The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-05-04

ton with another fellow. | didn't know
but justice both to myself and Eyelina
demanded that | should have a conver
sation with my aunt, and set before her
in language which even child might
understand, my views of the duties and
privileges of an engaged man; but
felt extremely doubtful other sympathy
and seventy-fvc thousand was good
deal to risk.
We kept one servant, whose wage:
my aunt thought it right / should pay
because, as she said, il there was no one
but herself, she shouldn't keep girl
Our cuisine was managed with strictest
regard to economy. We lived largely
upon soup, which consisted principally
Of broth. My aunt highly esteemed
marrow bones. wonder if it is gener.
ally known among Psychologists how
long a healthy person can subsist on q
persistently boiled marrow bone.
For two or three years had been in
the habit Of smoking single cigar at
the close of the days labors. One eve-
ming was sitting on the piazza indulg-
ing in this luxury, when out came my
aunt.
Sam'wel!" criod she, care YOU
smoking"
"Yes'm," very neekly.
"Well, said she, calmly but firmly,
"nonc of my money shall ever 20 up In
cigar smoke" Then again: GLOW
much do you pay for cigars?"
"Ten cents"
"Now, Sam'wel, want you to take
your pencil and calculate how much ten
cents day will amount to in year,
then how much i'll fifty years, then |
want you to put this sum at compound
interest, and see how much it will
amount to by the time you are seventy
five years of age.
1t struck me that had somehow, dur
ing my lifetime, met with similar prob
lens, but | conscientiously made the
calculation.
"Aunt," cried l, "Im perfectly ap-
plaled. Never did l dream of this. OF
what mad extravaganza have | been
guilty." and wildly hurled nv cigar
into the camomile bed.
1t became generally known through
out our village that my aunt was
wealthy and l was heir-expectant, and
| soon perceived that whether or not
ever obtained the gold, L was going to
have the glory. AT town meeting, le-
gally called, and with the moderator in
the chair, | was elected one ofnine pru-
dental committeeman; duty-''to see
about getting the wood" Our Sabbath
school appointed me delegate to a con-
ference at Cummingford privileges
lose my time, pay my own fare, change
cars twice, stage it five miles over a
country road and through November
landscape; Representatives. by Dea-
con Thomas Jones; music, Shall we
gather at the river?'
secured the position of watchman at
&ur store every other Sunday night
Aunt asked me if expected extra pay
for this service, and said I lid. Eve
lima had talked of green reps for our
parlor, but found that calculations had
now ascended to some kind of rosc-col-
ored something, value about treble that
of the reps.
Aunt was at length seized with an
''attack" of more than ordinary vio-
lencc. ] called three physicians, for
shrunk from exposing myself to the IT,
responsible village gossip which might
accuse me of not employing every effort
for the prolongation Of her life. With
three doctors in attendance, she not un-
reasonably felt that this attack would
prove final, and sent for lawyer.
was i'll a state of great nervous trepida-
ton.
Is there anything can do for yol,
auntY
Nothing now"
'Has your nurse arranged vour pill
lows quite comfortable?"
Perfectly comfortable"
Solemn scenes have no place in this
narrative. and pass on to the time
when we were assembled for the read
ing Of the will-the lawyer, the doctor,
the minister, and myself. That instra-
ment ran as follows:
"After paying my just dues and my
funeral expenses, and providing suit
able monument, give and beoueath to
my beloved nephew, Samuel .. HAYNES,
his heirs and assigns, for their use and
behoof forever, all my wearing apparel
and personal ornaments. with the ex-
ception of my gold beads, which be-
queath to my namesake, Louisa Haynes,
of St. Joseph, Missouri; all my beds
and bedding, houshold utensils and fur
niture, with the exception of my great
arm chair, which, as 1t came in on the
Jones side, wish to go to some deserv-
ing member of that family. 1 also give
my nephew Samuel five dollars, with
which to buy reference Bible in my
remembrance, and also the sealed paper
OF instructions accompanying this in
strument, which wish him to read a
year hence in the presence of the wit
nesses now assembled for the reading
of this my will.
"The remainder of my property, both
real and personal, with the exception of
the legacies hereinafter named, be-
queath to the American Missionary So
ciety, neither legacies nor bequests to
be paid until year and day hence"
When the lawyer was through read
ing, l had no clear idea to whom these
legacies were devised, but | remarked
that the American missionary society
was most worthy organization.
The nature of the win was soon made
public. Popular sentiment was that of
resignation, not to say satisfaction, on
my account. My companions, who had
never seen why deserving merit in my
case should meet such disproportionate
reward, while their own plodded along
on a weekly stipend with no great
sunts estate in prospective, naturally
experienced revival of confidence in
the equitable government of the uni
verse. Elderly friends in church and
Sabbath-school felt that had cause for
rejoicing in being spared the snares and
temptations which accompany wealth.
My employer expressed the opinion pri-
yately that had been getting above my
business, and he was glad to see me
taken down peg. Evelina said: "Ney-
er mind; we don't care for money"
But not many days after, Evelina told
me she had begun to realize what a SOL
omn ordinance was matrimony; she and
l were both young, and had our way to
make, and she thought perhaps, for the
present, 1t would be better for us to
consider ourselves only friends.
/ said: Every well, and 1 felt that
was lonely bark tossed on wild and
watery waste.
I had read Of instances similar to
mine where the sealed packet or the
old Bible proved 10 contain bank notes