The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-02-11

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They were all in black and looked like
the Fates, wanting only the wheel, the
distaff, and the scissors. They were all
shrouded in Grape; they all wore coarse
black kid gloves too big for them, and
with great black poddy fingers an inch
too long
If grief could be expressed by Grape,
the FitzSimmonses were eart.broken.-
They we're swathed in Grape; there was q
top.heavy banner Of Grape on FitZsim-
mons hat; there were wisps Of Grape on
Mrs. F.'s bonnet; they .gloried in Grape.
They looked like the family Of young
undertaken who has just secured small
funeral, and was proWd of the business.
The room was one of those drab-co
ed, dingy lawyers rooms, walled in with
deed boxes-thc black sarcophagi Of ex-
tinct fortunes the ceiling black with
smoke the cocoa-nut mating dirty, and
spashed with ink.
After q good deal of whispering with
clerks, and running in and out with law
papers, Mr.. Fox sat down, chuckled sol.
emnly, opened the will, rubbed his hands,
and began to read it.
IL was very suOTt. He UeCeuSeu HHu
left five thousand pounds to the Fitzsim-
monscs, all his china and pictures also to
them; and nothing to the poor Latimers
but his wooden leg, to be sent to them as
remembrance.
The Fitzsimmonses thrilled with de.
light; the black forest of Grape rustled
with satisfaction. Every one got up and
shook hands with the lawyer. Mr.. Fox
poured them each out glass Of sherry,
and then poured himself out one, and
drank their health. Then there was a
universal eulogy Of the dear deceased,
and some unnecessary wiping Of eyes, till
they looked red and natural.
Depend upon me. my dear friends,
said Mr.. Fox, rubbing his hands as under
takers do after successful funeral-'de-
pend upon me, this matter shall be settled
as soon as possible. l will set all my
clerks upon it. Parker, mind you begin
this matter early morrow morning. /
shall pack up our poor friend Latimer's
legacy tonight. Ha, ha o dear, o dear,
what an eccentric being!'
The Fitzsimmonses singled malicious
ly.
/
It had been hard year for the pool
Latimcrs. George had gone to school and
that was expensive. A needy brother
returning from Canada had drained Of
the rest Of worthy Mr.. LIS ready money
And now it wanted three days to the
time of paying the interest on his life.
insured for his wife, and where to turn t
for spare ten pounds he did not know.
When q master is sad, if there is any
sympathy or love in family, every On'
is more or less depressed. So it was tina
that cold March evening with the Lati
mers, as they sat round the fire after din
4 ner discussing not the catchup and log
wood but some humble mulled eldel
wine, were silent and sad. George helc
Dora's hand. and Willy nestled on th,
footstool. Suddenly the door opened anG
Susan came in. If you please, sir, there
is large hamper come from the station
six and twopence to pay
How jolly = said George, leaping uE
and clapping his hands.
Mr.. Latimer, as he counted out thu
money, looked as if he thought paying
six-and-twopcnce was by no means Jolly
what can it be?' said Mrs. Latimer.
The hamper came it. 1t was tieC
round with red tape, and sealed with
black. On the card was written: III
re Godfrey Dodson deceased. With
Messrs. Fox and Shekell's compliments.
The Latimers had long ceased to en-
tertan any hope of legacy, but hope
now rose again in their eyes.
Hurrah here's my knife, paI a. cried
George.
It's china' said Dora.
Give me some Of it, cried Tot whose
head had not yet grown above the leve
of the table. and therefore could see moth
ing Of the interior Of the mysterious ham
per.
Mr.. Latimer cut the red tape. The
hamper was full of hay, and on the hay
was sealed letter in Uncle Godfrey't
handwriting. Mr.. Latimer tore it open
The contents ran thus:
Dear Latimcr found out the tricks
and humbug Of the FitzsimmonseS. NJ,
visit taught me to respect and love yoL
and Jane | have been fool to live as
have done, but it is too late to alter now
The Keepsake send is rather curious il
its mechanism. Think Of old cross I'm.
Gle Godfrey sometimes. Farewell.
(Signcd) GODFREY DoDsoN.'
In moment, Mr.. Latimer's hand
plunged into the hay, and drew out, moi
a casket nor box of gold, but Uncle
Godfrey's wooden leg
For moment Mr.. Latimer remained
as if turned to stone, and grasping tn,
wooden leg in his hand. Then the colo1
mounting to his face, he cried sternly
George, run and ask cook for the bill
hook from the woodhouse.'
George ran. Mrs. Latimcr seized hel
husbands arm. Don't Fred, don't; i
is cruel. But what could we cxpect?'
Selfish, heartcss old miser = cried hel
husband, stamping his foot. What righI
had he to come and mock and tempt US
and insult us with this vile thing? Wa
he not hard and frozen, and useless
enough in his lifetime, but must he ris
from his very grave to strike pang int
our hearts, Pt such a moment, too, Of pail
and anxiety"
George ran in at this moment with
heavy sharp bill hook.
Thus said Latimer, with a cleavinI
blow, do | doom his cruel present to it
only real uSe-to feed the fire and pcrisI
as the memory Of all useless, selfish mel
will perish
As he said this, Latimcr Topped off tn
peg-end of the leg, and thrust it into tn
fire where it instantly broke into q rejoic
ing blaze. At the second blow, the bill
hook stuck deep in the wood, and refuse
to go further. Taken out and reStruck
there was a metallic sound. as if it ha
reached some iron screw. On looking,
was evident that small fiat box be
somehow or other been slid into the Ger
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