The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-07-30
A TRUE STORY.

In the town of Lynn every man is a shoe
maker. That is not quite an exact statement
but it is 50 nearly the truth that 1 viii let it
stand. Certainly, in almost all the little
houses somebody is at work either binding
shoes, hammering soles, making heels or
stitching uppers. And among them, many
years ago, none could have been found more
busy and more contented than quiet red
haired Scotchman, called Sandy Mcpherson.
He lived alone, being either abacnelor ora wild
Ower-probably the fiTst-in little two
rOOmed house on wheels, and whenever the
owner of the ground on which he had estab-
liShed his residence asked awkward questions
or demanded rent, he simply wheeled his
mansion away. Thus he spent next to moth
ing, and though he did not make much money,
saved the best part Of what he made.
He had lived several years in his quiet way
when'one day there appeared in the village Il
tall, serious gentleman in a black coat, who
inquiring diligently for Mr. Alexander Nc
PhersOn, soon discovered the object of his
search in simple Sandy Mcpherson, hammer
ing away at his bench, and thus addressed
him:
''Sir, / am one of the firm of Dunn & Der
ry, lawyers, and I bring you the sad news
that your uncle, Mr.. Donald Mcpherson, has
departed this life
Sandy laid down his lap-stOne, shook his
head, and gravely remarked
II never thought Uncle Donald was long
lived man" And thinking his duty done. set
to work again. But once more the lawyer
spoke:
''And it is also my pleasant duty, Mr.. Nc
/ Pherson, to inform you that your uncle Don
aid has left you a legacy amounting to five
/ thousand dollars, which, after the necessary
/ formalities, our firm viii take pleasure in
paying into your hands,
/ Sandy put down his work again. looked at
/ the lawyer, and after pause, remarked:
1T was weel meant Of Uncle Donald, and
! you mean weel to me in telling me of it, but
( it viii be aye dreadful trouble spending sic a
sum-"
The lawyer laughed ne thought his client
| intended a joke, but Sandy was in sober earn
! est. Having received the necessary instruc-
tions he shut up his little house, fastened the
/ doors and shutters well, stored it with an old
farmer Just out of town, and went to get hi,
money For three years no one in Lynn saw
or heard anything Of him, but at the end OF
Sandy had left his house, was surprised by
his temperance in a good suit of clothes
with very red face and a very portly persoI
to claim his house again.
'Im glad to get back, " he said. 'I've haC
I hard work to spend my hive thousand dollars
and l could ma do it without eating and drink
ing more than was aye guide for me but I'v,
lived through it, and maybe I'm no the wors,
for a bit o holiday.
And once more the door of the little wheel
ed house stood open, and Sandy Mcpherson
worked beside it from dawn until sunset.
Two years passed. At the end of that tim
the village gossips once more saw the tall
spare form Of the member of Dunn & Derr
in the streets of the little town. This tim
he made no inquiries, but walked to the Goo
of Sandys house and knocked
Come iu'' cried the shoemaker, and i
walked the lawyer.
ooh! and it is you, Mr.. Dunn % erie
Sandy, ''Sit ye doom, mon and what ne,
news hae ye for me?"
'Much the same as before, Mr.. McPhel
son, " replied the lawyer 'eYour Uncle Dun
can has left this world for a better"
ooh, aye, saw the old man was failing,
SAID SANDY.
Ills property, = continued the lawyer, cha
been equally divided amongst his four nepl
+ ews; and your share, my dear sir, L am hal
; DIV to tell you, amounts to two thousar
I pounds, or if you like the sound better, te
"A thousand dollars"
seThat's twice as much as Uncle Dona
left me-" sighed Sandy. ''Twill be hal
work spending it. The five thousand near
, killed me, but a. is as God will, if it's con
e on me- I'll be with you tomorrow mornin
4 sir. Sooner begun, sooner done"
d Again the little house was stored away b
hind the barn of Mr.. Cages farm but Il
time the farmer having died in Sandy's a
scnce the bargain was made with the Wido
T. Gage, comely woman of forty, who ga
4 Sandy some good advice On the subject of |
fortune which lie received i'll silence. Avi