Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-05-09
VOL. XLVI. NEW SERIES. Vol. XIX

wanted what | could not give him-fre?''
= Shut the door, Mister Michael, and II
tell YER
Here Michael rose and requested Madge t.
descend and leave him in peace, which. how
ever, it did not suit her to do.
But Jap. eagerly approaching his whilom
protector, took advantage of her temporar,
absence from the door, and whispered
- Money
- What do YOU mean?" demanded Mich
ael.
" Money =" repeated Jap.
- But where -
- Here ~ exclaimed Jap, pointing to the
chimney. 81 have found things hidden
away in many chimbley before now, oncet
a coffee-pot, oncet purse, and oncet pic
tur."
Michael stared at the boy for moment.
and then grasping his arm, he cried
" Keep this quiet, Jap, and let US to
work Fasten the door -
This was soon done, and Nladge, who had
just been about to put in an appearance,
vanished in confusion, while Michael and
Jasper went to work with a will, the sweep
mounting into the worn and tottering old
chimney, while Michael reached up to him
the only available tool for discovery, broom
with broken handle.
And there, strange to say, but not more
strange than true-my story relates iaet-in
deep creyice in the chimney was found
pried out by the searching, if humble. means
that Fate had provided, a box of tin, bound
round by a couple Of leather straus, the
whole embellished with more SCOT than was
altogether pleasant, though much less than
would have been found in chimney where
flame more often ascended from a comfort
able fire.
To grasp the box, to set it upon the win
dow-sill to open it, tearing away the sooty
straps-all this did not occupy as many mo-
ments rs arc required to tell it.
Within lay the will, his mothers will.
leaving TO Michael West all the property left
by his fathers widow, Septimus Greyson
wife, and beneath that, under several LAYERS
Of bank-notes and gold, the deeds showing
possession Of ninety thousand dollars worth
OF real estate
This, during fourteen years of abiect pow
erty and seli-priyation, had the miserable
miser hidden till death tore away his Sc
cret
1t is well to be able TO say that riches so
little hardened Michael Vests heart, that
his first thought was Of his companion in
misery.
" You've made me rich, Jap, by your wis
dom, and II never see vou in want again. "
But that night the couple left Nladge
Holmes and her horrible lodging forever
Michael West l. married now, and has
beautiful home not many miles from phila-
delphia. His wife is the daughter Of a
wealthy merchant, whose greatest pride is in
the name her husband has made, after years
of hard study. as a man of science
But in that lovely home, amid the smiles
Of his children, there has been no time when
Michael has forgotten the lad to whom he
owes his wealth. Jasper White-Jap in
sisted upon being called White because he
had once been 50 black has received as
good an education a- his somewhat limited
intelligence would admit of. and is gradually
losing the memory of his life in e. chimb-
leys,' the blows of his keeper. the abuse of
Madge, and the tears and sorrows of by
gone time.
And. because he has lived in the midst of
them, and knows the ghastly truths no pen
can 0redrdr. Michael " est, in his gaveSt
hour, remembers charity. open-handed and
well-judging charity, to the miserable occu-
pants of those dwellings such as the ayarice
Of Septimus Greyson condemned his boy
hood to pass away in without one ray Of
hope or light This he can never forget
but remembering them, he remembers the
poor, and makes them To realize that God
has not forgotten.