Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-03-29
MISCELLA A N Y
John Clarke's Fortune.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENIsoN.

"Never mind the house, John, we've got one
of our own" whispered John Olarke's wife.
She was rosy little thing only twenty sum-
mers' old. How brightly and bewitchingly she
shone-a star amid the somber company.
sBut what in the world has he left me u
muttered John Clarke. 81 believe he hated me (;
| believe they all hate me-"
"Hush, dearl"
81 bequeath to John Clarke, my dearly be-
loved nephew" said the grim attorney, "as re-
ward for bis firinness in resisting temptation the
last two years, and his determination to improve
mall acceptable things, my one-horse shay,
which has stood 10 my barn over twenty i've
years, requesting that he shall repair it, or cause
| it to be repaired in suitable manner"
That was all. Some of the people gathered
there, Uttered and all seemed to enjoy the con-
fusion of the poor young man. His eyes flashed
| fire, he trembled excessively; poor little Jenny
fairly cried.
"To think" she said to herself, show hard he
has tried to be good, and that is all he thought
of itln
"Wish you joy" said ed.headed youth, with
La grin, as he came out of the room.
John sprang up to collar the fellow, but lit
tie white hand laid on bis coat.sleeye restrained
him.
"Let them triumph, John, it wont hurt you,
said Jenny, with her sunny smile; please don't
notice them for my sake" .-. ~
"Serye him right" said Susan Spriggs, the
niece of the old man just dead, and to whom be
had left the silver, "served him right for mar
rying that ignorant goose, Jenny Brazier.
suppose he calculated q good deal on the Old
genteman's generosity" To which she added,
| in whisper that, in whisper that only her
own heart heard, she might have married me
He had the chance, and loved him better than
any one else-bettsr than that pretty little fool
Jenny Brazier." r-
Snow we shall see how deep his goodness is
said maiden aunt, through her nose; "he stop
| ped short in his wickedness just because he ex
pected fortune from my poor dear BROTHER
Thanks to nassy that he left me five hundred
dollars Now can get that new carpet; ou
wen see how much OF change there is in John
| iOlarke-he was always an imp OF wickedness.'
"Well, guess John Clarke'll have to be con
tented with his little ten-feet shanty," said the
father of Susan Sprigs to good old Deacon Joe
| Hemp.
| Wen reckon he is content--if he amt he
ought to be, with that little jewel of a wife
she's bright enough to make any four walls
shine," was the deacons reply.
! "Pshaw you're all crazy about that gal.-
Why she amt to be compared to my Susan
Susan plays on the forty piano like sixty, ant
manages house hrst-rate."
BLESS, you neighbor Spriggs, I'd rather have
that innocent blooming face 10 smile at me wheI
wake up of mornings, than all the forty piano
gals you can wake up between here and the In
dies--fsct." 49,,
| 'Pd like to know what you mesnl" exclaim'
ed Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
"Jest what say" replied good old Deacon
Joe, ooolly. ergs
swell that John Clarke'll die on the gallowG
vet, mark my words" said Mr.. Spriggs spite
fnlly.
"That John Clarke will make one of our best
citizens, and go to the legislature yet" replied
old Deacon Joe, complacently.
"Doubt It'll"
"Yes, may be you do; and that's pretty way
| to build up young fellow, isn't it, when he's
! trying bis best. No, John Clarke won't be 9
good citizen you can helpit People that cry
mad dog are plaguey willin to stone the critter
while he's runnin, take it; and if he aint
| mad they're sure to drive him so. Why dont
you step up to him and say, John, Pm glad you
are right now, and I've got faith in you, and i
you want any help, why come to me and III put
you through That's the way to do business
Mr.. Spriggs."
swell, hope you'll do it, that's all" replied
Mr. Spriggs, sulkily.
81 hope | shall !; and I'm bound to, any way
lif have chance Fact is, he's got such q
smart little wife that he don't really need any
help"
"No2 it's pity then that brother Jacob left
him that one horse shay"
"You needn't laugh at that old Jacob never
did nothing without meaning to it. That old
shay may help him to be great man yet
Fact is, [ think myself if Jacob had left him
money, it might a been the ruin of him. Less
things than a one horse shay has made mans
fortin."
swell, Pm glad you think SO much of him
don't"
mo" muttered Deacon Joe, as his neighbol
turned away, "but if he'd married your raw
boned darter that plays on the forty piano, he'e
q been all right and no mistake"
ga one-horse shay !" said the minister laugh
ing, "what fortune"
| And so it went from mouth to mouth. None
| of the relatives-some already rioh-had offered
the poorest man among them-the owner of The
lone-horse shay--a dollar of the bequesthmeu
left to him or her; but they had rather rejoicet
in his disappointment. =,
The truth is, everybody had prophesied tba
John Clarke, poor, motheress boy, woult
come to ruin, and they wanted the prophecy tt
lprove true one. He had, in his youth, beeI