The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-12-26

AA9kNAH AARAhaA AAAA ANEAAa4 hH%
slxiy.6ye. he bad 30 reason 10 CON
plain Of lhe gifts Of fortune, having real
lred = considerable fortune from ih'
baaBess TO which be bad devoted lh'
greater part Of bis life. Five years since
however, be bad retired from business
aud sinee then ha8 lived In comparative
quiet.
Having been disappointed ln love Ia
early life, be had never married, sDd
therefore bad no children TO Inherit hi.
iorlunc. lie bad not even nephews OF
Bieess, having been an only son. But be
bad two cousins, or rather the sons Of
two cousins, whom be had always re.
gartled as nepbews, and to whom be IN
tended 10 leave his properly.
I The names Of these two heirs expectAn,
were Thomas Lawrence aud Benjamin
1 Temple Each was between thirty sud
forty years ot age, sud each, moreover,
had family. One kept a village store
aud WAS thought to be doing very good
business The other had fair law prsc-
iioe. Neither Of them, as Il will be seen,
stood In need Of bequest, ihongh both
were money.loSiug men and would be
very glad TO receive one.
have said that Mr.. Morton had re-
tired from active business. But be found
that the care Of bis property continued to
involve great deal Of labor, aud this led
him one day to say 10 himself, Why
should wait ill my death before dlvid-
Ing the estate between my cousinsI All
II amounts 10 Is that am burdening my
old age with taking care OF the estate for
them. They could do that as well as
aud would gladly relieve me OF the
trouble. Why should not at once give
them the property, and spend my time
alternately at their houses5 They will be
delighted TO have me do so, and should
enjoy myself with them and their chill
dren.
Robert Morton was of a frank, social
temperament, and the more be thought Of
this plan the more II commended itself TO
him.
lie accordingly sent for his legal advi-
ser and proponnded 1t to him.
Mr.. Burdick, for this was bis name, did
not appear to look upon Il in as favorable
q light as his client.
Do you propose TO divide your whole
property in this way? be 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 reservation?
You will be placing yourself complete
ly at the mercy OF your cousins, aud you
will have no resource IN case they neglect
to treat you with that consideration
which your generosity entitled you to
expect.
You are altogether too suspicious,
Burdick, said his client. Now have
more faith in the native goodness OF hu-
man nature than you. l have not the
slightest fear but tlat my cousins will
treat me with every consideration.
You must make allowances, my good
friend, for the seiflshness which exisls in
every heart, TO greater or less extent
Don't place yourself In the power OF
your cousins. That 10 my advice. At al
events, don't do so all at once. Take
year 10 test them Ia, and then II you see
fit to follow the course proposed, will
not interfere.
don't think II af all accessory, Bur-
dick, but you are an old friend, and 1t is
only fair that ! should oOncede some
weight to your advice. Let me hear,
then, what course you would advise.
Let ne first ask ii your cousins are ac
quainted with the amount Of yoar proper
tyi
They are not.
Could they tell Within few thousand
dollars?
They have no clue sufficient to decide
them In this matter.
viii you then listen 10 my recapituls-
ton, aud tell me ii am right. First,
there Is this estate, worth, al the least,
ten thousand dollars.
Well
Then you have ten thousand dollars
out on mortgagesS
Yes.
And besides that, you have twenty
thousand dollars on deposit in different
banks.
Yes.
Then let me advise you ouly to sureu
der half your fortune TO your cousins.
To Que give this estate, to the other your
mortgages, and reserve the bank deposits
for year in your own hsnds. Let them
suppose, however, that You have surren-
dered your whole property TO them, and
the better TO favor this mistake, stipulste
that you shall draw from each hun ired
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.
Yes, BurdIck, they will show how you
have mlsjudged them.
II may be 80. hope 50, am sure. !
certainly take no pleasure In convincing
myself or others OF the faults Of my feI-
lows.
Very well. Let The papers be drawn
up, and my cousins be sent for.
An hour afterwards Thomas Lawrence
aud Benjsmin Temple were usbered into
this sitting Of their generous rela-
tive.
Wen, boys, said the old gentleman,
with 3 benevolent smile. why do you