Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-01-24
A Story with a Moral.
THE LEGACV.


lucky as George Andrews and his wife" OBJ
served Mrs. Henderson one evening 10 her
husband, in tone which bordered strongly on
complaint.
Wha. has happened to them now, So
phia :" inquired he. suspending his pen, and
looking up with stronger sense of interest in
his wIes feelings, however, than in his neigh
bors' fortunes.
"Have you no. heard, Philip, ,ha, cousin
OF his has died in India, and left him six or
seven thousand pounds Only think of re-
ceiving such legacy from person one has
never seen, and scarcely ever heard of"
:" am glad to hear it," replied Mr.. Hender.
son. "One may congratulate him on his ac-
cession OF wealth without fear of giving rise TO
painful regrets. Six thousand pounds would
not console one for the loss of very dear
friend"
Six thousand pounds would be very pleas
an, TO inherit, Philip, replied the lady in a tone
which seemed to imply that it would console
her for grea, deal. Il wish somebody would
leave as much for you: how happy IL would
make US !"
&" am no. sure of that: such an addition
TO our income nigh, possibly make US neither
happier nor richer than we are al present"
1" No, richer Why Philip, you are joking.
Would not three hundred year-and If pro-
per!y managed, i, would produce thal-nake
US grea, deal richer! What an advantage il
would be :"
"Wha, do you need. Sophia, ha, you do no,
al present possess, that you are 80 extremely
desirous of larger income %
"Oh. dozen things at least /; we would
put Edward TO frsl-raIe school, and have a
capital governess for the others. Wha, d
pleasure that would be should be no more
tled 10 teaching, as am now, bu. should be as
independent Of the nursery as Mrs. Andrews !;
and then, perhaps, you would indulge me with
week in London; and am dying TO near an
opera! am sure you could afford that for
once in way"
:" hope we shall manage 10 put Edward 10
good school, my dear" said her husband
rather grasely; though as TO the tuition Of
the g'rls, think you must still be conten,ed 10
act the par, of mother towards them And
permi! me TO say, that trust your desire of
going TO London is as visionary as your expec
lauon of legacy. Your happiness does not
depend on ellher event. should imagine cer-
ralnly no, nearly SO much as on the cultivation
of cheerful and conlen,ed spirit, such as you
have hitherto exhibited"
No more was said on this subject, and Mr..
Henderson trusted lhat as the first excitement
Of this intelligence subsidized, his wlfe's inclIna
ZION 10 dlsconlenl would die away, and that
she would gradually resume The use of her
reason and her habits of active usefulness.
The inherIlor Of This unexpected legacy,
meantime, did not view the affair in the bright
coIors that dazzled Mrs Henderson. On the
contrary, he had many and serious thoughts on
the subject He was al the first moment, ii is
true, much pleased with this sudden accession
of properly, but when be came 10 consider
The matter, he experienced great resulsion of
feeling and he began TO doubt whether he
was SO lucky man as his acquaintance uni
versaIy denominaed him. 1t was, after all,
so small sum-onIy six thousand pounds-it
would hardly add 10 his income or increase
his credit, Why had il no, been ten thousands
He would, he thought, have been quite satisfied
with that that would have been handsome
legacy, something worth talking about, gfl
TO be grealfu for. Perhaps, had 1t been ten
thousand, he nigh, have risen step in the
world, and from senior clerk of the extensive
firm 10 which he belonged he nigh. have been
admitted as partner; change which he ar.
dently desired. Why could not his cousin
have made the legacy larger? How provoking
that, either from want Of interest in his welfare
or from any oher cause, he had stopped short
Of sum which would certainly have procured
him, as he imagined, perfect happiness.
The gloom which oyer.spread his brow was
no. unmarked by his affecuona,e wife, and
supposing Iha. he was over.wearied with his
work, and standing in need of relaxation, she
one day proposed that he should beg short
holiday from The office, and spend it with them
al The seaside.
g cannot afford any such extravagant pleas
nres," was his reply. somewhat impanenlly'
% her suggestion.
/" | though. this legacy you have received
would have enabled you" replied she rather
lmdly--lhen paused.
Legacy w repeated he, am sick OF the
egacy. After all the congratulations with
v hich am peslered, as if had inherited ball
he Indas, 10 be The owner Of only six thousand
,ound.-il is 100 bad !"
Nay, dear George, cannot agree with
,ou six thousand pounds is large sum tor
-, and will make mos, comfortable addition
o our income. am sure feel grateful for H.
Gra,sful-pooh: lfEdward Davis wished
ne 10 be grateful, he should have left me some
hing worth naming Upon my word, ! was
shamed 10 own this legacy, which has made
o much noise. was only six thousand pounds
ghea the eldest Walker asked me abou II To-
al mi I'm