St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-12-13
Robert Morton's Heirs.

plain of the gifts of fortune, having real
lied considerable fortune from the
business to which he had devoted the
greater part of his life. Five years since,
however, he had retired from business,
and since then had lived in comparative
quiet.
Having been disappointed in love in
early life, he had never married, and
therefore had no children to inherit his
fortune. He had not even nephews or
nieces, having been an only son. But he
had two cousins, or rather the sons of
two cousins, whom he had always re-
garded as nephews, and to whom he in
tended to leave his property.
The names of these two heirs eXpec-
tant were Thomas Lawrence and Ben
jamin Temple. Each was between thir-
ty and forty years of age, and each,
moreover, had family. One kept Il
village store, and was thought to be do
ing very good business. The other had
fair law practice. Neither of them, as
it will he seen, stood in need of be-
quest, though both were mOneyloving
men and would be very glad to receive
one.
l have said that Mr.. Morton had re-
tired from active business. But he
found that the care of his property con-
tinued to involve a great deal of labor,
and this led him one day to say to him
self, "Why should | wait till my death
before dividing the estate between my
cousins All it amounts to is that / am
burdening my old age with taking care
of the estate for them. They could do
that as well as |, and would gladly re-
| lava Dft tho trnnhln Why shnn1H I
not at once give them the property, and
spend my time alternately at their
houses7 They will be delighted to have
me do so, and | should enjoy myself
with them and their children"
Robert Morton was of II frank, social
temperament, and the more he thought
of this plan the more it commended it
self to him.
He accordingly sent for his legal ad-
wiser and propounded it to him.
Mr.. Burdick, for this was his name,
did not appear to look upon it in us fa
vorable Il light us his client.
"Do you propose to divide your whole
property in this way ?" he asked.
"Certainly, that is my Intention" was
the reply. "Why, since | wish to free
myself from anxiety and care, should |
not do so thoroughly, and without res
ervatiOn ?n
"You will be placing yourself COM
pletely at the mercy of your cousins,
and you will have no resource in case
they neglect to treat YOU with that con-
sideration which your generosity enti-
ties you to expect"
Bnr9ek 9a Ee Hd tGsehsT bs ehent toe bnKse
more faith in the native goodness of hu-
man nature than you. | have not the
slightest fear but that my cousins will
treat me with every consideration"
"YOu must make allowances, my good
friend, for the seltishness which exists
in every heart, to Il greater or less ex
tent. Don't place yourself in the power
of your cousins. That is my advice. At
all events, don't do so all mt once. Take
yearto test them in, and then if You see
fit to follow the course proposed, | will
not interfere"
81 don't think it at all necessary.
Burdick, but You are an old friend, and
it is only fair that | should concede some
weight to Your advice. Let me hear,
then, what course You would advise"
"Let me first ask if your cousins are
acquainted with the amount of your
property ?"
"They are not"
Gould they tell within few thou
sand dollars 2"
"They have no clue sufficient to de-
eide them in this matter"
"Will yOu then listen to my recapit-
ulation, and tell me if am right. First,
there is this estate. worth, at the least,
ten thousand dollars"
"Well."
"Then you have ten thousand dollars
out OH mortgages 7"
eyes"
"And besides that, you have twenty
thousand dollars on deposit in different
banks"
"Yes.n
"Then let me advise you only to sur
render half your fortune to your cousins.
To one give this estate, to the other
your mortgages, and reserve the bank
deposits for year in your own hands.
Let them suppose, however, that you
have surrendered your whole property
them, and the better to favor this mis-
take, stipulate that you shall draw from
each hundred dollars year, for your
wardrobe and other little. expenses.
They will conclude that you have no
other means, and will, therefore, show
what they are"
Eyes, Burdick, they will show how
you have misjudged them"
sit may be so. hope so, | am sure
| certainly take no pleasure in convinc-
ing myself or others of the faults of my
fellows"
every well. Let the papers be drawn
up, and my cousins be sent forn
An hour afterwards Thomas Law
renee and Benjamin Temple were ush-
cred into the sitting-room of their gen.
erOus relative.
"Well, boys" said the old gentleman,
with benevolent smile, "whv do YOU
think | have sent for you 2"
"WithOut knowing, my dear sir, be
assured that it gives us pleasure at all
times to come and see y0u.n
1t was Benjamin Temple, the LAWYER.
who said this, with smooth smile, and
an air of affectionate respect.
'My cousin is quite right,n chimed in
Thomas Lawrence, afraid that the law
yer would distance him in the competi
ton for their relatives favor. "My
cousin expresses my sentiments ex-
actly."
''Thank you, boys" said the old gen
tleman, whose superior age led him to
employ this youthful mode of address
"Well, not to keep You in suspense
any longer, have got tired of taking
care OF my property, aud as it would &c
to you eventually, might as well lei
you have it uow.n
1. The two cousins endeavored not tc
indicate their excessive delight at this
announcement.
Robert Morton continued: 81 want
to treat you as nearly alike as Dossihle