The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-24

h's wig Nulcu nunS Ill lne parlUr. nc
left his business for some months entire
ly to me, and remained at home. lie
muttercd great deal to himself, and sat
for long periods with Nancys hand press
cd in his Once, when 1 was about to
to enter the stting-room, l heard him
say My wife, my dear wife come to
me again = or words of a similar pur.
port and on entering the room, | saw
tears rolling down his cheeks. Some
times I found him reading the Bible
sometimes Nancy would read to him
sometimes Tom / never did, for he
never asked me to do so but l regret.
ted that man of his age could not bear
up with more fortitude under affliction.
When he again appeared at the office,
his step was slow. and his eye, once so
clear and searching, had a dreamy look,
which denoted his thoughts were far a
way. Gradually I became the princi-
pal man in the business. and soon all was
given up to me My father now failed
rapiily. He gave away handsome sums
Of money to divers charities, which vex-
ed me for what right had an old man,
broken down by trouble, to throw away
the property which would otherwise de-
scond TO his children, merely TO ease his
heart ? l demonstrated with him. He
gave me a cold smile
Joshua, said he. charity is a thing
you know nothing about. Permit me-
while yet live, to do some little good
with my surplus funds. Fear not for
yourself, for know you well enough to
say you will never want for money
| had indeed, no hopes of aid from
Tom; still thought it my duty to men
tion this matter 10 him, and beg his in
fuence to induce my father to dcsist
from this course. Tom also smiled at
me
DO you think said he, that for any
such reasons as you urge, | would pre-
rent father from enjoying in any way.
the decline of his life2 You ought to
have known me better
ought, certainly he was right there.
Poor father 7 continued he he will
not be here long DO you not notice
how rapidly he fails q
Il do indeed, Tom,' answered 'he
should MT NOPE So
Nope cried he. Joshua, you arc
as cold -blooded as a fish
He was evidently in rage, and so I
parted from him.
Tom was right, though, about the
health of my father One bright sum
mer evening, three years after mother
died, the old man, who had been ailing
for some weeks, and had been for few
days confined to his bed, passed away
from us. 1t was a melancholy event
but it seems in the course of nature for
parents to 60 before their children, and
l soon reconcled myself to this dispen-
sation. Necessary preliminaries being
arranged, | was appointed to settle the
estate The business left by my father
had been under my sole direction so
long that | considered it as matter of
my own. Iregarded it as my private
property. To be sure, some mention was
made by mcddling relatives about Civ
ing Tom a share in it. But / immedi-
ately came forward and liborally offered
to give up the entire business to him,
while established myself elsewhere.
stating that I was determined to get my
living alone, or not at all. After this,
Tom cbeerfully abandoned the thing,
and said no more about it,
My father left will, dated some
years back, by which he divided his pro
perty equally among us. This property
consisted of fifteen thousand dollars,
which was five thousand dollars for each
of us. But had succeeded in collecting
in private business at different periods
about ten thousand dollars, which was
well invested. This additional sum to
be received from the estate would fall
into my hands in good season, for it ex-
actly made up an amount necessary for a
beautiful operation in which l intended
to engage.
A day or two after my fathers death,
found in his desk ike following note ad-
dressed to me
MY DEAR Boy Feeling that have not long
to live, have collected sufficient strength to
write this, my dying request. TO you
Five years since, when my will was made,
| was in possession of q handsome property.
but now shall scarcely leave fifteen thou
sand dollars. This, my SON. is but n small mat
ter with thee, but will afford an ample income
for your sister Nancy. Tom and you can sup
port yourselves. have no fear on that point,
and therefore would prefer that your sister
should have what little ! may leave But ]
wish to be just, and so desire you to mention
this matter TO Tom, and trust you will both
agree to settle the whole amount which
leave upon her
For obvious reasons, I take this mode of
Informing You ormy wishes, and shall rest in
my grave believing that my sons will cheer
! fully comply with the last wish Of their IA
| ther'
This was strange letter. Not sat.
isfed with giving away much of the pro-
perty before his death, my father wished
Tom and me to throw away the balance
of our shares now and / was the per.
son selected to induce poor Tom to sign
away his rights. felt hurt, for it did
not seem to me to be quite the thing 1t
was not what i expected from so honor.
able man as my father. We were to
give up to Nancy. Why2 Probably
because she CHANGED to be girl. Could
we help that2 OF course not it wa,
her misfortune. Beside, she was young
and very pretty; there was no doubt
that some time some body would
marry her. Even if no gentleman
proposed to her, she could, by lit
tie management, throw herself in the
way of some rich old widower, and ihcr
the affair would soon be settled
thought long time over this matter.
slept uneasily the night succeeding my
first perusal of it. | read il over mum