Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-06-15

A vulgar, shocking oilmanl" said Mr.
Collett; "a wretch who not only sold oil,
but soap, candles, turpentine, black lead,
and birch brooms 1t was dreadful blow
to the family. Her poor grandmother new
er got over it, and maiden aunt turned
Methodist in despair. Well, Briggs, the
Gilman died last week, it seems, and his
widow has written to me, asking for assist
ance. Now, | have thought of leaving her
a hundred year in my will What do you
think of it? I'm afraid she don't deserve
it. What right had she to marry against
the advice of her friends? What have to
do with her misfortune?'
My mind is quite made up, said Mr..
Peter Finch mo notice ought to be taken
of her. She made an obstinate and unwor-
thy match-and let her abide the conse-
| quences.
Now for your opinion, John, said Mr..
Collett
Upon my word l think | must say the
same, p" said John Meade, bracing himself
up boldly for the part of the worldly man.
|
served with great justice, sir? Let her
abide the consequence you very prop
erly remarked Finch. Can she carry on
the oilman's business2 | dare say it will
! support her very well.
Why, no, said Mr.. Collett; Briggs
died bankrupt and his widow and chill
dren are destitute.
That does not alter the question" said
Peter Finch Let Briggs family do some
thing for her"
go be sure!" said Mr. Collett Briggs
family are the people to 90 something for
her. She mustn' expect anything from us
must she, John?'
Destitute, is she ?" said John. 'With
children, too Why, this is another case,
sir. You surely ought to notice hcr-to as
sist her. Confound it. I'm for letting her
have the hundred year"
"Oh, John, John What breakdown T.
said Mr. Collett. $50 you we're trying to
follow Peter Finch through Stony Arabia,
and turned back at the second stepi Here $
| q brave traveller for you, Peter John, John,
keep to your Arabia Felix, and leave stern
er matters to very different men. Good
| bye, both of you. I've no voice to talk
any more. I'll think over all you have
said
He pressed their hands, and they left the
room. The old man was too weak to speak
the next day, and, in three days after that.
he calmly breathed his last.
As soon as the funeral was over, the will
was read by the confidential man of bust
ness, who had always attended to Mr.. Col
let's affairs. The group that sat around
him preserved decorous appearance Of
disintcrestedness and the usual preamble
to the will having been listened to with
breathless attention, the man of business
read the following in clear voice
81 bequeath to my niece, Emma Briggs,
notwithstanding that she shocked her fami-
| Iy by marrying an GILMAN, the sum of four
thousand pounds being fully persuaded
that her lost dignity. if she could even find
it again, would do nothing to provide her
with food, or clothing, or shelter. "
Mr.. Meade smiled, and Mr.. Finch ground
his teeth-but in quiet respectable man
ner.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
Having always held the opinion that
woman should be rendered a rational and
| independent beiug-and having duly con-
sidered the fact that society practically de-
nics her the right Of earning her own living
i heaeby bequeath to Mary Jayne, the
only child Of my old friend, Fred. Jayne,
the sum of ten thousand pounds, which will
| enable her to marry Or remain single, as
| she may prefer.
| John Meade gave prodigious start upon
hearing this, and Peter Finch ground his
| teeth again, but in a manner hardly respect
able Both, however, by violent effort,
kept silent.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
II have paid some attention to the char
acter of my nephew, John Meade, and have
been greved to find him much possessed
with feeling of philanthropy, and with a
! general preference for whatever is noble
and true over whatever is base and false.
As these tendencies are by no means such
as can advance him in the world, l beqeath
him the sum of ten thousand pounds. ho'
ping that he will thus be kept out of the
workhouse, and be enabled to paint his
great historical picture. which, as yet, he
has only talked about.
Gas for my other nephew, Peter Finch
he views all things in so sagaclous and sci
fish a way, and is so certain to get on IL
life, that | should only insult him by offer
ing an aid which he does not require ye
from an affectionate uncle, and entirely as ;
testimony for his mental acuteness, | ven
tured to hope that he viii accept be
quest of FIVE hundred pounds toward th'
completion of his extensive library of Law
books"
How Mr.. Peter Finch stormed and calle'
names how John Meade broke into a de
lirium of joy how Mary Jayne cried hrs
and then laughed, and then cried and laugh
ed together; all these matters L shall no
| o4.a-,,,t to describe Mary JAYNE IS nON