Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-06-15

his sister life tenure OF part Of, that prop
cry, and to constitute his niece ultimate
heir to all. Without will, this disposi-
tion Of the properly could not be made, as
Richards brother, who was heirTat-law,
would otherwise be entitled to all. Rich
ard had no enmity 1T his poor, miseia-
bic Lrother," as he called the parsimoni-
Gus james, but he knew that the latter had
mu In more wealth OF his own than he ever
could or would use. Accordingly, tcpro-
vide Tor his dear Lucy and her mother, was
Richards object aud in order 10 accom-
piishlthis, tile schoolmaster'st talents werei
put III realtisitions for tIie sciscollnastcf,
| AS Is tie case viii his class IN almost eV- |
cry parish in England, was ill-maker-
I at least he had acted in that capacity fre--
quently, and the honest man thought him
selfvery perfect in the calling. 10 attain
pc ction in it, indeed, af.er the fashion
vi going to work, was no very difficult
mater. IIe-had one form in all cases,
and, accordingly, when Richard Summons
communicated his wishes to him, the
scheolmaster drew up a will agreeably toI
this form. According TO his friends wish,
the schoolmaster himself was nominated
executor-a post which he held in nine
out of ten of all the will cases with which
he had to do. '<
When the old schoolmaster came to old
Richards bedroom with the will, to have
it signed and witnessed, Lucy sat by her
kind uncle's bedside, and to use the beau
tiiul language OF Shakespeare,
| Like the watchrul minutes to the hour,
| stIll and anon checred mp tho heavy time,
saS ing, '.What lack youY'' and ''Where lesy your
Or, '.what good love may perform for youE'
| Her mother, also, was in the room, en-
gagged in knitting what she hoped her
brother would yet live to wear. Neither
she nor Lucy knew of the commission
which Richard had given to the school
master; !; and when it was communicated
to them, they were moved to tears, partly
of gratitude, and partly of aflectionate
anxiety.
"Oh! dear uncle" sobbed Lucy, "you
will be spared to us YETI
ga little while, perhaps, Lucy, dar-
ling" said the old man, calmly, but not
long-not long now. The blow has been
given, and the first high wind will bring
down the tree. But come, let us have the
matter settled, and will be easy in mind"
The invalid signed the will, and, under
the directions of the schoolmaster, Lucy
and her mother put their names 10 1t,
), along with. his -aMn. as -wltnesses.-
After tho completion of this deed, Rich
I ard lived several weeks in the enjoyment
of tolelable health. But a second attack.
| Of the same nature as the first, termina-
tel his days. The schoolmaster, rs exec
utor, spared Lucy and her mother tho
painful task of directing the funeral cerc-
monies. For the first time for many
I years, James Symmons entered his BROTH
er's house, on the occasion of the burial.
He had become more squalid and haggard
: than ever, and though evidently verging
! rapidly to the grave, still grasped at we"l h
with rs keen hand rs ever. Some
thought they observed on his countenance
+ CLEANS of wild eagerness breaking al
=. times, as if unconsciously, through the
show of gravity which he wore, as he fol-
=. lowed his brother to the tomb. Certain
: it is, that his disappointment was obvious
S to every one present when the will of the
v deceased was read, though all the village
q anticipated the destination of the property
The countenance of the miser fell when he
v heard the deed gone over, his knees shook,
q and lie glared with his dark cunning eyes
3 on the innocent inheritors, AS if they had
.s robbed him of his treasure. He had SC
much self-restraint rs not to break out in:c
Is abuse, but he would partake of nothing
II with the other friends of the family, anc
,e left the house with dropping head, anc
20 with mutterings upon his lips. His char
,r acier and peculiarites were too we'll known
. to his widowed sister and his niece, fo
of them to feel surprised at his behavior.
ID About a week after the funeral, tn
e. schoolmaster, in his capacity of executor
h. waited on Lucy's mother, and informed
as her that it would be necessary to prov
he the will in the Perogative Court, and pro
d. posed that she and Lucy should go wit
y HIM to friend of his, an attorney, in OIL
er der to get the matter completed. O
a course this proposal was Immediately &C
of ceded to. On reaching the attorney
lis chambers, the special viii of Richar
as Symmons, drawn up and signed as a
ad ready mentioned, was shown to the legs
rs practitioner. lie had not looked at it b,
lis few minutes, when he discovered it to
Ter totally useless and invalid! BY the estal
ht, lished law of England, every devise,
ect such will, to an 0HeSting aOitnesS, is O0i,
tie and of no avail. Lucy and her moth'
De- were placed in this position through Il
ay, cOnsummate ignorance of the person wi
ith had undertaken to be their guide in Il
matter. ...
3 a When the attorney, with a grave ia
.'st but kindly tone, intimated this sad errC
ind the heart Of the poor widow sank with
rks her, AS she looked at her daughter, and
hat the recollection of the heir at laws cha
out acter came across her mind. And, {
the schoolmaster. who was really worth
the kind hearted man, his self-accusatio
ny, were bitter exceedingly. But he tried
, of reassure himself aud his friends whit
i'm, hope that the flaw would never be know
pss, and that, if it were known, James Syl
one mons could no. be SO cruel and unjust
'nr In taE awav NJ hnf IL mnIaniahlv WAC