The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-03-28
JOHN CLARKE AND HIS FORTUNES.

| SidIheS WIG
She was a rosy little thing only twent,
years old. How brightly and bewitchingl.
she shone = a star amid the sombre com
Pany.
But what in the world has he left me
muttered John Clarke i believe he
hated mel believe they all hate me-
! Hush, dear! said his wife .,
| Il bequca.h to John Clarke. my dear
ly beloved nephew, read the grim attor,
| Rey, as a reward for his frmness in resist.
ing 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, requesting that he will
| repair it or cause it to be repaired in a
suitable manner. Ase..z 49,
That was all. Some of the people who
| we're present Uttered, and all seemed to
| enjoy the confusion of the poor young
man. His eyes flashed fire, he trembled
excessively; poor little Jen~y fairly cried.
TO think, she said to herself, how nard
he has tried to be good, and that is all he
| thought Of it
wish you 10. said red-headed youth,
with grin, as he came out OF the
room.
John sprang up to collar the fellow, but
a little white hand, lald Oh his arm, re-
strained him.
Let them triumph, John, i, won't hurt
you, said Jenny, with her sunny smile !;
pray don't notice them. for my sake
Served him right, said Susan Sprigss,
the niece Of the old man just dead, and TO
whom he had left n good deal of his mo-
ney; served him right for marrying that
ignorant COOS. oi a Jenny Brazer. sup
pose he specuated a good dea! on the old
gcnilemans generosity 10 which She
added, in whisper that only her own
heart heard: He might haye had me
lie had the chance: aud loved him bet
ter than any one el>e--better than that
pretty simpleton, Jenny Brazier
Nov we shall see how deeply his good
ness is, said a maiden aunt. He became
very pious just because he expected for
tune from my poor, dear brother; but we
shall see how much of a change there j..
in John Ciarke-he always was AN imp of
wick keines-.'
Well, think John Clarke II have to
be contended with his cottage, said the
father Of Susan Sprisss, to good old Joe
Hemp.
Well, think he is content; if he ain t
lie ought 10 be, with that little Jewel OF a
wife, was Joe reply.
P>haw you re all crazy about that gal,
said Sprlggs. Why, she ain I to be com-
pared TO my Susan. Susan plays on the
forty piano like sixty, and manages a
house first-rate.
Bless you, ncighbor Spri.ss, ld rather
have that 1t nocent. blooming face 10 smile
at me when walked up of mornings than
all the forty piano gals.
Id itA In, L hat
claimed Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
Just what | say, replied good old Joe,
coolly
Well, that John Clarke II @ie on the
gallows yet, mark my words, said MIR
.>prisss, spiteiully
That John Clarke will make one Of
Our best men yet, replied Old Joe, com
placrntiy
Doub, it SAID Mr. Sp,iges.
Yes, may be yos do, said Joe; 'and
that's pretty way 10 build up young
fellow. isn't it, when he's trying hi. best.
No, John Clarke won't be good man. if
YOU can help it. People that cry mad
dogs are placuy willing 10 stone the ami
NAL while he's running; and if he ain I
mad they re sure to drive him so. Why
don't you step up to him and say, john
! m glad you re going right now, and ve
got faith IN You; and if you want any help.
why come to me and Ill assist you
That's the way to do the business, Mr..
SpriGgs.
Well hope you'll do it, that's all,
replied Sprggs, sulkIly
il hope shall and I'm bound to do so,
if ! have the chance Fact is, hes got
such smart little wife tina, he don't re
ally need any help
No It's pity then that brother Jacob
left him that one h, rSe cIaise
t You needn't laugh at that; old Jacob
never did anything without a meaning in
it That old chaise may help him to be
II great man vet Fact is, think myself,
been the ruin of him. Less things than
fortin.'
We'll, I'm glad you think so much of
/ him ! don't said Sprigg.
NO muttered Joe, as his neigh bor
! turned away; but if he had married your
raw boned darter that played on the forty
pianoe, he'd been all right, and no mis-
take
a one horse chaiser said Spriggs
laughing; what fortuner
And so it went from mouth to mouth.
None of the relatives-some already rich
had offered the poorest man among
them (thc owner of n one horse chaise)
any of the bequeathmcnt left to him or
her; but they had rather rejoiced in his
disappointment.
Tho truth is, everybody had prophesieel
that John Clarke, a poor, motherlcss boy,
would come to ruin, and they wanted the
prophecy to prove true ono. lie hal,
in his youth, been wild and wayward, and
somewhat profligate in the early years OF
his manhood but his old uncle had en-
couraged him to reform-held out hopes
! to which he had hitherto been Gtranger
and the love of the sweet young Jenny
Brazier completed, as it seemed, his re-
/ formation.
! Jenny never appeared so lovely as she
did on that unfortunate day of the read
! ing the will. after they had returned to
the poor little house that was Jenny's
own.
No matter, John, she said cheerfuliy
you will rise in spite OF them. wouldn
/ let them think was in the least discour
aged; that would only please them too
well. We are doing fine now; and you
know, if they do cut the railroad through
our bit of land, the money will set us W
quite comfortably. Isn't our home a hap
py one, if it is small? And oh John, by
and-by.' .....T
An eloquent blush-a glance towards
her work basket, out of which pfeped the
most delicate needlework, told the stor,
that new story of innocence, beauty ano
helplessness, that brings cares akin t.
angels work ......
For once, John Clarke stopped the gos
sips mouth. He held his head up man
fully--worked steadily at his trade, ant
every step seemed a sure advance and ar
upward one
Baby was just six months old when the
Railroad Company paid into John Clarke
hand very handsome sum for the privi
lece of cutting a railway through his LITTLE