Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-08-13
From The Tsekiy Symbol
Uncle Jonas and his Heirs.

! Old Uncle Jonas was seventy years old, and his
( thick, fine hair lay like silver on his Temples His
tail form was but slightly bent and there was a
rudy glow on his healthy cheek. In short. from
appearances, Uncle Jonas bid fair to live fifteen or
twenty years longer. Now, though this might be
very agreeable and pleasant to the old gentleman
himself, there were two young gentlemen who were
not quite SO delighted with the prospect Uncle
Jonas was rich aud he had two heirs in the shane
OF two idle, good-ior.lile nephews named James
aud Joseph, but commonly cilled Jem and Joe
Now, how II happened that Jem aud Joe consider
ed themselves sole heirs TO Uncle Jo-as is not very
well known, Tor there were other nephews beside
themselves, and much more deserving, but never
theess 1t was so, and Uncle Jonas himself seemed
somewhat to favor the idea but some said it was
because he was under the influence Of his brother
the father oil the young men, who ruled him almost
like child. In fact his brothers rule had lately
become very Irksome to Uncle Jonas, who at first
submitted TO II from affection, and certain indo.
lenee and dislike to the exercise of strong will but
as he found 1t encroaehing more and more every
day, he became sensible that unless he resisted soon
he would have no free will left
! 1t was fine, warm summer day, and Uncle
Jonas having returned from a walk over his extern
sve grounds, entered his cool, darkened pailor
and reclining himself in large easy chair, fell
l asleep. He was seated near an open window
through whose closed blinds came a soft summer
breath, fragrant with the perfume of lilies. What
wonder that in his pleasant dream he thought a soft
white hand was bathing his forehead with cool
odorsI The sound Of voices at length awoke him.
and he listened at first halfasleep, halfdreaming-
He seemed, in few minutes, however, to acquire
sudden interest in the conversation for he started
slightly, and listened with earnest surprised ex-
preston, then rising softly he peeped cautiously
through the blinds out Oh the piazza, which run.
ming round the main house, made right angle
near the window. Here, in the shade, lounged on
the settees which we're placed at intervals were his
two nephews, each with a cigar in his mouth.
| They were tall, well.formed youths enough but
cunning was the marked expression Of their uninie
lectual faces which possessed youth, health, aud
somewhat regular features, which. however, did not
quite redeem their sandy hair, white eyebrows, and
light blue eyes.
/ say, Jem, YOU needn't trouble yourself said
the younger Of the two, for saw the old man go
down TO the Willow Pond an hour ago, and he can't
come back without my seeing him.
/ wonder he don't have the kindness TO tumble
into the Willow Pond | should think he meant 10
hang on 10 all eternity.
/ Oh, answered Joe, with coarse laugh he's as
tongh as pn-wire but his time will come at last
and then his money bags will have to sweat,
promise you.
| The first thing shall do will he TO cut down
those big trees, and have all this great useless green
spot planted with potatoes
You may do what you've mind 10, with this
place I'm content with the house in the city. and
then we'll who'll have fast tTotler ihat'll beat
Joe Staples.
/ Have you seen Black Charley, Uncle Jonas thinks
so much Of? said Jem, knocking the ashes from
his cigar. S'pose we go aud take a look at him
He's fiery fellow, and it's chance he don't break
his masters neck. We should break our hearts at
such distressing event, shouldn't we, Joel
| We should be plunged into the depths of aillic-
ton, answered Joe, in tone of mock soemnity,-
and lighting a fresh cigar, Uncle Jonas hopeful
heirs took their way 10 the stable
Well, said Uncle Jonas. throwing himself back
with deep sigh, into his easy chair. So the I'M
grateful boys already wish would break my neck
--umph or drown myself in the Willow Pond
umphl So they think AM as tough as pin-wre
! Aye, aye They shall find | am tougher than they
expect. They shall find they have missed figure
in their calculations the empty-headed, falseheart-
ed varets THY my heirs We shall see, we
shall see And Uncle Jonas up, tall and
erect, aud energetic, you would have thought him
ten years younger than when he sat down.
About FIVE miles from where Uncle Jonas lived
away up in cool green lane. was a small black
coilage. with sloping roof that run down so far
behind that II almost rested on the green bank
]
as you would be like TO see in riding through the
country, and there would have been nothing attrac.
tive about il, if il had not been oyeriung by an
immense elm tree, which cast its grateful shallow
! far and wide before the open cottage door. All
was very still around this lowly dwelling The
murmur oflhe bright little brook that went dancing
and sparkling over the stones was mingled with
the low hum of busy wheel, beside which sat
blooming young girl Of some twenty-five or three
! he tt.o 4 Il -
gown, and black skirt, from beneath which peep
ed a well shaped foot clad in snow white hose
Pretty Mary Miller was wont to sing as she piled
her wheel, but to-day her sweet voice was silent,
and now and then bright tear glislened on her
eyelid. Mary had seen sorrowlu days since the
death Of her father, and now as their little property
diminished rapidly, she dreaded lest she should be
obliged 10 leave her poor mother, and her humble
but happy home, and seek her fortune in the wide
world. So while her hands wrought mechanically
at their wonted task, her mind busy shaping
ont future scenes. Suddenly the rapid tread Of
horses feet aroused her, and looking up she be.
held fine looking man mounted on proud black
steed refined up before her.
Mary sprung from her wheel, and fastened to
welcome her old friend Uncle Jonas Good Mr.
Staples who had been friend TO them in all their
trials. lie was always welcome. Uncle Jones
declined entering the cottage so Mary brought out
another chair, and bowl of her richest milk for
her visitor, and her dark eyes sparkled with pleas
ure, as her benevolent friend received it with
smile and kind thanks
After few enquiries about her mother and how
things were going on, made in rather an absent
manner, TO be sure, Uncle Jonas moved his chair
nearer TO Mary, and with the air Of man who has
made up his mind, he took her hand ia his, and
said, simply and candidy,
My dear Mary, am old and you are young, and
| al. ILL - A. -