The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-15

housekeeping in modest cottage Tom
was paying for by installments, and
were so prudent that they managed to
gather about them many little comforts
which made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at a
time, as We all know, and reverses will
come to every one. One bitter night in
December, Toms house caught fire. aud
was burned to the ground, nothing be-
/ ing saved except a few clothes belonging
| TO Prissy and the baby.
/ OF course, Mrs. Baldwin opened her
I house 10 them st once, though 10 neces-
STATED much crOwding. Prissy sug-
] gested an appeal to Miss Silence, but
Tom emphatically declined to make il.
He was tar too proud to ask for the help
which he thought should have been
earnestly offered. His law books aud
papers had all been destroyed in the
fire-for he had used room in the cot
tage for an office-and getting living
was rather uphill work. Christmas
was dreary enough that year, and even
Prissy's courage sank as she thought OF
the future.
tom Lowey will have chance to
show now what kind OF stuff he's made
Of" said Miss Silence. ale burdened
himself with a wife and baby, and he'll
have TO look out for 'em. / told him I'd
never give him a dollar Of my money,
and Pll keep my word, no matter what
happens"
Miss Silence had thought herself proof
against the weakness of falling i'll but
in March she caught a severe cold, and
pneumonia ensued. She felt she should
never get well again, aud the doctor did
not deceive her with false hopes, but
told her frankly that in all probability
she would live but few days.
Il want TO see the lawyer at once, il
that's the case" she said. "I must
make a new will"
Mr.. SimOns, who had managed her
business for years, came as soon as he
received her message, and the will was
made. He had hardly left the house
, before Tom called.
"pm worse, Tom,n said Miss Silence
feebly "but Pm not afraid TO go. Per-
, haps IN peculiar in that as in other
things. Deacon BOnney and the minis
ter, Mr.. Craig and Mr.. Darby have all
! been here a urgin' OF their several
claims. I told each one o. 'em I'd cOn-
, slider the matter"
"Will they be disappointed, Cousin
Silence?n asked Tom.
3 Poor fellOwI he was in such a sore
strait that he could not help a desire to
have some small help from his cousins
hoard. He hardly dared hope she had
left him cent; and yet he was her
only relative.
"That remains to be seem" was the
unsatisfactory reply he received to his
} question. "But don't you cherish any
{ hopes, for I amt left you a cent"
4 bitter smile curled Toms lips, but
e be made no reply.
II suppose you think me peculiar in
not leavin' you my money, seeini
e you're the only kin I've got," went on
5 Miss Silence; "but you've taken such
a precious care to convince me that you
s don't want it, that pve believed you and
e acted accordin'."
= Tom went home and repeated the con.
I versatiOn to Prissy, who shed a few
! tears, but tried to cheer up her hus.
bands dropping spirits with hopes o.
more law business in the Spring.
e That night Miss Silence died and the
D whole town turned out TO her funeral &
b few days later.
"Iexpect WOlfboro' Academy will find
o itself able to erect new building wheT
J, Miss Silence's will is read" said ole
b Mr.. Craig "She told me she'd consider
the matter, and 1 know she was i'm
+ pressed with my arguments"
= 81 rather think you are mistaken, VI
said Squire Darby, "fOr l feel morally
e certain she's left her money 70 found q
library"
The minister, who stood near, smiled
D to himself He had not the slightest
3 doubt that the debt which had hung
D over his church like pail would now be
5 lifted through Miss Silenee's will.
Tom did not want to go to the reading
r OF the important document; but Prissy
insisted, aud so they went together
though neither Of them looked very
J cheerful.
5 Mr.. Simons made no objection to the
presence Of Squire Darby. Mr.. Craig
: and the minister chuckled as Deacon
Bonney entered, with a pleasant smile
for Tom, who well knew what sarcastic
5 triumph lay beneath it.
The will was dated a few days pre-
vious, and every penny in the bank
! and the large farm, were left uncOndi'
I tiOnally 10 Prissy LOwey. Her hus'
! bands name was not mentioned.
5 Toms face was n study, while Prissy
almost tainted from this sudden relief C
all her troubles.
9 The faces Of the other men present
J. were studies, too. The deacon left the
0 house without q word, and the Squire
looked grimly at Mr.. Craig.
"She was very peculiar woman,'
e said the minister, wiping his brow, or
o which the beaded drops Of Precipitation
: stood thickly. His anxiety about hi;
church had been very great, you see.
: But Tom and Prissy could afford tC
s forget their dead cousins peculiarities
o since she had kept her vow never tC
D leave Tom a cent, and yet had managed
q TO make him comfortable for life. There
was an immediate fitting to the com.
U Portable farmhouse; and Tom furnished
Q a nice Office in town, and drove in every
u morning in the spring wagon. PAS
= troubles and cares were forgotten; the
Baldwins were made more comfortable
u and, considering all things, Miss Silence
q did more good with her money than il
D she had left it to lift a church debt.
y When you see a man take of his bal
[ TO you, il is a sign that he respects you
e but when be is seen divesting himself o.
e his coat, you can make up your minC
that he intends you shall respect him
: Y0nkers Statesman.