Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-12
atorx or Humnn Nature.

There once lived in an obscure town in
Massachusetts,, an old Indian woman.
Somehow or other the old woman had ac-
cumulated quite desirable little property.
Yet she was an Indian, and was treated
with cool contempt by her neighbors. She
had no seat at the social circle, received no
attention from those around, occupied a
back pew in the church, and down toward
the grave she travelled, without friend or
comforter.
Old Nance had but one relative living
that she knew of, and he was wild. grace
less son. He was the terror of the village,
and spent his time in anything but re-
speotable WaV At last the vagabond so
worried the fOrbearance of his old mother,
that, in hasty moment, she determined to
disinherit him, and leave her money to the
church. -.-l ..-t
Accordingly she started for the house of
one Deacon Summer, and made a clean
breast of her troubles, and acquainted him
with her determination. The deacon grew
from cool to avery amiable mood, as she
proceeded, and at the end, became profuse
in his expressions of gratitude.
The will, through the agency of the Gea-
con. was drawn, but the old woman, feeling
a little compunction, had clause inserted,
which should make it void, provided the
son would totally reform his habits
Secrecy was enjoined upon the deacon, who
said nothing about it, except to two or
three friends, who, of course, spread it all
over the village in the space of one day.
But the change wrought in the situation
of old Nance was miraculous. s'Such
good old womanI' ~ The nice bits from the
best tables began to journey, under neat
napkins, to her humble abode. On rainy
Sabbath, a carriage took her up at her door,
and carried her to church, where she was
kindly favored with front pew, near the
speaker, and near the stove. Her praise
was in everybody's mouth, and her .totter-
ing form commanded respect everywhere.
But she thriVed remarkably under this
treatment, and lived, and lived, and lived.
In the meantime the son was looked upon
with more chan usual distrust, and the poor
widow was deeply cOmmiserated in his dis
graceful course.
Years passed away, and the kind atten-
tions of friends were still continued to the
widow, when, at last, old Nance slept the
sleep that knows no waking. A large fu-
neral, one of the largest the little village
had ever seen, attended her to the grave in
the quiet churchyard. There were tears
shed over her bier, and benisons breathed
| upon her memory.
Tire funeral was past, the Deacon, the
Squire, and number of village notables
were gathered in her dwelling, and in one
corner of the room sat the sad and taciturn
| son.
.Squire,n said the Deacon, 81 believe
|
{ ''Yes, there is WILL"
"Will you have the goodness to read it 90
The will was produced. All were silent
The will was read, in which all the widows
property was bequeathed to the church,
Many an eye sought the face of the prodi-
gal son, but saw no change in his stolid
| features. 1.. t-- .i
When the reading was finished, the son
arose, and drawing piece of paper from
his pocket, inquired the date of ''that ar
will?''
The date was stated, and handing the
Squire his paper, the portionless asked
] him to read it. sry-. ..-.s ~ e4e1. %
Alas it was will one day younger than
the other. The fond mother, in her weak
ness, had told the son what she had done
and he managed to have a will drawn
twenty-four hours after the previous one
in which he was Che sole legatee.
The assembled wisdom and disinterest.
edness of the village went home thinking
and the son had the pleasant satisfaction
of knowing that his mothers last day:
were her best days. Reader, this is no
fiction. 1t is but an inssance of the weak
ness of our common natures which, II
similar developments. come before us with
humiliating frequency, alike in the lowes
and highest walks of life.