The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-13
MY AUNT'S LEGACY.

MI AVN1'S LEtiACI.
My father is farmer, in sufficiently
easy though not exactly atfluent circum-
stances; and he, with my mother and
brothers, live in the house where all of us,
except my mother, first saw the light. AT
the time when the event here recorded took
place lived with them, but have been
away from home for many year now.
The house is "A large, rambling build
ing, constructed of red bricks, and abound
ing in numerous long, low rooms. We
are simple, primitive people, and general
lv sit and take our meals in room lead
ing out of the kitchen. But we have two
state parlors, which, in our eyes at least,
are very grand, and which we use on
those rare occasions when we wish to
make a show in the eyes of the world; or
rather in the eyes of those few and isolated
members of it who, at long intervals, come
our way.
My name is Sebastian Gregg FELTON,,
and am one of a family of five, all boys,
IN which occupy the generally unenvia-
bic position of being in the middle say
generally unenviable, because, as a rule,
the eldest and youngest of a family get the
hest of it, and the others rather go to the
wall But in my case | had nothing to
complain of, as | happened to be my moth.
cr's prime favoritc.
Several reasons conspired to produce
this result. To begin with, had been Il
very delicate child and great doubts had
been entertained as to the possibility of
rearing me. Children that cause most
anxiety are generally liked best, and, as
had rewarded my mother for all the care
bestowed upon me by growing into tall,
blOad-shouldered fellow, who seemed
quite to have forgotten what ill health was,
she naturally felt grateful to me and in
clincd to think me very meritorious
character. Another thing that disposed
her in my favor was that had been infin-
itely more troublesome than all her other
boys put together, as, whenever my health
allowed it, l. had been from my earliest
lnfancyin some mischief or other; though,
to do myself justice, had never been
guilty of anything mean or underhanded
There was one other circumstance that
made me looked upon with favor, not only
by my mother, but by the whole family
Ms well, and that was that | was consid-
cred to have expectations. In other words,
l was thought to have very good chance
of being heir to an aunt of my fathers.
who had Il very comfortable little fortune
of her own. But will talk of this by and
by when have told the reader little more
about myself
At the time of this story was one and
twenty years DID, six feet high, broadly
built enough to match my height and-my
native modesty recoils from writing this
very good looking. In disposition was
lighthearted and fond of fun, my former
leaning toward mischief having by no
means deserted me.
Though but one and twenty, had for
some years been engaged to Claribel
Myer, the daughter of well-to-do miller
who lived not very far from us. She was
pretty, lively little being, with dark hair
and eyes, Il roguish smile and sweet
figure, and she was great pet with every
body
But 70 proceed to the more important
part of my tale.
One evening, as VIC were all sitting at
tea. the pOstman came to the dOOr-in it.
self 50 unusual an event that it caused
quite an excitement. There was a general
rush TO see what he had got, and !, being
nearest was out first and obtained the let
ter 1t was addressed to my mother,
and everybody was much interested in the
opening and reading of it. 1t turned out
to he from the aunt from whom was sup
posed to have my expectations, and after
whom l received my beautiful second
name of Gregg.
Here let me stop for moment to in
form the reader that our notion as to nv
chance was by no means unfounded. 1t
did not arise from general feeling of
covetousnesS on our part, or from the idea
that seems common in some families that
every one is bound to leave them property
Shortly before | was born Miss Gregg
wrote to my father, saying that, should
the expected child prove boy, she would
be much complimented if he would give
it her name, and concluded with certain
dark and somewhat mysterious hints
which it seemed to him could bear but
one Interpretation. I need hardly OBJ
serve that when l appeared, and turned
out to he boy, was duly christened &C.
cording to my aunt's wishes. She had
never set eyes upon me, or, indeed, taken
the slightest notice of me from that mo-
ment to this; but still the hope of expecta-
tions, if it burned rather dimly sometimes,
never went out.
When it was discovered from whom the
letter came the excitement naturally in
creased greatly, and, my mothers specta-
cles not being forthcoming quickly enough
to suit the Impotence of the company, as
was considered to have the greatest in
tercst in the matter and was also believed
to be the best scholar in the family, the
epistlc was put into my hands with an ex-
hortatiOn to read it aloud. did SO, and
read as follows:
DEAR MADAM-Your son. who bears nv name
must by this time be pretty well, If not quite,
grown up. and have q fancy to see what he is
like. With your permission 1 shall. therefore.
come to your house ON Friday next, and also with
your permissiOn,E will remain the night, / am
dear Madam, yours truly =. -.
When had finished the perusal, silence
reigned for some time; everybody was too
much astonished t0~speak. When they
recovered themselves they all turned to
me. az art fs =.
We'll, Sebastian said my father,
" this is chance for you; mind you make
the best of it." 4t' r }sE
:" You know, Sebastian" chimed in one
OF my brothers, "you have q very pleas
ant way with old ladies when you choose,
and now is the time for showing it,
Yes, indeed, remarked : my. eldest
brother; it will all depend upon your
pleasing her or not, whether you come in
for the money 49, 60
"Of course Sebastian will please her. -
retorted my mother, taking my mart
against them. Then, not wishing to lose
the opportunity of little advice on her