The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-04-06
A STORY OF HUMAN NATURE.

There once lived in am obscure town iu
Massachusetts, an old Indian woman
Some how or other the old woman had
accumulated quite desirable little pro
perty Yet she was an Indian, aud was
treated with cool contempt by her neigh
bors She had 40 seat at the social circle,
received no attention from those around
her occupied back pew in the church.
and down toward the grave she travelled
without friend or comforter .
Old Nance had but one relative living
that she knew Of, aud he, a Wild, eraceless
son, Tie was the terror of the VILLAGE,
and spent his time in anything but re-
spectable way. At last the vagabond so
worried the forbearance of his old mother
that, 10 hasty moment she resolved 70
di,inherit him, and leave her money to
the church,
Accordingly she started for the house
of one of the deacons, and made a clean
breast of her troubles, aud acquainted him
with her determination The deacou
grew from a cool to a very amiabla mood,
as she proceeded and, at last, became pro
fuse in his expressions of gratitude
The will, through the agency of the
deacon, was drawn, but the old woman,
feeling little computation, had a clause
inserted which should make it void, pro
yided the son would totally reform his
habits. Secrecy was enjoined upon the
deacon, who said nothing about it, except
to two or three friends, who of course,
spread it all over the village in the space
of one day
But the change wrought in tho situa-
! ton OF old Nance was miraculous Such
a good old woman" The nice bits from
the best tables began to Journey, under
napkins, to her abode On a rainy Sab
bath a carriage took her up at her door
and carried her TO church, where she was
kindly favored with trout pew, near the
! speaker and near the stove Her praise
was in everybody's mouth, and her totter
ing form commanded respect everywhere
She thriyed remarkably under this treat
ment and lived aud lived, and lived Ia
/ the meantime, the son was looked upon
with more than usual distrust, aud the
poor widow was deeply c0mmisarated in
| his disgaceful course
Years passed away, and the kind atteu-
tions Of friends were still continued 10 the
widow when, at last. old Nance slept The
sleep that knows no waking 4 large fun
eral, one Of the largest the little village
had eyer seen, attended her to her grave
in the quiet churcbyarl There were
tears shed above her bier aud benisons
breathed upon her memory,
The funeral past. the deacon, the
squire and a number Of the village nota-
bles were gathered in her dwelling, aud in
/ one corner Of the room SAT the sad and
taeiturn son
/ Squire" said the deacon. j believe
/ there is q will"
/ ayes, there is q will"
"WIl you have the goodness to read
| it?"
The will was produced. AL were 81
lent The will was read in which all the
widows property was bequeathed to the
church. Many an eye sought the face Of
the prodigal son. but saw no change ia
his stoliI Features.
When the reading was finished, the son
arose, and drawing a piece of paper from
his pocket, inquired the date Of "that ar
will?"
The date was stated, and handing the
Squire his paper, the rortionless asked
| him TO read it.
Alasl it was a will one day younger
than the ether. The fond mother, in her
weakness, had told the son what size had
done, and he managed to have a will
drawn twenty-four hours after the previous
one, in which he vas the sole legatee.
The assembled wisdom and disiuterest-
edness Of the church went home thinking
and the son had the blessed satisfaction Of
knowing that his mothers last days were
her best days.