The Widow's Stratagem.

AVidows are , I take it ( if any shall do me the honour to read this story , ancl trust they will forgive the remark ) , less disposed to weigh sentiment in a second alliance than a first , and so , in the AvidoAv ' s point of view , Elder Boyd Avas a very desirable match .

Some sagacious person , however , has observed that it takes tAvo to make a match , a fact to be seriously considered ; for in the present case , it Avas evidently doubtful if the worthy Elder , even if he had knoAvn the favourable opinion of his next neighbour , would have been inclined to propose changing her name to Boyd , unless indeed a suitable motive Ava 3 brought to bear upon him . Here Avas a chance for a little

manmanaging , Avherein AVMOAVS are said , as a general thing to be expert . One evening , after a day of fatiguing labour , AVidoAv Hayes sat at the fire in the sitting-room Avith her feet resting on the fender .

" If I ever am situated so as not to have to work so hard , " she murmured , " I shall be happy . It ' s a hard life keeping boarders . If I was only as well off as Elder Boyd . " Still the AvidoAV kept up her thinking , ancl by-and-by her face bri ghtened . She had an ideawhich she Avas resolved to put

, into execution at the earliest possible moment . What it Avas the reader will discover in the sequel . " Freddie , " said she to her son the next morning , "I Avant you to stop at Elder Boyd ' s as you go to school and ask him if

he will call on me in the course of the morning or afternoon , just as he finds it most convenient . " Elder Boyd Avas a little surprised at this summons . However , about eleven o ' clock he called in . The Avidow had got

on the dinner ancl had leisure to sit dowu . She appeared a little embarassed . " Freddie told me that you would like to see me , " he commenced , " Yes , Elder , I should ; but I am very much afraid you will think strange , at least ,

of what I have to say . " The elder very politely promised not to be surprised , though at the same time his curiosity was visibly excited . "Suppose , " said the widoiv , casting doAvn her eyes— " mind , I am only supposing a case—suppose a person should find a pot of gold pieces in their cellar , would the

law have a right to touch it , or Avould it belong to them ? " The Elder picked up his ears . " A pot of gold pieces , Avidow ? Why unquestionably the IaAV would have nothing to do with it . " " Ancl the one who formerly held the

house couldn't come forward and claim it , could he , Elder ?" " No , madam ; unquestionably not . When the house Avas disposed of everything AYent with it , as a matter of course . " I am glacl to hear it , Elder . You Avon't

think strange of the question , but it happened to occur in my mind , and I thought I would like to have it satisfied . " " Certainly , widoAV , certainly , " said- the Elder abstractedly . " And Elder , as you ' re here , I hope you

will stop to dinner with us . It will he ready punctually at 12 . " " Well , no , " said the Elder , rising , " I ' m obliged to ye ; but they'll be expecting me at home . " " At any rate , Elder , " said the Avidow , taking a steaming piece of mince pie from the oven , " you won't object to taking a piece of mince pie . You must know that

I rather pride myself on making mince pies . " The Avarm pie sent up such a delicious odour that the Elder was sorely tempted , ancl after saying , " Well , really , " with the intention of refusing , he finished by saying , " On the wholeI guess I willas it looks

, , so nice . " The Avidow was really a good cook , and the Elder ate Avith much gusto the generous piece which the widow' cut for him , and , after a little chatting upon unimportant subjectsAvithdreAT in some mental

, perplexity . "Was it possible , " thought he , " that the widow could really have found a pot of gold in 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 as far as his knoAvledge extended , there Avas no one AvhoAvouId be likely to lay up such an amount of gold ; but then the house Avas one hundred and fifty years old , at the very least , and bad had many occupants of which he kneAV nothing . It mi ght be , after all . The AvidoAv ' s earnest desire to have him