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 future prospects and in mutually agreeing that an immediate marriage was absolutely necessary after the already published bans, while I determined to write that very day to Frankfort on the Maine, and make inquiry concerning the ex-count and the much-needed curacy.

By the closest economy Frederica had saved one hundred dollars from the scanty wages of gone-by years; this, she declared, would keep us going for some time, and I suggested that if the worst came and no curacy could be had, I could readily open a private school; and, at any rate, we felt that with only bread and water, if shared in company, we could be perfectly happy.

While thus, amid utter poverty, we chatted gaily together, she boasting of her skill in concocting cheap soups, I calculating the income that must certainly ensue to an industrious teacher, something was heard to strike against the board-stand behind the chaise, and on looking out I found that it was a bright Louisd’or which had just found its way to the ground. “You had almost lost it, Frederica,” I smilingly observed, as I sprang in, after taking possession of the precious coin.

“I had no gold about me to lose, Ferdinand,” was her reply, as she looked wonderingly on the piece of money.

With this assurance I quietly pocketed the same as a sort of recompense for my services as driver to its probable owner, the attachè.

Presently we heard another clink, and again a Louisd’or was found. “Some good fairy has taken us under her especial favour,” I observed to my companion as, seizing on the treasure, I searched in vain for its companion. None was to be seen, and so we quietly jogged on until the mysterious game was for the third time played, and another Louisd’or was revealed.

“There must be something wrong about this chaise,” was my sudden thought, and on making search I perceived a fourth coin which was just about issuing through a small crevice in one corner of the chaise box, which proved to be our gold mine. With some slight effort of strength I succeeded in breaking it open, and found that the noise and continual rattling which I had supposed to proceed from some secret spring or chain, was really a bag of gold, which had become worn into holes by the constant movement of the chaise. Other bags, but closely fastened, were within the box, and on being handled, seemed to be filled with similar contents.

How my predecessor of the chaise had come into possession of so much gold, or whether it was really his, I know not, but Frederica and I mutually agreed that we had no right to a cent of the same; that it was far more than we, with our modest desires, could ever need, and that our first duty must be to advertise for its owner. With these observations, we made the contents more sure, carefully closed the box, and continued our journey as if nothing especial had taken place.

At length the ride was ended, and Frederica’s loving mother received and embraced us both with tears and blessings. The treasure was given over to her safe keeping; a full advertisement of chaise, horses and money was written out and despatched to the Gazette office, whence it was issued during several months, but no one came forward to lay claim to the property, and it necessarily became my own.

And thus my adventures have reached a most happy termination, for, besides being blest with the possession of a most amiable, faithful and lovely wife, I found myself richer in worldly goods than even in my most sanguine moments I had hoped to be. After sending a generous remuneration to my Berlin friend for his lost equipage, I wrote a letter declining the expected curacy, and purchased a beautiful little country-seat, with its tasteful cottage completely embowered in linden and chestnut trees, and just large enough to afford free space to my wife, my wife’s mother, and myself—which three were the first inmates of that earthly paradise.





