Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-09-27
ADAM WILL.
By REV. HoRATIo ALGER, JR.

over him. He had no children, for
he had led a single life, induced, so
it was said, though nothing was eer-
tainly known, by an early disappoint-
ment which had warped his nature,
and made him lead a solitary and
selfish life, given up to Harmon
alone. e ]1 ~. Ss*. O.
Adam Holcomb was dead, and as
yet no one knew what disposition he
had made of his money. "
Three davs after the funeral the
next of kin and possible heirs were
collected in the office of the lawyer,
who was the custodian of the will and
private papers Of the deceased. They
were few in number, for the family
was not a large one. There were but
three, and these three may be briefly
described. 70 i8"''' ''it''j%
First came James Holcaomb, a neph-
ew of the deceased, a man of portly
form, and an air of Importance. He
was a prosperous city merchant, al
ready in possession of abundant
means, but he had no objection to
have them increased by a legacy from
his uncle's boarded wealth. He was
a vain, selfish, worldly man, all his
thoughts conferred upon himself and
his own family, who had never been
known to give a cent for any charita-
Bile purpose.
Next came Harvey llolcomb, II
cousin of the last named, and about
the same age. lie was tall, thin and
angular. He belonged to the legal
profession, in which he had managed
to pick up considerable money, thoagh
his reputation was none the best. lie
was considered tricky, willing to Nh
dertake any cause, however disrepu-
table for money. He was married and
"
had a family, for whom he provided
in a grudging manner lie, too, had
nourished saliguine hopes of finding
himself much better OIL after his ur-
cle's death. -.. ...I .-, tr.f
Last came a young man, presenting
n strange contrast to the other two.
He was of light complexion, brown
hair, clear blue eyes, and an attract
i've face. He was barely twenty-five
years ofage, very plainly dressed.
and with a modest mien, which pre-
possessed one in his favor. He was
the son Of old Adam Holcomb's
youngest sister who had married a
poor minister, and her son., Alfred
Graves, was studying medicine, foi
which he had a decided prediction.
But he had been cramped by narrow
means, and was eve now teaching q
country school, hoping to obtain
enough by the means to pay for his
next course of lectures. He had APP
piled to each of his two relatives pre-
sent for a small temporary loan to
help him complete his studies, but
without effect. lie had been CURLY
refused by both.
He had come hither to-day as {
matter of form, without the slightest
expectation of benefitting by the viii
of his late relative. He had know
him but slightly, and never received
any encouragement upon which Ia
could build Il hope. Yetif he couit
but receive a legacy of even tire,
hundred dollars, he thought it woulc
help him materially. That was tn,
amount which he had vainly sought t.
borrow Of the merchant and lawyer
now present with him at the reading
of Adam Hoicomb's last will and ties
lament, - ..sI. a.E
The merchant and lawyer converset
while waiting for Squire Brief.
''Haye you any idea, cousin, how
much the old gentleman had accn
mulated?" asked James Holeomb.
Il heard it estimated at Il quartz,
of a million,' was the reply.
''Quarter of a million!' repeated
James, slowly. ''That is a lafg'
sum. / hope he has not been. .unjus
enough to squander any of it OIL
charitable societies." - '#.1" e
Il hope not. That whould be
great piece OF injustice to his fela
%tions,'' said the lawyer.
Gle never dropped anything t,
you about the disposition lie intend
ed to make of his property, did he?'
Not he. lie was a close man
Very said the other. 81 one,
tried to worm something out of him
but didn't get much satisfaction"
"What did he 1say?'''''-''
"He said he thought of endowfn,
an asylum for fools and lunatics, an
that / could tell whether / was likeI,
to be benefited by his so doing"
"ITo, no! laughed james, shakin,
his capacious sides, she got yo,
there, eh?'', ,a5iasa.s yl4 IA ,t e.s.
"Idcn't seeit,' said the lawyer
sourly. f a'l '' u ',''i ."'','f
You don't appreciate the Joke.
lovT" ,3 81
sit wa a foolish piece of imperti.
nence. However, everybody knows
what the old man was, and / let it pass.
If it had been any else, / would
have, given them as good as they
sent" .fEfsE 0f E&E0EF