Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-07-02
From the Springfield Republican.
A Tree Story Of Human Naturr.

rrce Story Of Human Natur.
There onco lived in an obscure town Il
Massachusetts an old Indian woman. Some
how or other the old woman had aocumula
ted quite desirable little property. Yet sh
was an Indian. and she was treated wiz
cool contempt by her neighbors. She ha.
no seat In the social circle, received no atteu
ton from those around her. occupied blacl
pew in the church. and down toward tn,
grave she travelled. withou, friend or com
forter
Old Nance had but one relative living tha
she know of, and he. wild, graeeless son.
he was the terror Of the village, and sper
his tine IN anything but respectable wey
AT last the vagabond so worried the forbear.
ancs of his old mother that in hasty mo
inent she resolved to disnhert him and leave
her money to The Church.
Accordingly she started for the house Q,
one ofthe Deacons, and mado clean brea ;,
OF her troubles, and acquainted him other de-
termination. The Deacon grew from cool
to very smiable mood as she proceeded.
and, at last became profuse In his express
ions Of gratitude.
The will, through the agency of tho Dsa-
con, was drawn. but the old woman, feeling
little compunclion, had clause inserted
which should make it void, provided the son
should totally reform his habits Secresy
was joined upon tho Deacon, who of course
told nobody but his wife, who of course said
nothing about il, save to two or three friends,
who, OF course spread it all over tho village
ia the space of one day.
But the change wrought in the situation OF
old Nance was miraculous. "Such good
old woman" The nice bits from the best
tables began to journey, under neat ma pkns,
TO her humble abode. On a rainy Sabbath,
a carriage took her up at her door, and car.
ried her to church. where she was kindly IA
vo.ed with front pew, near the speaker, and
near the stove. Her praise was ia every body's
mouth. and her tottering form commanded
respect every where. But she thriyed r.
mskaoy under this treatment, and lived and
lived.
In the meantime, the son was looked on
with mere than usual distrust and the poor
widow deeply commiserated on his sadly dis.
graceful course.
Years passed away, and the kind attention
Of friends were still continued to the widow.
when, at last, old Nancy slept the sleep that
knows no waking. A large funeral, one of
-he largest the little village had ever seen,
attended her to her grave in the quiet church
yard. There were tears shed above her
bier, and benisons breathed upon her memo
y.
The funeral was past. The Deacon, tho
Squire and a number of the village noIabhs. |
were gathered in her dwelling, and in one
corner OF tho room sat the sad and taciturn |
,on.
Squire" said the Deacon, Il believe
hero Is will"
"Yes. there is a will"
.'Will you have the kindness to read itl"
The will was produced. All was silent -
The will was read, in which all tho widows
property have bequeathed To the Church.
Many an eye sought the face of the Prod-
al sun, but saw no change in bic stvid fca-
ures.
When the reading was finished, the SON
rose and drawing piece Of paper from his
ocket, inquired the date of "that ar will"
The date was stated. and handing the
quiro his paper, tho portionless asked him
, read il.
Alas! it was little one day younger than
le other. Tho fond mother in her weakness
ad told the son what she had done, and no
Ianaged to have a will drawn twenty four
ours after previous one, in which ho was
le solo legOtee
The assembled wisdom and dsinterested {
oss OF the village went home thinking, and
le son had the pleasant satisfaction of know ,
g that his mothers last days were her best ,
iys Reader, this is not a fiction. Ii is but
a instance of the weakness in our common
atures, which, in similar developments, :
'mes before us with humiiating frequency.
ike in the highest and lowest walks of life. c