Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-19
Confined rom First Paae. !

A(oa1hnSc AVN hrt aSS.J
feel that some compensation is due to me-
The fact is, that il has beeu during your
tenancy of my house, and through acct
dent or negligence on the part of some
one for whom you are responsible, that
my ruin has been brought about"
Il don't understand you"
Listen. sir" he went on, land you
viii. was brought up to the sea, and
followed it till mid-life. for | was entirely
dependent on my own earnings. My only
relative at this time was an old uncle, also
a sailor. and most eccentric man. as you
will see. Fifteen years ago he suddenly
came into possession of large sum OF
money; never knew how, but he retired
and took that house. He had only been
in 1t three years when a mortal sickness
overlook him; he sent for me. Tom,
said he, i am dying. and | don't like it,
not so much at the thought of dealt. as at
the thought OF burial: sailors grave !
would not mind, but to be boxed up aud
thrust into the earth no, Tom, l won't
stand it. look to you to see that II doesn I
happen. and have taken measures to
make sure that you do see that 1t doesn
happen. I've made my will. Tom; I've
left you all possess, but on one condi-
lion, and it is that you are my heir SO long
as | am well above ground, and no longer
mark the words well above ground.
Directly am buried or my remains are
allowed to mingle with mother earth, as
she is called-she was no mother to me.
the sea was my mother, for was born at
sea--all my money goes straight to the
Seamans' hospital, every penny of it,
ssl<trf xsyl,. I Il I aI ~ my
uncle; how shall be able to larry out
such strange condition? Have you so
expressed it in your will?"
"'Ycs, indeed have he answered,
and binding you'll find it, rs expressed
in the words, so long as am well above
ground"
s.But what am l to do with youP'
again asked.
"'Oh, run me up aloft, masthead me
anything you like, but don't bury me- "
well, "went on Mr.. Gayling, ''to make
a long story short, found that the condi-
tons of the old mans were binding, and
his executors and myself lit upon the plan
Of hosting the coffin on the roof of this
house. Under certain conditions we found
that it was possible for us legally to do
this. So dismissed my three servants,
employed county undertaken, my old
ships carpenter and a foreign glazier, in
order that the matter should not be talked
Of in the neighborhood. and personally
saw the arrangements carried out. You
can now understand my reason for not hav-
ing 1t meddled with. Yes, sir, and you
can now understand that the conditions of
the will must take effect. No sign of the
coffin or the bOdv was 10 he discovered in
the ruins of that house. have had rigid
search made to no purpose, the old gentle
mans remains have been consumed, have
mingled with mother earth, and the money
passes as matter of course to the Sea-
mans hospital. have not penny in the
world, What can you do for me Pr
1t is not necessary for me to say what
did for Mr.. Gayling, but finding by visit
to Doctors Commons. and by other evil
dence that his story was correct, felt that
his case was hard one, certainly a strange
one, and acted, hope, not ungenerously
towards him.-AH The Year Round.