The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-18
JOHN cLARKE'S LUCK.

got one OF our own," whispered John
Clarke's wife.
She was rosy little thing. only twenty
years old. How brightly and bewitch-
ingy she shone-a star amid the sombre
company.
'.But what in the world has he left
mew muttered John Clarke. Il believe
he hated mel believe they all hated
me-"
"Hush, DEAR" said his wife.
Il bt queath to John Clarke, my dear
ly-beloyed nephew" read the grim at
torney, las a reward for his tirmness in
resisting temptation during tue last two
wears, and his determination to improve
in all acceptable things, my one-horse
Oh aise, which has stood in my barn for
more than twenty-five years, requesting
that he will repair 1t, or cause 1t to BIZ
repaired, in a suitable manner"
Tha: was all. Some OF the people who
were present Uttered, and all seemed
to enjoy the confusion OF the poor young
man. His eyes flashed fire, he trembled
excessively; poor little Jenny fairly
cried.
"ro think" she said to herself, Chow
hard he has tried to be good, and that
| is all he thought off
"Wish you joy" said a red-headed
youth, with grin, as he came out of
| the room.
John sprang up to collar the fellow,
but little white hand, laid on his arm,
restrained him.
LET them triumph, John-it won't
hurt you," said Jenny, with her sunny
smile; 'pray don't notice them, for my
sake" q
"Served him right" said Susan
| SprIggs, the niece OF the old man just
dead, and to wnom he had lett good
deal vi his money; "served him right for
: marrying that Ignorant goose OF Jenny
brazler. lsuppose ne speculated good
deal on The old gentlemans generosity"
| 10 which she added, i'll a whisper that
only her own heart heard. "He might
have married me. He had the chance;
and loved HIM better than any one
else-better than the pretty little SIM
pleton, Jenny Brazier."
Now we shall see how deep his good
ness is," said maiden aunt. "He be-
came very pious just because he eX-
pected iortune from my poor, dear
brother; but we shall see how much of
a change there is in john Clarke-he
always was an imp OF WickednessW
"WelI, l think John Clarke'll nave to
be content with his little COTTAGE" said
the father OF Susan SprIggs to good old
Joe Hemp.
"Well, think he is content; if he ain't
| ne ought TO be, with that Little jewel Of
a wife," was Joe's reply.
"Pshawl you're all crazy about that
gal," said Spriggs. why, she amt to
be compared to my Susan. Susan plays
on the lorty-piano like sixty, and man.
ages a house tirst-rate."
| "Bless you, neighbor Spriggs, Ia
rather have that Innocent, blooming
| In Nuh 1 oIr,I -
mornings than all the forty-pian0 gals"
| "pd like 10 know what you mean p
exclaimed Mr.. Spriggs, firing up.
'Just what 1 say" replied good cid
Joe, coolly.
We'll, that John Clarke I'll die on the
gallews yet, mark my WORDS" said Mr..
Spriggs, splteiully.
"Tnat John Clarke will make one OF
our best men yet" replied old Joe, com.
! placently.
doubt it," said Mr.. srriggs.
"Yes, may be you do" SAID Joe; sand
thaps a pretty way to build up young
fellow, isn't it, when he's trying his
best. No, John Clarke won't be a good
man if you can help it. People that cry
| mad dogs are playuey wilIin' to stone
the animal while he's running; and ii
he amt mad they're sure to drive him
/ BUs ny oVh Jou osVp uR w utuy huu
say, John, Pm glad you're going right
now, and Pye got faith in you; and il
you want any help, why come to me ana
| pll assist you.' That's the way to do
the business, Mr.. Spriggs."
| swell, hope yOWil do it, that's ALL"
replied Spriggs, sulkily.
| II hope l shall, and Pm bound to do
so, If nave the chance. Fact is, he's
got such a smart little wife that he don't
| really need any help"
"No-tis pity, then, that brother
Jacob left him that one-norse chaise. -
"You needn't laugh at that; old Jacob
never did anything without a meaning
in it. Thai old chalse may help him TO
be a great man yet. Fact is, 1 think my
self, II Jacob had a left him money il
might been the RUIN OF MIN. Less
things than one-horse chaise has made
a mans 1ortin."
"Well, Pm glad you think so much OF
him; l DON'T" said Spriggs.
mo-" muttered Joe, as his neighbor
turned away; "but ii he had married
your raw-boned darter that plays on the
forty-piano, he'd been all right, and no
mistake"
"a one-horse chaisew said Spriggs,
laughing; what fortuneW
And 80 it went from mouth to mouth,
None OF the relatives-sOme already
rlch-had offered the poorest man amon ny
them (Lhe owner of the one-hors 6
chase any OF The bequeathment lett to
him or her; but they had rather rejolced
in his disappointment.
i. The truth is, everybody had prophe-
sled that John Clarke, a poor, mother.
less boy, would come to ruin, and they
wanted the prophecy to prove a true
one. He had, In mis- youth, been wild
and wayward, and somewhat profigate
in the early years Of manhood; but his
old uncle had encouraged him TO reform,
held out hopes to which he had hitherto
been stranger; and the love Of the
sweet young Jenny Brazler completed
as it seemed, his reformation.
Jenny never appeared SO lovely al
she did on that unfortunate day oil the
reading of the will, after they had re.
turned to the poor little house that was
Jenny's own.
'No matter, john" she said cheerful
ly, ''you will rise in spite OF them.
wouldn't let them think l was in the
least discouraged; that would only
please them too well; we are doing nice
ly now; and you know, il they do Gu
the railroad through our bit Of land, the
money will set us up quite comfortably