The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-02
From the Springfield (NInss.,) Republican.
A True Story of Human Nature.

There once lived in an obscure town
in Massachusetts,, an old In liam woman.
Somehow or other, the old woman
had accumulated quite desirable little
property. Yet she was an Indian, and
was treated with cool contempt by her
neighbors She had no seat at the So
cial circle, received no attention from
those around her, occupied a back pew
in the church, and down toward the grave
she Travelled, without friend or comforter.
Old Nance had but one relative liv-
ing, that she knew of, and he, a wild,
graceless son. lie was the terror OF the
village and spent his time in anything
but respectable way. At last, the vag-
abond SO worried the forbearance of his
old mother. that, in lasty moment, she
resolved to disinherit him, and leave her
money to the Church.
Accordingly she started for the house
of one of the Deacons, and made a clean
breast of her troubles, AMI acquainted
him with her determination. The Dea>
con grew from cool to very amiable
mood as she proceeded, and, al last, be,
came proruse in his expressions of graft
itude.
The will, through the agency of the
Deacon, was drawn, but the old woman,
feeling little compunction, had clause
inserted which should make il void, pro-
vlded the son should totally reform his
habits. Secresy was enjoined upon the
Deacon, who of course told nobody but
his wife, who Of course said nothing a,
bout it, save to two or three friends, who
of course spread it all over the village
in the space of one day.
But the change wrought in the situa-
/ ton of old Nance was miraculous. "Sucb
good old womal !" The nice bits from
the best tables began to journey, under
neat napkins, to her humble abode. On
a rainy Sabbath, carriage took her up
at her door, and carried her to church,
where she was kindly favored with a
front pew, near the speaker, and near
the stove.-IIcr praise was in-everybodys
mouth, and her tottering form command
ed respect everywhere. But she thrived
remarkably under this treatment, and
lived, and lived, and lived In the mean
time, the son was looked upon with more
than usual distrust, and the poor widow
was deeply commisernted on his dis
graceful course.
Years passed away, aud the kind at
tenions of friends were still continued
to the widow, when, at last, old Nance
slept the sleep that knows no waking. A
large funeral, one of the largest the little
village had ever seen, attended her to
f her grave in the quiet church yard.
There were tears shed above her bier,
and benisons breathed upon her mems
ory.
The funeral was past. The Deacon,
the Squire, and number Of the village
) nolabes, were gathered in her dwelling
. and in one corner of the loom sat the
sad aud taciurn son.
, esquire" said the Deacon, 81 believe
there is a will. "
r "Yes. there is a will"
, "Wili you have the kindness to read
it. "
The will was produced. All were 81.
| lent. The will was read, in which all
. the widows property was bequeathed tc
r the Church. Many an eve sought the
face Of the prodigal son, but saw M
change in his stolid features.
. When the reading was fnis he'd, the
son arose and drawing a piece of paper
4 from his pocket, inquired the date o
J., mat ar VIII
r. The date was stated, and handing tho
Squire his paper, the portionless asked
him to read it,
Alas il was will one day younge
. than the other. The fond mother in lie,
weakness had told the son what she haC
i done, and he managed to have a will
d drawn twenty-iour hours after the pre-
. vlous one, in which he was the sole leg
9 atee.
n The assembled wisdom and disinterest
edness Of the village went home think
5 ing, and the son had the pleasant salts
IF faction of knowing that his mothers las
e days were her best days. Reader, thi
4, is not fiction. 1t is but an instance q
f. the weakness in our common natures
d which, in similar Developments, come
h. before US with humilating frequency
alike in the lowest aud higher walks c
st life.
'r % A young lady, seventeen years {
Y, age, committed suicide at st Louis late
v ly, because her relatives would not pei
l. NIT her TO adopt the profession of III
Stage. In a letter stating her inentio
,..1 h. l..