Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-08-14


she was very, very kind to me-"
Are we men naturally 40 selfish
or was l, hunted and driven by want
IN exception to the ordinary rule
For confess that as Lizzie stOo(
there looking tearfully up into my
face the first thought that followed
the entrance of this unexpected
news into my brain was: Would
Aunt George leave us anythingi ]
supposed Lizzie was her sole living
relation, and surely, in all these
years, though her income was small,
she must have saved something.
But l am thankful to remember
that 1 never told Lizzie what was
in my mind.
"She was very old, DEAR" l said,
striving to comfort my gyieved wife;
"Over three score and ten. 1t is
the allotted age of humanity, and
you know she had grown to he very
feeble"
"And l know she is better off,"
said Lizzie ; "but, Joe. she is all
the mother | ever had"
We went to Aunt Georges funer-
al, and her will was read-a very
brief document--in which she be.
queathed her simple household furn-
iture and belongings to a nephew
in Wisconsin, and "to Elizabeth,
wife of Joseph Allen. as a token of
the affectionatc remembrance Of the
deceased, her piano."
A tuneless, jangling instrument,
half a century old, with carved spin
die legs, ornaments of inlaid brass
and keys as yellow as Aunt
Georges own complexion. laugh
ed contemptuously when 1 heard
the words. But Lizzie laid her hand
gently on my arm.
cit was Aunt Georges, dear"
she said, softly, "and We must cher
ish it for her sake. Bcsides," in a
whisper, "think how it will amuse
the baby"
And that was the end Of all my
expectations of an inheritance from
Lizzie's Aunt George.
The old piano was duly carted
home the next day. If it had been
a fashionable instrument, of mod
ern make, they could never have
gotten up the narrow staircase; but
it looked quite friendly and home
like opposite the fireplace, its lank
proportions covered by a faded
green cloth.
l shrank back with little grim.
ace as Lizzie touched the keys to
make the baby laugh.
"Of course it is out of tune, Joe,"
she said, merrily; "but you'll soon
set that right. And l shall rub up
my practice again in no time.
1t happened to be a very dull
time just then; so had nothing
else to do but to take Lizzie's ad.
vice !; and in just half an hour l
had the old instrument nearly dis.
sected, much to MIR. Baby's editica-
tion, as he sat gravely on the floor
in the midst of the interior devel.
of the ancient piano.
And now comes the most marvel.
GUS part Of my story.
AL piano tuners know that when
you take away the front piece above
the keyboard there is a hollow place
of considerable extent, in any instru,
mcnet of ordinary size. And as |
stopped to blow the dust away from
this place l saw bundle or roll of
bank notes fastened round with a
yellow slip of paper, Oh which was
written: "FOr my niece Lizzie"
"Lizzie y l cried, breathlessly,
"Lizzie p and she was at my side
in an instant.
And, if you will believe me, there
were $4,000, the accumulated saw
ings of Aunt Georges frugal life ;
and this was what she had meant
by giving her piano TO us.
That $4,000 was the starting point
of the snug little fortune we have
slice scraped together; and if Aunt
George could know how much her
bequest has done for us, l think it
would do her kindly heart good.
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND.
There are two influences combined
in England just now to make Free
very prOSOpriOuS in that