Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-24

about the street, and have heard Of no thing
in the image Of man being found hanged, we
may reasonably conclude that the author of
these meditations found that the taking Of his
life would require too much exertion of his
weak muscles.
From the London Family Record.
JOHN CLARKE AND HIS FORTUNE.
"Never mind the house, John we've got
one Of our own," whispered John Clarke's
wife. # -.
She was bright little thing, only twenty
years Old. And how brightly and bewitch.
ingly she shone la star amid the sombre
company.
"But what in the world has he left me -"
muttered John Clarke. believe he hated
me- believe they all hate me-"
Hush, dear said his wife.
bequeathe to John Clarke, my dearly
beloved nephew" read the grim attorney,
as reward for his firmness in resisting
temptation during the last two years, and his
determination to improve in all acceptable
things, my one horse chaise, which has stood
in my barn more than twenty five years re-
questing that he will repair it or cause il to
be repaired in suitable manner"
That was all. Some Of the people who
were present Uttered, and all seemed to en-.
joy the confusion of the poor young man.
His eyes flashed fire, he trembled excessive.
ly; 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 it," ga
"Wish you joy !" said the red headed
youth, with broad grin as he came out of
the room.
John sprang up to collar the fellow, but
little white hand laid upon his arm restrained
him.
" Let them triumph, John, it won't hurt
you," said Jenny, with her sunny smile !;
"pray 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 left a good deal of his money !;
"Served him right for marrying that ignorant
goose Of a Jenny Brazier. I suppose he
speculated q good deal on the old mans gen.
erosity." To which she added in whisper,
that only her own heart heard: "He might
have had me. He had the chance; and l
loved him better than any one else better
than that pretty simpleton Jenny Brazier.
! Now, we shall see how deep his goodness
is" said maiden aunt. Il He became very
pious because he expected fortune from nv
poor, dear BROTHER" but we shall see how
much of change there is in John Clarke
he always was an imp Of wickedness."
| Well, think John Clarke will have to
be contented with his little cottage" said the
father of Susan Spriggs, to good old Joe
Hemp. -
"Well, l think he is content; il he ain,
he ought to be, with that little jewel of a
wife, was Joe's reply. .
Pshaw you're all crazy about that gal, VI
said Spriggs. "Why, she amt to be com.
pared with my Susan. Susan plays on the
forty piano like sixty, and manages house
first rate"
Bless you, neighbor Spriggs, I'd rathe,
have that innocent blooming face to smile q,
me when walked up of mornings, than ali
the forty piano gals" ~.
I'd like to know what you mean 2" ex
claimed Spriggs firing up. :
just what say" replied good old Joe
coolly.
"Well, that John Clarke'll die on the gal
lows yet, mark my words" said Mr.. Sprigg,
spitefully. .'
:" That John Clarke will make one Of on,
best men yet" replied old Joe complacently
Doubt it," said Mr.. Spriggs.
/" Yes, may be you do" said Joe and
that's pretty way to build up young fel
low, isn't it, when he's trying to do his Best,
No, John Clarke won't be good man if YOU
can helpit. People that cry mad dogs are
plagued willing to stone the animal while he's
running; and If he amt mad they're sure "a
drive him SO. Why don't you step up Ia
| him and cav Inhv r., Ill
ing right now, and I've got saith in you and
II you want any help, why come to me and
b.;ns.: I'LL .ssst yGu sn,as. That: the way to do he
"Well, ! hope you'll do it, that's all" said
Spriggs sulkily.
hope shall, and I'm bound to do so,
If | have chance. Fact ia, he's got such q
smart little wife that hs don't really need any
help"
"No-'tis pity then that brother Jacob
LETT him that one horse chaise."
You needn't laugh At that; old Jacob
never did anything without meaning to it.
That old chaise may help him to be . great
man yet. Fact is, think myself, if Jacob
had left him money it might have been the
ruin Of him. Less things than one horse
chaise have made mans fortune"
Well, I'm glad You think 20 much Of
him; !; l don't, ," said Spriggs.
! No." muttered Joe, Is his neighbor turn.
ed away y" but If he had married your raw
Sonsd Ss d.rtst S - that P.y' on the forty panner
"A one horse chaise," said Spriggs, laugh.
ing, what fortunei /"
And so It went from month to MONTH
None Of the relatives-some OF them already
rich-had offered the poorest man among
them (the owner Of one horse chaise) any
Of the bequeathment left to him or her; but
they had rather rejoiced in his disappoint.
ment
The Truth is, everybody had prophesied
i would come to ruin. and they wanted Ii.
i prophecy to provo true one. He had. in
his youth, been wild and wayward, and some
what pro6igate in the earlier years Of hia
y manhood but his old uncle had encouraged