Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-18

doctor, and was hurrying away; but the
doctor retained him by the arm.
Why are you in such haste, doctor,
and who have you been to see ?"
"Aunt Sarah" replied the physician
" and she is mortally sick"
"Mortally sick. doctor |" exclaimed the
lawyer, "mortally sick, Gods will be
done! Adieu, DOCTOR" and with rapid
steps he directed his way towards his
aupt's house.
/" If the doctor himself ~confesses she is
mortally sick, she must be So" murmured
he as he proceeded, may it not be too
late for her to make her will 1t is
cursed unlucky that l learn of her i'll
ness so late. Who knows but the philos-
opher has already got himself paid for his
tit-bits and delicacies, or if the minister
has not made good merchandise out oil
the safety Of her soul ~
Out Of breath, he entered the elderly
spinster's room. Her maid was then oc-
cupied in applying a bottle Of hartshorn
to her nose. and Sarah indeed resembled
a dying person. because she had hardly
yet came out Of the f~ainting fit into which
she was thrown before the DOCTORS de
parture. The lawyer assumed an appear
ance of terrible grief; but his heart was
full of JOY, because he found the aunt in
an excellent condition to make a will.
"Ah.' thought he. II must strike while
the iron is hot. We will see if the pro.
fessor or the minister will fnd ANYTHING
to CLEAN after me-
AS soon as Miss Sarah was in a situa
ton to be addressed, the lawyer spoke
of his poignant sorrow at seeing her in
such a feeble condition, and advised her
to call in another physician and discharge
Dir. Falk.
Why 50 ?" enquired the spinster.
"Oh, you see" replied the advocate
he is a poor devil. He hopes to be
your heir, and he will not take that trou
bic and exert himself to thet degree e
restore you to health, as would satisfy
me to whom your life is so precious. Men
are weak, and the poor devil is ground
by poverty. You had better have a ply
stefan who can have no interest in your
death. You perceive that a physician
who INDUCES a hope of being a legatee
Of his patient. is Judge in his own suit.
The invalid nodded her head signif,
%cantly.
Except for this cause" continued the
lawyer, encouraged by his aunt's nod
" | should urge nothing against him. Il
is hardly safe to make him his own judge
and jury; but [ wish to say nothing de
rogatory Of him. as he is naturally a gooe
man enough. Beware, however, Of your
other nephews, the minister and the pro
lessor. Indeed, they are people who
would rejoice at their neighbours death
if it enured only slightly to their owl
advantage"
"Wha is that ?" said the maiden dame
" ould both MY nephews rejoice at my
death ?"
81 must not continue to conceal it from
you, my dear aunt" said the willy lawyer
" that the minister informed me he had
long ago composed a funerug sermon for
your decease; but that your obstinacy il
living was such, that his pious and unc
tious discourse was already Eormeatenl
Just Godl" exclaimed Aunt Sarah
:" | did not expect that from a relation
and pastor"
In regard to the professor" proceeded
the lawyer, he has laid E a bottle o.
choice wine. which he intends to crack
at the opening Of your will
Indeed, indeed, my nephew" angrily
exclaimed Miss Sarah WaAhorn, = take
notice that | am not yet dead. I vii
make you weep in good earnest"
These words somewhat frightened the
advocate, and not da5utg to press the
matter Of the will fafNs. u he took hi:
leave.
Soon afterwards the RAlister arrived
like his predecessor, all DIT Of breath
Miss Sarah, whose anger had really pro
5 duced a fever. had been put to bed. The
minister accosted her, but the indignant
Aunt Sarah only turned her head from
him and disdained a reply. The e%cclesi
astic was only the more convinced that
his aunt approached her last hour, and
without more ceremony be commenced a
prayer for the dying. On ending his
litany, he added, Prepare your soul for
death, because die you must"
Matters are not quite SO advanced as
that at length exclaimed Aunt Sarah
with a clear voice.
/" It is plain. then" said the minister, .
little outof co%untenance, 7 that my cousin
Glossin has grossly deceived me. But dc
not be frightened, my dear aunt. by that
unprincipled advocate. He has sworn
that he will make your will to suit him
self; but | hope you will not allow your
self to be aeeced by him.
And how dare he expect i ?" cried
} Aunt Sarah, p~assionately.
He will probably pretend" said The
: minister, a~rtfully, that your property il
really his own, because he has often
boosted that but for him you would moi
be possessed Of one dime.n
: Leave me, leave me. my nephew,
said the aunt, provoked beyond measure
need neither legal speeches nor fune
raj sermons
Hardly was tho minister gone before