Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-23

ou will perhaps tell me that you have
had no hand in this matter ?''
ssNo will tell you no falsehood about it !;
but intended It as joke upon stiff deacon,
as much or more than upon yourself.''
'sAt least it is but an ill trick you have play
ed upon me, and now mark my words: You
shall have reason to remember this muff to the
longest day of your existence
s'As you please, aunt, since you take it so
seriously; but didn't think silly Joke would
have thus offended you.'
Time passed on and young Strong prosper
ed famously in his business. He had amassed
sufficient means to be enabled to pay his aunt
the sum she had loaned, but she declined re-
ceiving it, alleging that she preferred to have
it remain on interest. In the meantime he
had also persuaded the gentle Lucy to share
his fortunes. AS for Aunt Sally, a singular
mania seemed to possess her. In the matters
OF real estate, stock, &c, she had become a
perfect alchemist, turning all to gold.
The neighbors all looked on and wondered, but
none dared demonstrate with her. She was
often seen to visit the office of Squire A
and it was rumored that she was making the
final arrangement for the bestowal of her prop
erty after her death. The affair of the muff
was not forgotten, and it was current with the
good villagers that Fred would have to pay
dearly for the joke.
One morning the village was all action.
During the night The spirit of the redoubtable
found dead in her arm chair, and had died as
she had lived, alone. She had alarmed no one
during the night, nor had she suffered previ-
GUS illness. Curiosity, of course, was intense
on the subject of her will, and it was produced
as soon as decency would allow. All her con-
nections we're present, and their eager, hope
full, anxious countenances would have furnish
ed a rare subject for the pencil of artist.
The reading of the will proceeded until it was
finished, except single codicil. Each of her
relatives. excepting her nephew, had been re-
membered-some to a greater extent thar
others, but none considerable.
AT all events, not one third of her fortune
had been dispensed, and as the codicil only
remained, all eyes were turned to Frederick
Strong as the lucky one after all. But what
was their surprise, when they found it only
made him the recipient of her old sable muff
and contents. The word sscontents'' again
excited their curiosity, and to satisfy them the
article was produced and found to contain a
simple paper sewed on to the lining. When
detached and opened, in the bold hand writing
of Aunt Sally were found these words:
DEAR NEpHEw.-You have doubtless appre-
ciated yours on a certain time you remember.
God bless you and yours. Farewell.
Frederick declared he was satisfied. The
old lady had fairly retorted upon him, and he
certainly deserved nothing better at her hands.
But what had become of Aunt Sally's money!
that was the mystery, and it become more and
more q ssnine days wonder' to the worthy
villagers who discussed it on every occasion.
She was known to have large sum of money
at various banks; but all this the anxious rel
atives ascertained was drawn out few days
before her death. Squire A was consulted,
who had drafted the will, but he stoutly main
tanned that the will covered the whole of her
property, and be would have nothing further
to do with it.
One evening about six months after the old
lad 80 xvb, 10, r,,lr
with his wife, the subject of the muf was in
troduced.
ssThat was costly joke YOURS, dear Fred"
said his wife gaily.
.sBut got the muf at all events, Lucy,
and what is better no one has come forward
to claim the three thousand dollars which she
loaned me. feel confident she intended to
present it to me and therefore destroyed my
note"
ssLet us have look at the old relic, Fred.
if the moths have not eaten it wholly up. l
will return with it in a moment.''
The muff was produced, and, as Lucy pre-
dicted, the lining was wofuly moth eaten.
s.My dear wife, You must look to this, for l
prize it dearly on good Aunt Sally's account
[ think you had better rip out the lining, and
renovate the whole with camphor.''
Lucy took her scissors and commenced at
once on the task.
"What can the old lady have stuffed it with,
wonder why, FRED, instead oil cotton she
has wadded it with dirty brown paper.''
ssDrty brown paper, indeed, exclaimed her
husband, springing from his chair and catch
ing her hand as she was about to throw bunch
into the crate. ssWhy, it is bank notes, or
am dreaming"
The mystery of the word sscontents'' was
now explained. Note after note was drawn
out, until more than thirty thousand dollars
lay on the table before them. A letter was
also found from the aunt, which stated that
she always intended him for her heir. His
own note also came to light, from which his
name had been torn off.
This new revelation of course created an
immense excitement among the villagers.
But Frederick and his wife kept on the even
tenor of their wealth, simply, but for themsel-
yes. One evening in each year, they opened
their splendid mansion to all. 1t is famous
affair for the villagers, and is known as the an
niversary of ssAunt Sally's Muff.'