Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-07-09
Prom Godey's Lady Book for July.
WHAT DID HE LEAVE,
BY T. s. ARTHUR.


"Thnt's large funeral. counted thirty
two carriages"
Eyes, sir. It's the funeral of Mr.. Ellis.
lie died very rich"
GLOW much did he leave?"
"a large amount of money, sir; don't
know how much. Some say half a million
of dollars!"
Ellis death is considered great loss to
the community, presume"
"Loss, sir" The man to whom | was
speaking looked up into my face with the
air of one whose mind was not exactly
clear as to my meaning.
Yes. A man of his wealth must have
been very useful man"
Useful l don't know that he was
particularly useful, He was rich, and
didn't care much for anybody but him
self"
"Still, with his ample means" said l,
"even though earning for himself, he must
have been the promoter of large Industrial
enterprises, through which many were ben
Gifted"
The nan shook his head, doubtfully.
"W hat did he do with his money ?''
Il nveer heard of his doing anything
with it, particularly" was the unsatisfac-
tory answer.
"Money must lie used in order fto make
| it productive. Was he in no business ?"
! mo, SIR"
What then did he do with himself"
'Oh, he was always about after bits of
| property that had to be sold. He was sharp
| for bargains in real estate"
! "Ah, | see how it was. Then he did End
use for his money ?"
I'm that way he did. But, when a
| pieceIof property came into his hands, there
was an end to its improvement He let
| other people improve all around him, and
( thus increase the value of what he owned;
so that he grew richer and richer every
| day, without putting his hand to anyth inc,
/ or beneftting anybody"
| This was your million man! And SO all
he has left are these property. accumula-
| tions?"
AL"
''Then his death is not regarded as a
public calamity ?"
No, indeed, sir! 1t is considered n
public benefit"
elbow so ?"
"He has couple Of sons, and couple
of sons in-law, who will scatter much fas-
ter than he saved. The moment they come
into posses sion of his estate, it will be di-
vided, and lots of ground which ought to
be improved years ago, will be sold and
covered with handsome buildings, thus
giving trade and industry a new impulse
Why, sir, he has been a dead weight on
eur town for years; growing richer aud
richer through every peoples enterprise
and yet not adding building himself, oil
in any way serving the common good"
!, Il thought" said I, "from the long ar
ray of carriages, that death had taken, in
this instance, valued, and now lamented
citizen"
"Mere ostentatiOn, sir. But nobody il
deceived. There are plenty of idle people
who are pleased to ride in funeral car.
riages. Old Ellis will be put away with G
grand flourish but that will be the last O
him. The black makes all the mourning
, SIR"
"But, surely" said I, 'his children ar,
not without natural affection? You do no
mean to say that theirs is only the assem-
blanoe of sorrow"
at is my opinion, sir, that they are GLAD
in their hearts. Why not? He stood
hard and unyielding as iron, between then
and the wealth they desired to possess. HI
was cold, sour tempered, and repulsive
crushing cut, by his manner and conduct
all natural affection. They had too mucl
, policy to quarrel with him, of late though
a the time was. when hot words were said L
;. pass between them"
!. There are no CLEANS OF light in you
picture" said l.
u 81 copy from nature, and can only Civ
what / see," he answered. There ar
deep valleys when the sunlight neve
comes, as well as golden-tinted land
scapes."
Il see another funeral" said I, looking
r towards distant part of the cemetery
There are but two carriages; yet l Sc
long line Of m burners on foot. Do yol
know who they are burymg"
yes"
mot rich man."
"No."
"There is no need of asking what be ha
left. 1t is the burial Of poor man."
"Yes, of man poor in this world
goods but so far as his means went, h
! was princely in his munifcsnce. Hi
death, sir, is public loss" The man
face frightened as he spoke.
"You know him"
"Yes, sir; knew him well. He was
! ropemaker, working his ten hours every
day, and earning just nine dollars a week
But, those nine dollars seemed an mex
( haustible fund for good. He bad no wifi
and children of bis own to love and car,
for. They went, years ago, to the blessed
land where be is now following them. So