Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-28
NO. 256.
Calls aud Sketehes.
MY LEGACY.
BY NELLIE CARTER.

Our little town OF GOSSlptOn was in
state of unusual commotion. Knots of
people were standing at various corners.
evidently discussing subject OF vast i'm
portance. The fact was this: The &c
centric and somewhat miserly Jacob
Braidwood, whose wealth was supposed
to be fabulous, had died few days ago.
and this was the day Of his funeral.
"Well. what then? That surely, Is
nothing extraordinary.
All but after the funeral the will was
to be opened and read, and public curiosi-
ty was excited to its highest pitch. A
hundred thousand, two hundred thousand,
half a million, each and all these sums
were positively reported to have been left,
and the fortunate legatees as positively
named, but in truth nothing really could
be learned till after the funeral, which my
little sister and | now watched passing our
windows. Then we equipped ourselves
for our afternoon walk, and set out, passing
on our route several groups of people, aud
also several houses, the closed windows
and carefully drawn-down blinds of which
looked the personifcation ofdecorous woe
These houses belonged to various distant
relatives of the deceased, who evidently
expected a good share Of the fabulous for-
tune.
Lefty and walked on, wishing that we.
too, could looa for q legacy; but, as that
was out of the question, we dismissed the
subject, and enjoyed our walk. Return
ing home, we chose road which would
save our passing through so many streets;
consequently we saw few people, hnt= just
as we had almost reached our home, we
met Mr.. Brown, the rich corn merchant.
whose wife was third cousin of Jacob
Braldwood's and to whom rumor had as
signed large legacy. As usual, we
bowed politely, but in return received on
ly distant nod, and a scowl directed 10
me. which quite frightened me.
'.How cross Mr. Brown looked at you,
Nelly" said Lefty. "What can be the
matter with him? Oh! it's the will, Nell
~" she suddenly added.
"But this needn't make him scowl at
me in that way" said /. still indignant at
the scowl
On entering our own parlor we found
my mother and father in close conversa-
ton, which they suddenly broke off on our
entrance, looking at each other and then
at us in rather an embarrassed manner.
Then my father said, apparently with an
effort:
Nelly, have news for YOU"
"News for me, papa? l hope it is good
news" said l. "Nothing is wrong sure
ly?'
No dear; nothing wrong he replied.
1T is this Mr.. Braidwood has left you q
legacy" 1-f.a..
LEFT me legacy, papa? me P' ex-
claimed. why, | never spoke to him.
1t must be mistake Surely, YOU are
joking, papa
"Wen, my child, it seems correct
enough" said my father. but fear you
will be a little hurt at the terms it is be-
queathed in. Mr.. Reynolds who was old
Jacobs lawyer, showed me the will. and
have copied the part concerning your
legacy Shall read it to you. or will you
read it yourself ?"
''Road it, please, papa,' said l. "But
how can be hurt He can't say anything
very bad of me, can he ?"
"My dear Nelly, said my mother. "therc
is nothing to hurt you much. Mr.. Braid
wood had not very refined feelings, and
was very plain spoken; but you are sensi-
BILE, Nelly, and won't mind.
After all this preamble, felt quite ner-
yous.
"Well Nell," said my father" there it
is we won't keep you any longer In sus-
pense."
"My father then read as follows:
II give and bequeath TO Ellen Warner
the sum of five thousand pounds, because
she is the daughter of an honest man, and
because she is SO ugly that she will never
get husband; and, furthermore. for the
sake of this five thousand pounds. stipu-
late that if the said Ellen Warner rnarries
any one with an income of less than one
thousand pounds year, the said five thou
sand pounds are to be restored to my
heirs"
What woman could confess that such
words did not give her apang? Ialways
had known that was plain; but to hear it
thus broadly stated, without any soitening.
was shock. However soon recovered
from it, and said, gaily:
Mamma. l am very much obliged to
Mr.. Braidwood; l always knew that was
ugly, and always wished for some money.
And o. papa, is it really mine and can
do what like with it ?" the reality OF my
wealth now striking me very forcibly. g
"Of course, Nell, you cannot touch the
principal Just now." he replied; but the
interest is yours, and you can soon begin
to enjoy it. Mr. Braidwood has been very
thoughtful; he has left you the five thou
sand free of legacy duty. and has directed
that his shares in the Great Banking Com
pany, which are of the value of five thou
sand pounds, be transferred to you; SO
that you will have no trouble in investing
your money. The bank is paying six and
half per cent. just now"
Then there will really be more than
than three hundred pounds year, papa"
said |, land can spend it. .. how nice
Then, mamma, We will get pony car.
riage for you; you know the doctor said
it would make you quite strong if you
could drive every day; and Lefty shall 60
to school; and we will get new drawing
room carpet; and you and I, mamma,
will have new silk dresses, and mine shall
be bright blue"
Fifty other bright visions iloated through
my excited brains when my father, kiss
ing me, said:
"Well. Nell, congratulate you on your
legacy; but, with all these schemes. you
will soon spend it. We will think it over
dear, when you have had time to think
lcoSriNuEp ON FOURTH FACE.