Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-01-12
JOHN CLARKE'S FORTUNE.
by MRS. ii. 4. DsNisoN

by MRS. II. 4. DSNIsoN.
s.Neyer mind the house, john, we've got
one of our own,' whispered John Clarke's
wife.
She was rosy little thing, only twenty sum-
mers old. How brightly and bewitchingy
she shone-a star amid the sombre company.
ssBut what in the world has he left me ?''
muttered John Clarke. 81 believe he hated
mel believe they all hate me-"
.sHush, dcari''
ssl bcqueath to John Clarke. my dearly be-
loved nephew read the grim attorney, ssas a
reward of his firnness in resisting temptation
the last two years, and his determination to
improve in all acceptable things, my one horse
shay, which has stood in my barn over twenty
five 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, all seemed TO enjoy the confu-
sion of the poor young man. His eyes flashed
fire, he trembled excessively; poor little Jcn-
ny fairly cried.
ssro Think she said TO herself, how hard
he has tried TO be good, and that is all ho
thought of it,
ssWish you joy,'' said n red headed youth,
with grim, he came out of the room.
John spraHg up collar the fellow, but a
little white hand laid on his coat-seeye re-
strained him.
ssLet them triumph, John, it won't hurt you''
said Jenny, with her sunny smile; s.piease
ssServcd him right" said Susan Spriggs,
the niece of the old man just dead, and to
whom he had left all his silver, ssscrved him
right for marrying that ignorant goose Jenny
Brazer. | suppose he calculated good deal
the old gentleman's generosity To
which she added, in L whisper that only her
own heart heard, che might have married me.
He had the chance, and loved him better than
any one else-bcttcr than that pretty little fool
Jenny Brazier.''
"Now we shall see how deep his goodness
is" said a maiden aunt, through her nose !;
.'he stopped short in wickcdness just because
lac expected fortune from my poor, dead
brother. Thanks to massey that lie left me
five hundred dollars. Now | can get that new
Garpct; hut we'll see how much of change
there is In John Clarke-hc always was an imp
of wickedness."
HWell, guess John Clarke III have to be
contented with his ten feet shanty,' said the
father Of Susan Spriggs to good old Deacon
Joe Hemp.
"Weli, reckon he is contcrt-if he amt
he ought to bc, with that little jewel of a wife
she's bright enough to make any four walls
shine was the deacon's reply.
s.P,haw you're all crazy about that gal.
Why she amt to be compared to my Susan
Susan plays on the forty-piano like sixty, and
manages house frSt-rate.''
..Brss you, neighbor Spriggs, I'd rather
have that innocent, blooming face to smile at
me Nncn WahSu up III tile lnOIuiuSSI lnau All
the fOrtv-piano gals you can scare up tween
here and the Indies-fact.
ssI'd like to know what you mean ~ eI-
claimed Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
just what l say replied good old Deacon
Joe, cOoly.
ssWcIl, that John Clarke III die on the gall
lows yet, mark my words,' said Mr.. Spriggs.
spitefully.
THAT John Clarke will make one of our
best citizens, and go 10 the Legislature yet,"
replied old Deacon Joe, complacently.
sDoubt it -
"Yes, may be you do /; and that's a pretty
way TO build up young fellow, isn't it, when
he is trying his best. No, John Clarke won't
bc 4 coed citizen if you can help it. People
that cry smad dog are plaguey willing 10
stone the critter while he's runnn', take il
and if lie amt mad they re sure to drive him
SO. Why don't you step up to him and say,
John, I'm glad you're right now, and I've
got faith in you, and if you want any help,
why come to me and I'll put you through.
That's the way to do business, Mr.. Spriggs."
''Well, hope you'll do it. that's all, - re-
piled Mr.. Spriggs, sulkily.
81 hope l shall and I'm bound to, any way,
If haye chance. Fact is, he's got such a
smart little wife that he don't really need any
help
ssNo tits pity, then, that brother Jacob
left him that one-horsc shay"
.sYou need mt laugh at that; old Jacob new
or did nothing without meaning to it. That
old shay may help him to be great man yet.
Fact is | think myself il Jacob had left him
money, il might have been the ruin of him.
Less things than one horse shay has made a
mans fortune.''
''Well, I'm glad you think so much of him
I don't.
ssNo," muttered Deacon Joe, as his neigh
bor turned away, "but if he had married your
raw-b boned darter that plays on the forty piano.
he'd been all right, and no mistake"
GA one-horse shay" SAID the minister.
laughing s.wbat fortune 20
And SO il went from mouth to mouth. None
of the relatves-Some already rich-had OF
fered the poorest man among them-the owner
of the one horse shay-a dollar of the be-
queathment left to him or to her; bnt they
had rather rejoiced in his disappointment.
The truth is, everybody had prophesied that
John Clarke, poor, motherless boy, would
come TO ruin. He had, in his youth, been
wild and wayward, and somewhat profigate IL
the early years of his manhood; but his Old
uncle had encouraged him to reform-heid ou,
hopes TO which he had hitherto been stranger
ana the love of the sweet young Jenny Bra
zier completed, as 1t seemed, his reformation
Jenny never appeared lovely as she did
on that unfortunate day of the reading OF the
viii, as they had returned to the poor little
house that was Jenny's own.
"No matter, John,' she said. cheerfully
"you will rise in spite of them. | wouldn't
let them thiuk was in the least discouraged
that will only please them too well. We are
doing nicely now, and you know that if they
DO cat tho railroad through our bit of land