Smyrna times., 1876-04-19
A Story of Human Nature.

Ihere once lived in an obscure town ir
massachusetts, an old Indian woman
Somehow or other, the old woman occ,,
Ihulated quite a desirable little propertv
Yet she was an Indian, and was treated
with cold contempt by her neighbors. She
mad no scat at the social circle. received nc
attention from those around her. occunied
oack pew in the church, and down 10.
ward the grave she travelled. without fr;apd
or comforter.
Old Nance had but one relative Ii,,;,,,
that she knew of, and he, wild, graceless
Soh' lie was the terror of the village, and
spent his time in anything but a rcspecta-
Ole way. At last the vagabond so worried
'ne ioroearance of his old mother, that, in
nasty moment she resolved to disinberit
hlin' and leave her money to the church.
accordingly she started for the house of
one OF the deacons, and made clean breast
OF her troubles, acquainted him with her
determination. The deacon grew from q
COOL TO very amiable mood, as she nro.
ceeaed, and, at last, became profuse in his
expressions Of gratitude
The will through the agency of the dea.
con, was drawn, but the old woman fecIino
little compunction, had clause insartoJ
"hich should make it void, provided the
son would totally reform his habits 60
crecy 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 dav.
But the change wrought in the situa.
ton OF old Nance was miraculous. "Sucb
good old woman = The nice bits from
the best table began to journey, under nan.
klns, to her abode. On rainy Sabbath q
carriage took her up at her door, and car
RED her to church, where she was kindly
favored with front pew, near the sneaker
ana near the stove. Her praise was in
everybody's mouth, and her tottcring form
commanded respect everywhere. She
thnved remarkably under this treatment.
and lived, and lived, and lived. Tn the
meantime, the son was looked upon with
more than usual distrust, and the Door
widow was deeply commisserated in his
disgraceful course.
Years passed away, and the kind atten.
ton of friends were still continued 70 tho
widow, when, at last, old Nance slent the
sleep that knows no waking! \ large fu-
neral, one Of the largest the little village
had ever seen, attended her to her grave.
IN the quiet church yard. There were
tears she'd above her bier, and benisons
breathed upon her memory.
The funeral was past. The deacon. tho
Squire, and number of the village nota.
bles were gathered in her dwelling, and in
one corner of the room sat the sad and tac.
turn son.
esquire, said the Deacon, ~ believe there
is a will"
" Ges. there is will"
"Will you have the goodness to read it,
The will was produced. All were silent.
The will was read, in which all the widows
property was bequethed to the church.
Many an eye sought the face of the prodi.
sal son, but saw no change in his stolid
eatures.
When the reading was finished, the son
rose, and drawing a piece of paper from
lis pocket, inquired the date of that ar
yill?"
The date was stated, and handing the
qulre his paper, the portionless asked him
o read it. I
Alas it was a will one day younger than {
he other. The fond mother, in her weak 8
ess had told the son what she had done, S
nd he managed to have a will drawn {
Nenty-four hours after the previous one, in f
hich he was the sole legatee.
The assembled wisdom and disinterest. a
Iness of the church went home hink;uo =
nd the son had the blest satisfaction of p
moving that his mothers last DAYS were 9
er best days. o