The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-10-17

suspicion, and despair, haunted him,
night and dav.-Iie reliShed no food,
nor derived spirit from any cordials.
His intellect had evidently suffered
prior to his confinement, but he had
now frequent attacks of dclerium.
His conversation was at all times
about his money, and he required
his nurse fifty times a day to rattle
the large tin box which contained
his gold. If he dreamed he would
talk about his treasures, and often
was heard to hold earnest converse
ton with some of those with whom
he had frequently done business !;
more than once he awoke himself
by struggles with some spirit Of i'm
imagination who was Wrestling his
wealth from him. In order to be
fully assured that he had really lost
nothing in such conflicts, he would
often, at the dead of night, have the
whole contents of his cashbox coun-
ted over before him. The nurse,
somewhat alarmed by his CONVEX
sation and conduct, refused TO stay
with him, unless he had some female
to bear her company; whereupon
he mentioned hiS wish that Maria, a
niese to whom he had always been
partial, should be sent for, and she
too become an inmate Of his dwell
ing.
At length it was found necessary
to inform him that his end was APP
preaching and that his viii must be
made. He reluctantly consented.
Morton, neighboring pettyfogging
attorney, was sent for, as McDou-
gal had before employed him in two
cases, on the prudent principle-"of
two evils choose the least" Nor
ton was a shrivelled up shrewd lit
tie fellow, with a keen eye for the
main chance and not burdencd with
much tenderness of concicnce. With
very scanty knowledge of law, he
had managed to insinuate himself in
to a tolerable extensive and lucra-
tive practice. But he had a ready
insight into human nature, conSi-
dcIable tact in Selling the reigning
principle orpassion of his employers
and the precise point for striking in
with them, so as to accomplish his
own purposes under prctence Of
personal and generous sacrifices for
their advantage. Binding his eli
ents with batteries exactly suited to
their different minds, and habits and
circumstances, he offended none,
but greatly pleased every body
and himself more than any others.
His first business with McDougal
cost him some address and produced
him but little profit, but he had his
eye on the future. In the second
affair he was equally moderate in
his charge, but hinted, since so mu-
table were human affairs, that a man
Of Mr.. McDougafs property should
have his miW made, SO long as bu.
siness was effected and charges
were small, they neither Of them
thought much of principle or char
acter.
Morton came to make McDou-
gals Willie offered many kind
inquiries and fcigned very great con-
Germ to find his old an generous friend
the mere ruins Of lis former self.
The nurse was seated by the bedside
and Maria stood near, deeply aiIcc-
ted at sight she had never before
beheld-the final adjustment of tenn
porary things-thc prophecy and
decree of what was to take place
when her uncle should be no longer
of this world.-Morton sat down on
the side of the bed and made his
knee serve as writing desk. Nc
Dougal raised himseli-the presence
of the man of laws reused him from
his torpors ; his eye shot out again,
like spirits coming from sepul-
chreS. ....
"Morton," said he, "the worlds
a cheat. ought to have had a
good round sum by this time, and
shouldn't the worlds a cheat"
"Truc," replied the lawyer, "and
it must have been difficult and pain
full for man of your principles, Mr..
McDougal, to acquire a competen-
cy; but you know | was always rea-
dy to see you rightcd."
"You were, and I'll not forget
it,"
ooh! thank you, Mr.. McDou-
GAL" said Morton with graceful in
clination of the head, "but you and
| always settle with mutual satisfac-
ton, believe, sir ~
"Well, Morton, | have only hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars to
dispose of. must leave it, find,
ana my relations have the first
claim. To each of my four brothers
leave fifteen thousand, TO each Of
my six sisters. twelve thousand &c