Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-10-02
From the London Magazine.
READING THE WILL.

anced bride, Constance Graham, requesting m
to attend, at two O'Clock that day, at the house
| her late uncle in Harley street, for the purpos
OF hearing his will read. had the greatest pleas
| ure in complying with this invitation. Thouc]
Constance is the prettiest and most amiable elr
OF my acquaintance, had determined never /
marry her while her uncle lived he had roclaim
ed her his heiress, but frequently took offence a
| something or at nothing in her behavior, an,
threatened to bequeath his wealth to an hospital
a prison, or lunatic asylum. felt quite easy o,
the present occasion, for Mrs Bates. Mr. Graham,
hoLsekeeper, had given me information that, onl,
an hour before her masters death, he had told he
ne had handsomely provided for Constance.
felt, however, that it was my policy to appear ig
norant OF that circumstance, Constance bein,
very romantic, and Constance's mother very sus
picious.
AT the appointed time walked into the draw
inSroom in Harley street; the very few relative
= The old gentleman were assembled. Their,
was Constance, looking as Hebe might have look
cd II ever Hebe had worn Grape and bombasin
Constance's mother looking very stiff. cross, ant
uneasy; an elder female cousin, and striplin,
nephew of the deceased. feared none of them
knew Mr. Graham disliked his fine sister-in-law
despised the servihty Of his elder cousin, am,
dreaded the frolics of his STRIPPING nephew.
seated myself by Constance, and in a soft ton,
began TO protest my affection and disinterested
neSN.
"knowing the caprice Of your uncle, nv be-
loved," said, 81 have every reason to conchpl,
that shall hear you are disinherited; this, how
ever, will be Of little moment to me: | hay,
enough for comfort. though not for luxury, ant
as the song beautifully says
"stll fixed in my heart be it never forgot
That wealth Of the cottage is love-" =
81 fancy, Mr. Chiffon" said Constance,s moth
er, looking excessively sneering and shrewish
"that it is pretty well known that nv dauehte,
IS the sole heress of her uncle's wealth.,
"Indeed. madam?" replied, with start O,
surprise, II was not aware that anv surmise wa.
hazarded concerning the contents of Mr. Graham:
will.o
81 have heard a surmise hazarded," sharply in.
terrupted the elderly cousin sthat Mr. Graham
was not in his senses when he made it.''
"The mind must be both base and weak, :. re.
torted Constance's mother, "which could give
credence to such rumor.. And forthwith a
dies, during which whispered to Constance q
page OF Moore's poetry done into prose-
Temple now entered the room, the solicitor
and intimate friend of the late Mr. Graham: be
was handsome young man, and had presumed
at one time to lift his eyes to Constance; he
opened his viii, and we all became mutely atten-
tive Oh, what disappointment awaited us -
Three thousand pounds We're bequeathed 10 Con-
stance (this was the old fellows idea of hand
some provision y FIVE hundred to the elderly
cousin, ditto to the s:ripling nephew, small lesa-
cies TO the servants, and the remainder of his
wealth TO found a cold-water establishment for
the reception of those who were no, rich enough
to pay sratuity for being half drowned Tenn
pie read the names Of the attesting witnesses and
then refreshed himself with sherry and biscuits
As he was friend Of the family, his presence
was no restraint on conversation.
''rhat will ought to be disputed" said Con-
stances mother, looking very red Il do not be-
lieve Mr. Graham was in his senses when he made
ito
II thought,' said the elderly cousin with a
sneer, "that the mind must be both base and
weak which could give credence to such sur
mise"
"Dear mama," said Constance, edo not be dis
composed; l am very well contented-I shall not
be quite portionless brides Constance here
held out her delicate white hand to mel affected
not to see it,
''My dear Miss Graham" said, .sdo not be-
l'eve me SO cruel and selfish as to wish to plunge
you into poverty"
81 thought you said that your income was suf-
fcient for every comfort remarked the strip
ling nephew.
| did not condescend to answer him. but con-
tlnned; 'No Constance, though it breaks NV
heart, give you back your freedom, saying. in
the pathetic words of Haynes Bayle. ''May
your lot in life be happy undisturbed by thoughts
of mer' Twas just making towards the door,
leaving Constance looking more like Nohe than
Hebe. when Temple said. 81 think the party had
better remain till | have read the codicil."
reseated myself, and Temple forthwith read
that the testator, being convinced that he had re-
ceived no benefit from the cold-water system, re-
voked and re>cinded his legacy to it, bequeath-
ing the same TO his beloved niece Constance Gra-
ham.
''Coustance! dear Constance!" l exclaimed.
in the softest of tones. But Constance looked
we're as Media. then attacked Temple, sis it
legal" | said. ''only to read part of a will?''
81 read every word of the will, > he said ''and
having greatly fatigued myself by so doing,
trust that it was perfectly legal to refresh my
self with glass of sherry before read the cod
icil."
was going to utter some further remarks,
when Constance's mother said, ''Good morning,
Mr. Chiffon - in tone Of voice which left me
no alternative but to echo her leave taking, and
descended the stairs, pursued by smothered
laugh from the party in the drawing room, re-
turned home in very low spirits, and entered my
adventure, or rather misadventure, in my diary.
deducng from it this very valuable piece Of ad-
vice to gentleman in search of fortune: ssNever
believe that will is concluded till yor have in
quired whether there is any codicil to t.''
Is Truth Stranger than Fiction!
A Yankee pedlar who had stopped in coffee
house to refresh himself, one hot day (says the
Yankee Biade) heard very sage old gentleman
remark, in answer to friend, who had been re-
lating some marvellous story said TO be true,
''truly truth is stranger than felton, So Jona-
than, stepping up and sapping the astonished gent
on the back, said
''You're mistaken right thar, old hoss, faint so
and to pruv It, I'll wager you juleps for the
crowd that can tell one fiction that'll ,est 20
ahead of any truth as ever you heard tell on.''
"Good,'' said the old gentleman, ''fd Ike to
hear any fiction that can 60 ahead Of Christopher
Columbus"
"Pshaw! Christopher Columbus amt sar-
kumsance," said Jonathan; shut here goes
"Onst was standing by big river, out in Sa-
harry ceser; that was dried up. The sun shone
so all fred hot, that was obleeged to tie nv
over my eyes to keep from bein'
blinded and as was standin' thar, | happened
to look down the river and seed big boat with
out any bottom come floatin' up stream. with
hull lot of fellers in her one of 'em bad no eyes,
t'other no arms-another no legs, and the last
chap in the starn of the boat had no mouth
Gosh! | never seed sich a sight before; | was
scared like bazes-apd jest stud and looked at
'em. Presently the chap as had no eyes, looked
down and seed a ten cent piece at the bottom of
the river, and the fellow who had no arms leant
over and picked it up, then handed it to the chap
who had no legs--and he jumped out of the boat,
waded to shore, went to grog shop wot wasn't
thar, bot pint of whiskey, and handed it to the
fo1Ioyy had no mouth and he drapind II m