Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-11-09

aud invited Fanny and Oliver to place themselves
beside him.
i The four young mon were very irregular and in
consistent in their behavior. AS often as their UNI
cle sagni6sd any OF hts numerous wants, their ha-
bitual sycophancy caused them to start forward to
wait OIL him; but their recent disappointment with
regard to the disposal of his wealth, and their Sc
cret consciousness of tho illicit means they had
made of to discover the tenor of his will, rem
dered them unable to watch his countsnance, and
anticipate his demands by keeping their eyes on
his face, as heretofore.
| Their uncle saw that they were all in a strange
way, and that something unusual was possessing
them, and frequently in the midst of his talk with
Col. Brigham, he stopped to look at them and Won
!. der. Something having reminded him of a certain
ridiculous anecdoe, he related it to the amusement
Dfthe Brighams, who heard it for the FIRST time. Mr.
Culpepper, OH looking over at his nephews, per-
ceived that instead OF laughing in concerts Gas they
always did al this, his favorite Joke, they all APP
peared distrait, and as if they had not paid the
slightest attention to it, He bent forward across
the table, and fixing his keen eyes upon then said
wtha scrutinizing look and i'll under-tone, s'Yo
have been reading my wil!'
| The poor Lambleys all laid down their knives and
forks, turned pale, aud nearly fell back i'll their
chairs.
"Don't expose yourselves farther,'' whispered
Culpepper, leaning across to them, 81 know you
all - and then turning to Colonel Brigham, he
with much sang troid pursued the conversation.
Oliver, (who alone of the family understood what
was passing,) began to feel much compassion for
the poor young men. The scene became very pain
full to him. and finding that his aversion to the un-
Gle was increasing almost beyond cOncealment, he
hastily finished his coffee, and quilted the room.
When breakfast was over, and they were all lea-
wing the table, old Calpepper said aside to his ne
phews, SIN founding an hospital for idiots, still
give you all opportunity of benefting by my boun-
y.,
They Redeemed, and were about TO quit the par
our, when their uncle, taking chair himself said
to them, s'sit down, all OF your They mechanic
cally obeyed, looking if they were about to re-
ceive sentence fdeath Fanny began ofeel fright
cned, and glided out of the room; hermohe having
just followed the departure of tho breakfast things.
Colonel Brigham rose also to go, whom Mr.. Gull
pepper stopped him, saying, "Remain my good
friend. Stay and hearmy explanation otsome things
that must have excited your curiosty''
He then took down the red box The nephews
looked at each other, and sort of wh isper
long the line, which ended in their all jumping up
together, and boiling out at the door.
Mr.. Culpepper gazed after them awhile, and
then turned towards Colonel Brigham with sardo-
mic laugh on his face swell, well,'' said he, sthey
right II is refreshing to them for once act
ing naturally. TWAS, perhaps, expecting too much,
of them, 10 suppose they would sci still and lis
ten to all Twas likely to say, for they know Inc
not have dared to quit the room when l ordered
them to remain.o
lie then proceeded to relate that he was n native
Of Quebec, where in early life he had long been
gagged in very profitable commercial business, and
had been left widower at the age OF forty. few
years afterwards he married again. Hssecond wife
was lady of large fortune, which she made over to
him, on condition that he should take her family
name of Culpeppsr. The Mr.. Lambeys were the
nephews of his wife, being the children of her
younger sister. On the death of their parents, he
was induced by her to give them a home in his
house.
The four Lambleys had very little property ofiheir
own, their father having disspated nearly all that
he had acquired by his marriage They had been
educated for professions, in which it was found
that they had neither the ability nor the persever
ance to succeed; eirwhole souls seeming concern
trated to point, that of gaining the favor ofheir
uncle, (who lost his second wife few years after
their marriage,) and with this object they We'd with
each other in course of unremitting and untiring
sevilites, foelishly surprising it the only way to
accomplish their aim of eventually becoming his
| heirsr
| All that they gained beyond tho payment oftheir
current expenses, was Mr.. Culpepper's unqualified
contempt He made secret resolution to revenge
himself on their duplicity, and to disappoint their
mercenary views by playing them trick at the last,
| and he had will drawn up, in which he devised
tai. This will he always carried about with him
| in the morocco box.
| He had come TO the United States on tour for
the benefit of his health, and also satisfy himself
TO the truth Of all he had heard respecting tho
unparalleled improvement of the country since it
had thrown off the yoke, which his fellow subjects
ofCanada were still satisfied to wear
sIAnd now,'' continued Mr.. Cupepper to his
landlord, 'syou have not all that is in the red
box. know not by what prcsentiment am im-
PEELED, but short acquaintance has been,
cannot resist an unaccountable inclination to speak
more openly ofmy private affairs 10 you, Colonel
Brigham, than to any person have ever mot with.
feel persuaded that shall find no to regret
having done so. It is long time since have had
any one near me to whom conld talk CONFIDENTIAL
ly." And he added with sigh, 81 fear that
may say with Shakspeare's Richard, 3lhere is no
creature loves me.'''
Mr.. Cslpepper then opened the red box, and took
out from beneath the will, and several other docu-
nents that lay under it, folded paper, which he
held in his hand for some moments in silence. lie
then gave it to Col. Brigham, saying, edo you o.
pen il; cannot. II is more than twenty years
since have seen it.n
10 be continually
The FAR WEsT.-Where shall we find the far
west! Within your recollection and mine, this
spot was SO considered but now, the west is barely
thought Of, when speaking of Buffalo; and eyon AZ
Chicago, you hear the west spoken of as we did OF
Buffalo a few years ago. The vast tide Of emigra-
ton cannot be stopped until the Pacific opposes a
barrier. have just left gentleman who has made
large purchases on the Rock River and who informs
me that it is one of the most beautiful countries IN
the western world.
Attic early period of the settlement of this coun-
try, the water craft were canoes; Buffalo har-
Dor resembles more seaport than many of your
Atlantic cities. Since have been here g days,)
the arrivals have been upward of thirty each day.
Among them was the new ship Milwaukes, from
Chicago, With cargo ofupward Of three thousand