Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-12-18

for the old man was ready and willing to de-
part but there was something pathetic in the
thoug ght that after half a century of patient,
untiring toll, after life Of perpetual endur-
ance and selfdenal, such man should have
50 little to leave behind him. His worldly
goods consisted for the most part of the hum.
bic, yet highly cherished heirlooms which had
been handed down to him by his torefathers,
and it was to make an equitable division OF
these between his two sons that he had espe-
cially desired my presence at this solemn hour.
John Dymond had lost his second wife
some years before, nor had any of his daugh-
ters survived to the period Of which am wr-
ting. 50 that there was no female hand of his
own kith or kin to smooth his pillow. Reu-
ben's wife might certainly have offered to un'
dertake the task, but she excused herself on
the ground that she had young family of
her own to look after her place was efficient
" supplied, however, by q fh6theffy widow
woman who lived in the adjoining cottage
When David and entered the sick chamber,
which was, indeed, the principal room OF the
house, thenurse was sitting at the head of the
bed on one side, and Dr. Webb, the parish
surgeon, on the other. At the foot of the
bed, close by the table, on which was placed
various articles of food and medicine, sat
Reuben Dymond and his wife. l mention
the exact position severally occupied by the
various persons present, for reason which
will appear hereafter. As for myself, sat
next to David, at the opposite end OF the ia
BILE, but so near the bed-for the whole apart
meut was of very small dmensions-that l
could conveniently shake the sick mans hand,
and catch the feeblest accents of his voice.
I need not describe the doctor and the
nurse, but must say few words concerning
the personal appearance of Reuben Dymond
and his wife, Reuben was fully twenty years
older than his halfbrother, a man of power
full muscular frame, with set of features
originally good, but now rendered coarse and
heavy by habits of dissipation. His wife,
who was much younger than himself, was rath-
er a ell-looking young woman, but with an
appearance of tawdry 6nery about her which
did not attract me- The cherry-colored rib
bons in her bonnet were new, and she had
pair of massive rings dangling from her ears,
but her gown was dingy and ragged.
After brief interval of religious converse.
ton, the sick man feebly pressed my hand
and spoke thus
"And now, sir, about parting my bits of
things between the two boys -"
At these words, Reuben and his wife, who
had hitherto appeared totally uninterested,
looked up with some little animation.
"Reuben and David" continued the old
man, as he endeavored to raise his head from
the pillow, "you're the only children | have
left to me, and 1 want we to share and share
alike"
"Thats scarcely fair, father, is it? OBJ
served Reuben, with sort Of laugh. "You
have knowed me score of years longer than
you have knowed David Besides, he's a
single man, earning good wages, while I've
got Martha and five young ones to keep"
"He speaks TRUTH" murmured John Dy-
mond. "Say, Reuben, what will content ye p
81 shan't be hard to please" answered the
eldest son. "Give me the pick ofthe furniture
the pots and pans, and the -"
"Why, you want everything" exclaimed
David, angrily.
"And I've right to everything, young
whipper-snapper. Amt I the first born by
twenty years.
"Hush, my friends" said I, interfering
"do not grieve your fathers last moments by
quarreling."
81 have good cause to be angry" cried
David. "He says am single man, and 50
am; but who has kept John Dymond from
the workhouse since the palsy struck him
Not his eldest son but his youngest Who
has fed and clothed those five children while
their parents were idling at fairs and horse
races? Not their father, but their fathers
halfbrothcr."
"Boys, boys" said the old man, imploring'
ly, "don't get ye to words together. | want
ye to be good friends before take the last
long journey. Say, David, what will content
thee?"
David was about to reply warmly, but
took his arm and whispered in his ear that he
would please his father best by yielding to his
brother.
"But before six months are gone they will
have sold everything, sir" demonstrated the
young man in return. Cali the old furniture
will be in the hands of strangers"
II will provide against that" said. 81
will make Reuben an offer for il"
"Come, David" said his halfbrother, with
a sneer, "can't ye make up your mind without
consulting the parson ?"
Father" replied David, eff you were not
lying sick, l should ask for fair division
as it is, I'm willing that you should give Reu
shelf of books. Will that suit you, Reuben ??
GAY, that it will bravely," cried Reuben
exultingly. "Give us your hand, Davy
You're better brother than 1 took you for. u
81 should like Reuben to have one book,
murmured the old man, ''just by way Of re-
membrancc Would you kindly look through
them, Mr.. Woodward ?"
At these words l took the books from the
shelf-they were only a dozen in number
and laid them on the table.
".rhe whole Duty of Man p" I said in
terrogatively.
"No," answered Reuben, with shake o.
his head, "not in my line. sir"
"A Prayer Book ?" continued.
"No, let Davy keep it," answered Rcubcr
contemptuously.
"This seems precious old family relic"
observed The title page bore the date o
1929.
"No, sir" replied David "father bough
it only few days before he took i'll. H
bought it of travelling hawker for the sak'
of the big print"
As he spoke I was slowly turning over tie
leaves of the volume, searching from idle :u,
riosity to see if the form of service appointed
for touching persons afflicted with the klng's
evil was contained in it. Suddenly / uttered
an exclamation of surprise. "N1y fiends, l
said, "this Prayer Book ismore valuable than
any of you probably suspected"
AS I spoke these words 1 had up a iilmsy
piece of paper yellow with Age. 1t was