The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-01

panion's attention to it in horror, when
suddenly there few up around 1t with
redOubled fury, such mass of flame
and smoke, that It was entirely hidden
and soon the FIRE had so spread and
burst out again, that tue horrible
spectacle Of yhis unlntentional increma'
tion was shut from sight, and the house
was finally burned te the ground!
passed over what Immediately fol-
lowed after l had made my way back
to the friendly abode where the mem
bers of my family were sheltered. In
few days they were snugly settled
again in another home, fortunately
not very much the worse for the ter
Iible scare. In due course the time
arrived for looking into my losses, and
while l was doing so. l received a
letter from Mr.. Gayling, who had
come to town requesting an interview.
| was glad of this, for | folesaw 1t
must lead to some explanation of the
strange circumsta noes surrounding the
agreement l had signed. My curiosi-
ly as to the contents of the white chest
had been rudely satisfied, it was true,
but what had been the reason for plac.
ing such an object in such place?
and this l was determined to find out
Unexpectedly Mr.. Gayling disclosed it
to me Immediately we met.
"I have asked for this interview,
sir" he said abruptly, "because am
ruined man."
but" / interposed "Iam told you
were fully insured"
"That has hothing to do with it," he
answered 'no insurance can restore
the three thousand year which l lose
by what has happened. l am simply
going to tell you certain facts; because,
when you have bead them, shall put
it to you whether you will not, out Of
your ample means, feel that some com
pensaton is due 10 me. The fact Is,
that it has been during your tenancy of
my house, and through accident, or
negligence, on the part of some one for
whom you are responsible, that my ruin
has been brought about"
II don't understand YOU"
"Listen: sir" he went on, "and you
will: was brought up to the sea and
tirely dependent on my earnings. My
only relative at this time was an old
uncle, also a sailor, and most essen
trio man, as you will presently see.
Fifteen years ago he suddenly came in
to q large sum Of money; never knew
how, but he retired and took that house.
lie had only been in it three years when
mortal sickness overlook him; he
sent tor me.
"Tom," said he, 81 am dying, and l
don't like it; am terrified, not SO much
thought of burial; sailors grave l
would not mind, but to be boxe up and
thrust into the earth, no, Tom, l won't
stand it. look to you to see that 1t
doesn't happen; aud have taken
measures to make sure that you do see
that it'ducsn't happen. I've made my
will, Tom, I've left you all | possess,
but on one condition, and it is, that
you are my heir so long as l am well
above ground, and no lOnger-mark
the words, well above ground" Di.
rectly l am buried, ur my remains are
allowed to mingle with mOther'e earth, as
she is caled-sEe was no mother to me,
the sea was my mother, for / was born
atsea--all my money, mind goes straight
to the Seamen's Hospital, every penny
of 1t.
"But what am to dU?" l asked of
my uncle; chow shall be able to car
ry out such strange condition? Have
you 50 expressed it in you your will?"
"Yes, Indeed have;" he answered,
land legal and binding you'll find it,
as expressed in the words, $50 long as
am well above ground"
But what am l to do with you?'
again asked.
"Oh, run me up aloft. masthead me,
anything you like, but don't bury me.
"Well," went on Mr. Gayling, 'to
make long story short, l found that
the conditions of the old mans will
were binding, and his executors and
myself hit upon the plan OF hOlsting the
colin to the roof OF his house. Under
certain conditions we found that 1t was
possible for US legally to do that. So
dismissed my three servants, employed
q country undeItaker, my old ships
carpenter, and foreign glazieT, in
order that the matter should not be
talked of in the neighbOrhOOd. and per-
sonally saw the arrangeT ents carried
out. You can now understand my
reasons for not having it meddled with
yes, sir, and you can now understand
that the condition of the will must take
effect. No sign of the coffin or the body
even was to be discovered in the ruins
of that house. have had rigid search
made, to no purpose; the OLD gentleman :
remains have been consumed, have
mingled with mother earth, and the
money passes as matter Uf course tC
the Seamen's Hospital. | have not q
penny in the world. What can yCu dc
for me?"
1t is not necessary for me to say what
l did FIR Mr.. Gayling, but finding by a
visit to Doctors Commons. and by Other
evidence, that his story was substantial
ly correct, felt his case was hard
one, certainly strange one and | acs-
ed, hope, not ungenerously toward
him. L All The Year Round.