The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-28
John ClarkC'S Fortune.
BY MRS. N. A. pENISoS.

/ - NENER Wlnu the mouse. Juiln, we've got one o
our own" whispered john Clarkc's wife
She was rosy little thing, only twenty sum
mer's old. How brightly and bcwitchingy she
shone-u star amid the sonlbro company.
But what in the world has he left me :" nut
tered John Clarke. ~ believe he hated me;
believe they all hate me-"
Hush, dcar!'
~ bequeath to John Clarke my dearly beloved
nephew" said the grim attorney" as Il reward
for his Iirmness in resisting temptation the last
TWO yeurs and his determination to improve in all
acceptable things, my one.horsc shay, which has
stood in my barn over twenty five years, request
Ing that he shall repair it, or cause it 10 be repair
ed in 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, he
tTemS!cI excessively; poor little Jenny fairly
cried
ITO think" she said to herself, how hard he
has tried to be good and that is all lie is thought
Of for ="
wish you JOY" sail rci.headei youth, with
n grin. rs he came OUT OF the room
John spruns up TO collar the folloH, but little
white hand laid on his coat-seeve restrained him
Let them triumph, John, it won't hurt you V
said Jenny, with her sunny SMILE please don't
notice them, Tor ny sake"
Serves him right" said Susan Spriggs, the
n!ece Of the Old man just dead, and to whom he
had left the silver, SERVED him right for marry.
ing the ignorant goose, Jcnny Brazier. sup
posed he calculated good deal on the old gentle .
mans generosity" To which she added, in n
whisper that only her own head heard, " lie might
have married me. Hehad the chance, and loved
him better than any one else--beiter than that
pretty little fool, Jenny Brazier.
Now we shall see how deep his goodness is, =
said n maiden aunt, through her nose "he stop.
ped short in wickodness just because he cxpcctcc
a fortune from my poo-, dear brother. Thanks t,
massey that he left me five hundred dollars. Now
| can git that new carpet; but we'll see how n5ucl
of change there is in john Clarke--hc AWAY.
was an imp of wickedness."
"Well, guess John Clarke II have to he CON
| tented with his liue ten-tect shnnty," said tn,
father ot Susan Spriggs 10 good old Deacon Joe
Hemp.
"Wei, l reckon he's content. If he mint he
ought to be, with that liule jewel of wife she's
bright enough to make any four walls shlne" was
the dcacon's reply.
"ls.aw! yours all crazy about that gal. Why
she aint to be compared to my Susan. Susar
plays on the Iovty.piuno like sixty, and manage,
house frst-rale.
Bless you, neighbor Spriggs, ID rather hnvt
tha, innocent, blooming face to smile at me whol
! wake up Of mornings, than all the for,y.pian'
gals you can wake up between here and the Indie
fact"
| I'D like to know what you meant" excaime,
Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
Jest what say" replied good old Deacon Joe
coolly.
"Well, that John Clarke II die on the galow.
yet, mark my words" said Mr. Spriggs, splresuIly
| THAT John Clarke will make one of our 5es
citizens, and so to the Legislature yet" repIiec
old Deacon Joe, cornplacenily.
I doubt :"
"Yes, may be you do; and that's pretty wa,
to build up young fellow when he's doing hi
best. No, John Clarke won't be good citizen i
you can help it, People that cry mad dog ur,
paguey willin' 10 stone the crtter while he's run
min, 1 take il; and if he amt mad they're SURE
to drive him SO. Why don't you step up to hin
and say, John, lin glad you're right now, anc
! I've got faith in you, and if you want any help
why come to meand I'll put you through. That's tn,
way to do the business, Mr.. Sprggs."
"Well, hope you'll do it, that's all replied
Mr.. Sprggs, suIkily.
~ hope SHALL and I'm bound to, any way, il
! have q chance. The fact is, he's got such n
smart little wife that he don't really need any
| help"
NOT it's pity then, that brother Jacob lei,
him that one horse shay"
"You needn't laugh at that; old Jacob never
did nothing without meaning TO il. That old
shay may help to make him great man yet
Fact is, think myself il Jacob had left him
money it might "A been the ruin of him. Less
things than one.horse shay has made a mans
fortin'."
Well, I'm glad you think SO much of him
l don't"
:" No." muttered Deacon Joe, as his neighbor
turned away, but if he'd married your raw. .boned
carter That plays on the forty-piano, he'd "A been
all right, aud no mistake"
:" one'horse shay" said the minister I,peb.
ing, What a iollune!"
And 50 It went from mouth to mouth None or
the relaliyes--some already rich-had offered Tho
poorest among them-the owner of the one.horse
shny-a dollar of the bequealhment left to him or
herr but they rather rejoiced IN his disuppoint.
ment.
Tie truth is, everybody prophesie6 that John
Clarke poor n0Ihegless boy, would come 70