Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-10-26
UNCLE GEOFFREY'S WILL


old gentleman rs you could desire to see.
But as be used to say, he was wealthy, and
he could afford 10 be eccentric And he
was right, for people put up with his &C.
centriclties who would have denounced
him as bear If II had not been for his
money. At any rate, with all his eccen-
tricities, he was generous and liberal (;
though at times he did kindness in a very
odd way. Once on time for instance,
he was applied to for contribution 10 a
certain charity. He always preferred being
his own almoner, for he said you wanted
to give five pounds for any specific purpose,
the only way to insure Its reachings its oh.
iect through any charitable organization
was to add two more flyes TO il soil the
machinery" as he called IT,, meaning the
cost Of distribution. ] don't think by the
way, that he was very far wrong. Well,
in this case, a local magnate was pt sterlng
him TO subscribe as they were walking mp
High street. My uncle knew that his
friend was more famous for getting others
to subscribe than for his donations and
accordingly, Just as the philanthropist was
urging that ut Is any mans duty TO assist
the struggling," my uncle's eye chanccd
to light upon a small boy striving to push
heavy truck up the hill. "Look here"
said he, "fyou'll practice what you preach
and help that boy yonder along with his
load. III give you twenty pounds for your
charity" The philanthropist went of in
huff, and my uncle quietly stepped into
the road and helped the boy to push the
truck TO the top of the ascent.
That is but ono instance Of his eccentric
ity, hut will serve to throw a light upon
his cha acier-especially when add that
the subscription list Of the charity when
published contained the fol owing item:
From one who earned It by pushing truck
up High street. et........................E E20
My Uncle Geoffroy was u bachelor.
People did say something about love dis
appointment In early life, but with what
truth | know not. He had two sisters,
both of whom married professional men
in ether words, did not make very good
matches. My father was an eflicer in the
navy, who died of fever while of the Afri
can coast, cruising after slavers. My
mother did not long survive him, aud left
me, her only child, to the care of her
brother. Her sister mad married clergy
man, curate In a neighboring town. One
night terrible fire broke out 10 factory
close to their lodgings, and spread 50 rap
idly that when assistance arrived all In
the house had perished except my cousin
a lad of about ten-N ho at the first alarm
had rushed out into the street, leaving hit
little brothers and sisters, who slept In the
next room TO him, TO their fate.
My Uncle Geofiiey adopted both hli
nephews. We were brought up under h.s
own eye by tutor, who had been a school
fellow OF his, an exceedingly clever scholar
who would have taken high honors at tht
university but for a serious illness, which
had prostrated him at the time when HI
should have gone in for his examination
My cousin George was my senior by
some three years, and was therefore, al
ways held by my uncle to be his heir
though he always added, when he men
tioued the fact, that DiclI7-meaning me -
should not want.
After time We were sent to college; ou
ex-tutor, who had taken orders and actc,
as curate in the village few years befor
we matrieulated, being appointed to liy
ing in my uncle's gift. As we were nov
young men, and our tutor was gone, ou
uncle became our Mentor, and, as nigh
be expected, laid down very eXtraordinar
rules for our conduct One of the chief O
those was that we were not to fall in Low
or go accounting but that supposing sue
a misfortune as falling in love did Oyertak
us, he was to be Immediately Informed.
He made each Of US Il handsome allow
anee, and did not insist greatly on our dis
tinguiEhing ourselves In college. As Nigh
be expected we 10th took things easily au
lived well, though we were careful to pas
our examinations, for Uncle Godfrey ha
always set his face against "fellow'
being plueked," as It used to be called
his time.
In the long vacation be allowed us, aitC
months stay at the Manor House,
wander wherever we chose, and he place
his yacht at our disposal entirely. Il
aA anff g In, fhn 4
and declared that we youngsters didn
want to be bothered by an old man lii
him, and so should have the craft to GU
selves.
In our yachting excursions George use
always to take the command. He was
headstrong, selfish fellow by nature an
the indulgence shown to both of us by OF
uncle was, In his case at least unfortl
nate, for il encouraged the growth of 4
failings. In my case / fear my uncle
kindness humored tendency TO carelos
ness in mosey matters, for / knew h
purse was always open.
Amer time l found George always toe
the yacht TO a small but pretty seaport {
the south coast called Gulstone. Nor WI
long in discovering the reason Of Oh
choice OF an anchorage, though at first
seemed hardly probable one. The ia
was George was paying attentions to
Miss Powsby, whose father, a retired soa
boiler, had purchased a villa near CT
stone. Now Miss Powsby was not We
pretty on the contrary she was abnC
nially plain. She was not ugly, for ug
ness has bind ofpiquaney which absolu
plainness entirely lacks.
But she had her attractions. She was
only child, and Powsby f1ere had not boil
soap half his life to no purpose. NJ
roWsby bad been distant connection o
real live lord, and she had instiled il
her husband the necessity sor giving PEI
lope's hand to a gcnteel and well-bi
suitor. Consequently old Powsby turn
mp his nose at all the young men in
own sphere of life, and looked about
ms chlld in class in which he had
Ittnds aud few aequaiutances. VIII
Ieorgc, the heir presumptive of I'm
Geofirey, aud therefore probable futl
lord of the Manor of Gillindale, hayi
been introduced to Penelope at the bac
Iors hail at Gulstone, began TO sh
her marked attention. you may be 81
nelther she nor her father attempted to
pulse his advances.
But George was artful enough TO conc
ms attachment from me for a long tir
Indeed, it was not until I, in my turn,
victim to the tender passion, that l
covered what was going on.
Tue Greeks had profound and excel
reason for describing the goddess of love
born of the sea. II you want 10 make u
match between two people-who may e'
nate each Other-send them of to sea 70
voyage; and they will come back engag
Even the shore, the seaside, is equally /
nous There are more marriages set
on the sands and the beach than any OF
lor'ion ofterra firma. By all of VIII
moralizing desire only to plead an
cu.e for the fact that / was head over G
ID love With Lucy WilmOt before we
me, half dozen times on the parade
Shlstone. We were introduced by a v
ooisterous zephyr, which blew her s
snaae over the elf sud gave me an Cpl
'unlly OF going after IL.
u was Lucy who told me of Georl
name. Whtn mentioned my name
kuew me as his cousin and ieilow-yac
man. and supposing, of course, that
ns coniidant, spoke ofhls engagement
Instant relative she was.