The commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 1858-18??, 1858-08-14
THE WILL

SKETCH FROM A LAWYERS NOTE boon

by MEMBER OF THE BAR.
What is't we live fort tell iie's ihircst tale
To cat, 10 drink, to sleep, love and enjoy,
And then 10 love no more!
| To talk Of things we know not, and to know
| Nothing but things not worth the talking Of
Sir. Il. Fame, JuRor
AT an carly hour of the morning, in the
commencement of the year 1s3--, | was
called upon by young friend to attend
the bedside of dying man, who was ex-
ceedingly anxious to beuuealh his proper
ty to an individual out Of the line Of legal
succession, and therefore desired the secu
rity Of professional aid in the construction
of his will.
Although have always felt extreme
repugnanuy to the presence of sickness,
and eschewed with more than ordinary sen
sibility the sight Of mortal dissolution, yet
such were the peculiar circumstances urg.
ed upon me in this instance, that l could
not refuse to accompany my friend to the
scene of death.
waited upon the feeble and fast sink
ing being who had evinced such particular
desire for my personal attendance, and
found him with all tue comforts and CON
.-...-.-ss ~. --flzs=,-. L. a.,,ll s.;,sa A,
sick chamber, apparently waiting, in pa
tient resignation the execution Of the grim
and eyeless foe.
An inclination of the head of the pa.
tient was all the recognition Of my en-
trance that his emaciated and decaycd
energies admitted. The friends who stood
near him, bade me be seated by an egcrt.
totye that had been placed by the bedside
with other arrangements for my purpose
and l fastened to the accomplishment o
the object of my visit, believing, as had
reason, from the symptoms already evin c
ed. that the patient had bat short tint
to live.
Everything was arranged for the per
formWnce of my Office, and the friend
gathered closer around, with q mingled de
sire to learn who would succeed to so hand
some an estate, and to lend what assis-
taucc they could to the discharge Of thi
SOLEMN right OF matt
1t was with great difficulty, and at pain
ful intervals of labor, that the patient wa
able to make himself unders TODD
As distinctly however, as bis situation
would allow, he made known his bequest
in the following simple form and orders:
I" give and bequeath my family man
sion in which we are now assembled, with il
}. furniture, my e9uipage and my gold watcl
to my good and true friend B." refer
!. ring to the young gentleman who had COL
II Quoted me to him, and who stood at tn
IS bedside supporting his head at the momer
-" to my faithful nurse" (who stood in
/, then at the foot of the bed with tearfl
eye and expectant loolS) " give and b,
= queath one thousand dollars, to be paid
= her Immediately after my decease.: to-
re- -Margaret-" and here the patient Ii
a bored as if a paroxysm of excitement al
" painful feeling would overcome him"
ca ca Margaret exclaimed, with an unna
Z. ural strength and sharpness of voice, viii
or the last tear that evaded from his glasi
T., eye, traced its tortuous course upon
q cold and sunkeA check" give and b
u queath the rest and residue of all my e
y tate, of whatever kind and wherever sit
: ated, and may God grant her long c
joyent of its Christian and charitable use
% % The greatest effort seemed here to be 4
BY coluplished. The patient motioned
OF Of desire 10 be laid in more horizontal p
As sition, which was obeyed by those arou
" him, and turning his face towards me, CT
an anxious look upo tho paper which
h Id, as if eager to hear its contents.
IN. 1t was read to him, and he signifyi
slI his approval, extended his head as far
his remnant OF strength would permit,
:, complete its execution. Ipaced the 7
vp in his iingsrsj and guided his clammy ha
i. as it traced his name upon the paper.
GE Nature seemed to have awaited this d,
s,'isii ere she completed her course. Scarce f
lssi the witnesses present signed their attent
i II 70 to the instrument when the startling q
! to thrilling sound Of the death rattle ru
are through the stiffness of the dying cha
sse, ber.
= A long and deep drawn breath heav
from the breast of the pationt-and mou
Pic ing friends turning their faces from
ifs deserted tabernacle of humanity, told
nei surely that the work of death was acct
pro- plished.
A. gazed moment in sad and mouri
nm feeling upon the vacant eye and parted
-" of the fresh corpse as it lay siifcning
s. fore me, and thought over tie words of
as poet
lion To hear the dying their faint murmurs speak
&c And watch the deaih-glaze smooth the "
Il by check,
To sec the fiery oyeball fiersely roll
.s. As if il wrcstled with the parting soul
sQor Or hear the last clod crumble on the bed,
, q S'H And sound the humble mansion of tho dead
,prz This, this is woe t...
i. fastening from this sceud Of mt