The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-01-27

poor Latlmcrs. George had gone to
school, and that was expensive. A
needy brother returning from Canada
had drained off the rest of the wor.
thy Mr.. LIS ready money. And now
it wanted three days to the time of
paying the interest on his life insur.
ance for his wife, and where to turn
for spare ten pounds he did not
know.
When master is sad, if there Is
any sympathy or love in a family,
every one is more or less depressed.
SO it was that cold March evening
the Latimers, as they sat round the
fire after dinner, discussing not the
"catchup and logwood," but some
mullcd elder wine, were ii
lent and sad George held Dora :
hand, and Willie nestled on the foot
stool. Suddenly the door opened.
and Susan came in. "lf YOU please,
SIR, there is n large hamper come
from the station six and two pence
to pay"
GLOW jollyw said George leaping
up and clapping his hands.
Mr.. Laumer, as he counted out the
looked as if he thought pay
ing six and two pence was by no
means jolly.
What can it bc?' said Mrs. Lati.
mcr.
The hamper came in. It was tied
round with red tape, and sealed with
black. On the card was written -
'IR re Godfrey Dodson, deceased. -
With Messrs Fox IL Shekells com.
)lnents.'
The Latimers had long ceased 10
entertain any hope of a legacy, but
hope now rose again in their eyes.
"tlnrrah here's my knife, papa"
cried George.
"It's chinaw said Dora
"tfive me some of it," cried Tot,
whose head had not yet grown above
the level Of the table, and therefore
could see nothing Of the interior Of
.he mysterious hamper.
Mr.. Latimer cut the red tape. The
hamper was full Of hay, and on tue
hay was sealed letter in Uncle God
'rey's handwriting. Mr.. Latimer
tore it open. The contents ran thus
DEAR LArMER: | iound ont the
tricks and hnmbug of the Fitzsim
monses. My visit taught me to re
spect and love you and Jane. have
been fool to live MS I have done,
but it Is too late to alter now. The
keepsake | send is rather curious IN
It's mechanism Think of old cross
Uncle Godfrey sometimes. Fare
well. (SIsned)
GoprREY DoDsoy."
In moment, Nh. Latimcr's hand
plunged into the hay, and drew ont,
not caslict nor box or bag Of gold,
but Uncle Golfrey's wooden leg
For moment Mr. Latimer remain
ed as ifturned to stone, and grlspiug
the wooden leg in his hand Then
the color mounted to his face, he said
stcrnly: George, run and ask the
cook for the bill hook from the wood
house"
George ran. Mrs. Latimer seized
her husbands arm. Don't Fred,
don't: 1t is cruel, But what could
we expect ?"
"Selfsh, hcartless old miser r.
cried her husband, stamping his foot.
"What right had he to come and
mock and tempt us, and insult us
with this vile thing? Was he not
hard and frozen, and useless enough
in his lifetime, hut must he rise from
his very grave to strike n pang into
our hearts, at such moment, too, of
pain and anxiety p
George ran in at this moment with
q heavy sharp bill hook.
Thus" said Latimcr, with a cleav-
ing blow, "do ] doom his cruel pres
ent to it's only real use--to iced the
fire and perish, as the memory of all
useless, selfish men will perish"
AS he said this, Latimer Topped of
the peg end of the leg, and thrust il
into the fire, where it instantly broke
into rejoicing blaze At the second
blow, the bill hook stuck deep in the
wood, and refused to go further
Taken out and restruck, there was Q
metallic sound, as If it had reached
some iron screw. On looking, it was
evident that n small dat box had some.
how or other been slid into the cen,
ter of the block. The stonishment
and excitement grew tremendous.
George ran for the meat saw. and
two slillrul cross cuts disclosed O
small dat tin box solderod down -
What colldit bcY Mrs. Latimer @ (
a sardine knife; and ripping it open,
discovered that it was full of paper
A further search disclosed five thou.
sand pounds closely welecd bank
notes. One thousand poun Is were
labeled "Jane;" another thousand
"Frederick;" third thousand, "Do,
RAJ" a fourth thousand, "Gcorge;" Q
fifth thousadd, "rot." On many o
them, there were GRUMPY blisters, as
if tear or two had fallen on the pa
per-
How can | describe the JOY and
gratitude of tire good people; how
Mr., Latimer kissed Mrs Latimer
then all the children; and how tho
children danced for joy, and blessed
dear Uncle Godfrey.
V. AN IMPORTANT TAFTER.THoUGHT.