Boyd? He brought
this question before her one evening. The
widow blushed-professed to be greatly
surprised. In fact, she never thought OF
such thing in her life; but, on the whole,
she had always thought highly of the dea-
con, and, to cut the matter short, she ac-
cepted him. a month afterward she was
installed mistress of the elders large
house, somewhat TO the surprise of the vii
lage people, who could not conceive how
she had brought him over. Some weeks
after the ceremony the elder vcnturcd to
inquire about the pot of gold which she
had found in her cellar.


"Pot of gold!' she exclaimed, in sur
prise; 81 know of none"


But" said the elder, disconnected
"vou asked me about whether the law
could claim it."


ooh, Lor'! elder, l only asked from
curiosity"


And was that the reason you made in
quiries at the bank?"


"Certainly! What else could it be?'


The elder went out to the barn, and for
half an hour sat in silent meditation. AT
the end of that time he calculated, as a
closing consideration:


after all, she makes good mince pie" "


1t gives me pleasure to state that the
union between the elder and the widow
proved very happy one, although to the
end of his life he could never make up his
mind about the "Pot of Gold"