Vermonts Gold Brook

Prior to the Civil War an old Vermont trapper used to trade his marten, mink, fisher and otter pelts at a general store in Burlington. After he had filled several boxes with groceries, new traps, a new ax, a shovel and other necessities, he would return to the counter for a talk with the proprietor. When he was certain no one was watching he would plunk down a small handful of gold nuggets which he exchanged for cash. He would never reveal the source of the yellow metal, although everyone knew that his trapline was at the foot of Mount Mansfield. For years the old man continued this practice, but one spring he failed to show up as usual. He died during the winter without telling anyone where he had found his gold. Within a few years, the story of the gold was all but forgotten by the citizens of Burlington.