The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-31
4'rom the Springfield Republican,
4 True Story OF Human Nature.

! There was once, in a small town IN II as
sachuse,ts, an old Indian woman. Some
how other, the old woman had accun,uia-
ted quite desirable little property. YET
she was an Indian, and was treated with q
cool contempt by her neighbors. She had
no seat in the social circle, received no at
tention from those around her, and occupi-
ed a back seat in the church; and down
towards the grave she travelled without q
| friend or comforter.
| Old Nance had but one relative living
that she knew Of, and he wild gracpless
son. He was the terror of the village, and
spent his time in anything but a respectable
way. AT last the vagabond son so worried
the forbcarance Of his old mother, that she
resolved to disinherit him, and leave her
money to the church. Accordingly she
started for the house of one Of the deacous,
and made clean breast of her troubles, and
acquainted him with her determinations -
! The deacon grew from cool to very
amable mood as she proceeded, and at last
became profuse in his expressions Of graft
tude.
The will, through the agency of the dea-
con, was drawn; but the old woman, feel
| ing little compunciion, had a clause in
serted which should make it void, provided
the sou should totally reform his habits
Secrecy was enjoined upon the deacon,
who, of course, said uothng about it save
to one or two friends, wno of course spread
it all over the village in the space of one
| day.
But the change wrought in the situation
of the old Nance, was miraculous. 'tSuch
good old woman % The nice bits from
the best tables began to Journey un-
der neat napkins to her humble abode.
on ruiuy Sunday, carriage took her
10 church, where she was kindly favor
ed with a front pew, near the speaker, aud
near the stove. Her praise was in every
body's mouth, and her tottering form com
maded respect everyw here But she thriyed
remarkably under this treatment, and lived,
and lived. and lived. IN the meantime, the
son was looked upon with more than usual
distrust, and the poor widow was deeply
commisserated on his disgracefol course. -
! Years passed away, and the kind alten-
tions 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 village had
ever seen, attended her to her grave in the
church yard. There were tears shed above
her bier, and benisons breathed upon her
memory.
The funeral was passed. The deacon,
| the squire, and number of the village no.
tables were gathered in her dwelling. and in
one corner sat her sad and taciturn son.
esquire" said the deacon, 1 believe there
is a will"
eyes there is a will"
"WiIl you have the kindness 10 read
it?"
The will was produced. All was silent.
The will was read, in which all the Wild
ow's property was bequeatbed to the church.
Many an eye sought the face of the
son, but saw no change in his stolid fea-
lures.
When the reading was finished, the son
arose, and drawing a piece Of paper from
his pocket, inquired the date Of ''that ar'
will"
The date was stated, and handing the
Squire his paper, the portiouless asked him
10 read it.
Alas! it was will one day younger than
the other. The fond mother in her weak
ness. had told the son what she had done,
and he managed to have a will drawn
twenty four hours after the precious one, in
which he was the sole legatee.
The assembled wisdom and disinterest-
edness Of the village, went home thinking
and the son had the pleasant satisfaction of
knowing that his mothers last days were
her best days.
Reader, this is not fiction. 1t is but an
instance of the weakness in our common ma
lures, which, in similar developments,
comes before us with humilia,ing frequen-
cy, alike in the highest or lowest walks of
life: