The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-04-11

dare say 1t VIII support her very well.
"Why, no." said Mr.. Collett; Briggs
died a bankrupt, and his widow and
children are very destitute
THAT does not alter the question:"
said Peter Finch. "Let Briggs family
do something for her themselves"
"ro be sure, said Mr.. Collett, Briggs
family are the people to do something for
her. She musnt expect anything from
US, must she, john"
destitute, is she9' said John. "With
children, too? Why, this is another
case, sir. You surely ought to notice
her--to assist her. Confound it, Pm in
for letting her have the hundred year"
"Oh, John, John what a break
down" said Mr., Collett $50 you
were trying to follow Peter Finch
through stony Arabia, and turned back
at the second stepl Here's a brave
traveller for you, Peterl John, keep
your Arabia Felix, and leave sterner
ways to very different men. Good by,
both of you I've no voice to talk any
more. I'll think over all you have said. !"
He pressed their hands and they left
the ROOM The old man was too weak
to speak the next day, and three days
after that he calmly breathed his last,
As soon as the funeral was over the
will was read by the confidential man of
business, who had always attended to
Mr.. Collects affairs. The group that sat
around him preserved decorous appear
ance of disinterestedness and, the usual
preamble to the will having been listened
to with breathless attention, the man of
business read the following, in clear
voice:
81 bequeath to my niece, Emma
Briggs, Notwithstanding that she shocked
her family by marrying an GILMAN the
sum of G4, ,000 being fully persuaded that
her lost dignity, il she could ever find it
again, would do nothing to provide her
with food, or clothing, or shelter"
John Meade smiled and Peter Finch
ground his teeth, but in quite respect.
able manner The man of business went
on with his reading.
Having always had the opinion that
woman should be rendered n rational
and independent being--and having duly
considered the fact that society practi-
cally denies her the right to earn her own
living ] hereby bequeath to Mary Sut-
ton, the only child of my old friend,
Frederick Sutton, the sum of El0,000.
which will enable her to marry or to
remain single as she may prefer"
John Meade gave prodigious start
haar;po, thiu and patar E,npb
ground his teeth again, but in manner
hardly perceptible. Both, however, by
a violent effort, kept silent. The man of
business went on with his reading.
81 have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew, John Meade,
and have been grieved to find him much
possessed with feeling of philanthropy
and with general preference for what
ever is noble and true over what is base
and false. As these tendencies are by NJ
means such as can advance him in the
world, bequeath him the sum o
GlO,000, hoping that he will thus b'
kept out of the workhouse, and be en-
bled TO paint his great historical picture
which, as yet. he has only talked about.
Gas for my other nephew, Pete
| Finch, he views all things in so saga
cious and selfish way, and is so certain
to get on in life, that should only insul
him by offering an aid which he does no
require; yet, from his afiectionate uncle
and entirely as testimony of admira
tion for his mental acuteness, / ventur,
to hope that he will accept beguest o
$500 toward the completion of his ex
tensive library of law books"
How Peter Finch stormed and callec
names, how John Meade broke into {
delirium of joy, how Mary Sutton criec
first and then laughed, and then laughed
and cried together; all these matters
shall not attempt to describe. Mary
Sutton is now Mrs John Meade, and
her husband has actually begun TIE
great historical picture. Peter Finch
has taken TO discounting bills and bring
ing actions on them, and drives about in
his brougham already.