Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-04
JOHN CLARKE AND HIS FORTUNE.
By MRS. N. A. DENIsON

lErtnias Arsss.
JOHN CLARKE AND HIS FORTUNE.
BIZ MRS. N. A DENIsoN.
Never mind the house, John, we've got one
Of our own" whispered John Clarks's wife.
She was rosy little thing only twenty sum
msrs old How brightly and bewitchingly she
shone-a star amid the sombre company.
81 But, what in the world has be left me1'
muttered John Clarke. 81 believe he hated
me- believe they all hate me-"
Hush, dearl"
bequeath to John Clarke, my dearly be-
loved nephew" read the grim attorney, g rs
reward for his frmness in resisting temptation
the last two years, and his determination to i'm
prove in all acceptable things, my one-horss
shay, which has stood in my barn ever twenty
nve years, requesting that he will repair il. or
cause 1t to be repaired in q suitable manner.
That was all. Some Of the people gathered
there Uttered; all seemed to enjoy the confusion
OF the poor young man. His eyes flashed FIRE;
ne trembled excessively. Poor little Jenny
fairly cried.
/" To think, she said to herself. chow hard
ne mas tried to be good, and that 10 all he
Wish you joy" said red headed youth,
with grin, as he came out of the room.
John sprang up to collar the fellow, but a
little white hand, laid on his coat sleeve, re.
strained him
"Let them triumph, John, it won't burt
you, said Jenny, with her sunny smile.
" Please don't notice them, for my sake -
served him right" said Susan Spriggs, the
niece OF the old man just dead, and to whom he
mad lett all his silver, ' served him right, for
marrying that ignorant goose, Jenny Bra1ier
gentleman's generosity" To which she added
IN whisper that only her own heart heard
de might have married me- He had the
chance, and L loved him better than any one
eise.oetter than that pretty little fool Jenny
Nov We shall see how deep his goodness is"
nfd maiden aunt, throug h her nose; he
stopped short in wickedness Just because he ex
Rected fortune from my poor dear brother
Thanks to massey that he left me five hundred
dollars. Now can get that new carpet; but
Vel see how much of a change there is in John
oLsr NE ne always was an imp of wickedness.
ell, guess John Clarke III have to be
contented with his little ten feet shanty, +" said
Joe Hemp.
Well, reckon he Is content; if he int be
ought to be, with that little jewel of q wife
Snes bright enough to make any four walls
shine, was the deacon's reply.
Pshav you're all crazy about that cal
why sne amt to be compared to nv Susan.
susan plays on the forty piano like sixty. and
manages house frst-rate."
Bless you, neighbor Spriggs, I'd rather
aa,e tnat innocent, blooming face to smile at
me when L walked up of mornings than Ali IN.
forty piano gals you can scare up tween here
and the Indiss-fact.'
10 IKE to know what you mean :" ex.
claimed Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
T. JEST what say" replied good old Deacon
"wslI, that John Clark. III die on III. .,,.
soi,.fn Is, mArk my words" said Mr.. Spriggs
:" That John Clarke will make one of our
pest citlens, and 60 to the Legislature vet.
repnea Gid Deacon Joe, eomplacently
Yes, may be you do; and that's a pretty
he's trying his best? No, John CIarks von'i
% good citizen, if you can help it. People
that cry mad dog are plaguy willin' to stone
the crltter while he's q running. I take II. and
II ne ain mad they're sure to drive him 10.
TmnJ dont you step up to him and say John,
in you; and if you want help, why come to sA ms
and IN put you through That's the vav
70 do business, Mr.. Spriggs''
Wei, 1 hope you II do it, that's all. r..
Piled Mr.. spriggs, sulkiIy
,. nope shall, and I'm bound to. any vav
nave chance. Fact is, he's got such a
help H''o any
NO; lisa pity then that brother Jacob
LETT him that ne-horse shay"
~, lou deed mt laugh at that; old Jacob nsver
oio nothing without a meaning to it That old
Fac, i may t SsP him hint, to be gIea. man yet
money 1t might have been the min of hin
mans fortin." na' n1Au0
don't" ~ Nnu'n oi MIN
"No," muttered Deacon Joe, a. hi. nei,b.
Dor turned away, but if he had married vonr
rsw.boned darter that plays on the forty. n;,no
ne been all right, and no mistake u
one-horSe shay sand the m;niste,
laughing, what fortune
ana 80 1t went, from mouth to mouth Mona
% .ae relaaves-some already rich-had Of
Of tbs t on. poorest man among them-the owner
VI He oIe- morse shay dollar Of the beaueatb.
ment Ieft TO him or to her but they had ratber
reloiced IN his Disappointment.
Inc truth Is, everybody had prophssied that
John Clarke, a Poor, motherles. bow woniS
come 70 rum, and they wanted the prophecy
To prove a true one. He had, in his rnn,i
been Wild and hayward, and somewhat nros;,
gaze IN tne early years Of manhood but his
OLD uncle had encouraged him to retorm-beld
out hopes to which he had hitherto besn a
Stranger, and the love of the sweet young .Jen.
ny brazier completed, as it seemed, his reform
Jenny never appeared 50 lovely a, al. d;a
on On, mat unfortunate day Of the reading of III.
VII, after they had returned 10 the noor Et,i.
mouse mat was Jenny's own.
60 40 matter john" she said eheerfulIv.
yoa VIII rise in spite of them. I vouidn',
let them think WAS in the least d;.ooUeaaaa
lnat Hiil only please them too we'll. We are
sSs i nicely nov and you know if they do cut
van set US up quite comfortably: isn,, o,,
John, by and by" anu on
An eloquent blush. glance toward. h.,
york-basket, out of which peeped m. ,n nst
asiieate needlework, told the story-that eve,
~ n.. ,tory Of Innocence, beauty and helpless
No., tnaf bring cares akin to angels worf
70, once John Clarke stopped the gossn,,
s,o oasn ne held his head up manfully, worked
49, ~ bis trade, and every step seemed =
sure advance, and an upward one
Baby was just six man,h. -
Pefaa9n paid into John Clarke 3 hand tbs s Sun
isg t 1aIarsa dollars for the prviier. Of Law
"A handsome baby, q beautiful .ua
frious VIE, and six hundred dollars" tbo"sh,
John, with an honest exultation, swell ,h;ss9