Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-07-27
SOMETHING ADVANTAGEOUS;
Or. a Family Fracas.

| OF the name OF Jordan, IN his last Illness.
l call him poor, yet he was not in want,
and had about him the comforts of life
When he was near to his end, he said to
me -
doctor, l want to know the truth
from you. 1 am not in the habit of being
hattered By the world. But there was a
time, indeed, when it fooled me to the
top of my bent;' but that was long ago.
/ Do not hatter me, but tell me your real
opinion. Shall soon die, or shall yet
| linger on a brief career in a world, l am
quite willing to be done with ?'
"You desire me-" replied l, 'stob be can
did with you. and l will. You are on
your death-bed
''How soon shall be immortal 90
"That l cannot say. But your hours,
so far as human experience can teach me
to predict, are numbered"
He was silent for few moments, and
slight spasm passed across his face
g Well" he said. cit is the loss of all.
l have lived long enough"
sc Is there no friend or relation, Mr.
Jordan" said 1, "to whom you would
wish to send p? You are here, as you
have often told me, quite alone in your
lodgings. Perhaps you would like to
revive some old recolIections before you
leave the world"
{" Not one;' he said.
Are you completely isolated ?"
''Most completely. 1 have tried all re-
lations. and found them wanting. But
still have remembered them and made
my will. 1t is now between the matrass
and sacking of this bed; and Mr.. Shaw,
the only honest attorney | have ever met
with, and who resides in Lincoln's Inn
Fields, will carry my intentions into eff
feet. was rich once in early life. How
dark day"
"What day ?''
"To-day. How dark and misty it has
came over, doctor"
His sight was going fast, and felt
certain that it would require but little pa
tience, and a small sacrifice of time to see
the last of Mr. Jordan
eyes" he continued, speaking in an
odd. spasmodic fashion, eyes, | was rich,
and had many a crawling sycophant
about the, and many smiling faces at my
board; but there came reverse, and like
fair flowers at sudden frost, my kind
friends hid their heads. | was nearly
NSSNA"ASS' oLA OGIlcNluS LudG
the tie of blood would be strong enough
to bind me in my distressess, those with
whom L claimed kindred, and who had
been delig ghted to claim kindred with me-
| went to them visitor
"And failed.''
And failed, as you say They drop
ped from me one by one. Some remem-
bered slight offences, some were never at
home, some really thought | must have
been dreadfully improvident, and until
they were convinced had not been. could
not assist me. Doors were shut in my
tace-wiudow blinds pulled down as 1
passed. | was Stunned as a pestilence
my clothes were in rags-my steps
feeble from long want of common neces-
saries and then. an old school compan-
ion died in the West Indies, and left me
some twenty thousand pounds, which 1
received through the hands of Mr.. Shaw"
"a large fortune. And your rela-
tions ?''
"Heard it, and were frantic. disap-
peared from them all. From that day to
this they have not heard of me. Do you
love wild flowers -
wild flowers %
eyes. Here are heaps just from the
teeming garden. Look, too, how you
cherub twines thew in her hair. The
stream flows deep to eternity"
''Mr Jordan, SIR" | cried, " Mr.. Jor-
dan, do you know me %
Come hither, laughing, gentle spirit, ;"
he said, Bring with your heap of floral
gems. Yes, know this is the sweet vio-
let. Mary, my Mary. God knows that I
loved you"
1t was strange thing at that moment
that the blind of the window, which [
had drawn up to the top, came suddenly
rafting down, and the room was quite
dark. | raised it again, and turned to
the bed Mr.. Jordan was a
corpse!
What remarkable change had in these
few moments come over the old mans
face The sharp lines of age had all
disappeared. and there was a calm, be-
nign expression upon the still features,
such as in life l never saw them wear.
'' A restless spirit is at peace" l said,
as felt for the will where he told me it
was placed, and found it. 1t was mere
ly tied up with piece of red tape, and
addressed to MIR. Shaw, 90 Lincoiu's Inn
Fields; so Isresolved to trust to no other
messenger, but to take in hand, myself
L told the landlady of the house that her
lodger was no more, and that she would,
no doubt, hear Immediately from his soli-
citor; and then left.
"Well, Mr.. Shaw" 1 said, after 1 had
mentioned to him the manner of Mr.. Jor-
dams death, "here is the will, sir; 1 pre-
sumo have nothing further to do than to
thank you for your courtesy. and bid you
good evening""
Stay moment" he said. "Let me