Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-02-24
FAITH IRWIN'S LEGACY.
MONROE II. RosENFELD.

/ ana ancient
She curIed her mouth disdainfully.
"There is absolutely nothing desirable
among them all, excepting perhaps this
casket and brooch and the old family
diamonds. The two former belong to
| you, my dear, and the latter have been
kindly bestowed upon your humble
servant, or, in the words of our dear
and lamented kindred. ETC., ito Maud,
elder Of my two worthy nieces." She
| approached her sister with the brooch
in hand and proceeded to fasten it on
| her.
"Nay, nay, [ could not wear it. But
| shall ever treasure it as a dear gift
and Keepsake" said Faith, laying it
away tenderly.
Then the two girls proceeded to read
the further disposition of the will.
! There were shawls, Indian and Persian,
antique books, water-color paintings of
rare art and beauty, silks, linens, laces,
etc, and - a Bible! And, strange
enough, there was an emphasized clause
relating to this book. After detailing
| various other articles to the two heir
esses, the will concluded with these
words:
'The old family Bible, legacy and
sacred relic of generations, [ bequeath
| to the one of my believed nieces who
| shall read it the most industriously, and
love it the most fervently; hoping that,
therefore, it will have no individual
possessor, but be shared with mutual
ownership"
"What a great, darling old tome"
cried Faith, as Harry Rose, her Aft
anced husband, placed the important
volume in her hands.
perhaps its very dimensions ac-
counts for our aunt's infinite area of
benevolence," observed Maud. "Ju1g-
ing from her earthlyresidue her benef-
cence must have been astoundingly
great, especially to her own kith and
kim" she added, sarcastically.
''Fie, fie, sister, how can you speak
so ungratefully?"
"These baubles" continued Maud,
apparently unheeding the reproach
and pointing to the diamonds, '|consti-
tute, then, the nucleus of our worthy
kindred's specific wealth. Ingratitude's
not |, but when | expend a years in
come on the resetting of these antique
ornaments, gratitude, | fear, will be
sadly marred by the item of dollars and
cents r' Pausing, she went on:
GAS for the much-envied Bible, since
your aunt has made such minute stipu-
latiOns as to its future career, resign
all claim of to you, trusting you may
ween from its pages like magnanimity
of heart as that of its quondam posses
sor."
Saying which Miss Maud Irwin stalk
ed haughtily from the room.
81 am glad, then, this is not the bone
of contention" said Faith, reverently
carrying the book to her lips. "But it
seems strange, that, whereas every
other article of glrtu is specified, no di-
rect heir to it was named in the will, :"
remarked Harry.
'Aunte had such strange notions
eccentricity, they call it. [ suppose
that explains her apparent poverty,
which Maud SO unjustly censures."
Perhaps"
He was toying with the pages of the
book as he spoke. when his eye sud
denly caught the fy-leaf. Yellow and
faded, yet distinctly visible, were regis
tered a line of names dating back to
the age of a century, and beneath of
more recent date the following:
81 feel that a day will soon come
whenI must part with this, my dearest
friend on earth. Throughout life this
! precious volume has been my sweetest
comfort Certain beautiful passages
therein have inspired me to make oc-
casiOnal note on the margin of its
pages, bringing to mind dear and fam
liar text, of my childhood. | entreat
We, my beloved nieces, to read these
carefully, for every hour spent with
! God reaps harvest of gain, and in
this cody book are hidden treasures
/ dear to the hearts of mortal
| HESTER HARDING PRYAIM."
Boston, 1874.
Eccentric, surely, but you will do
so, Faith?"
4 will, indeed:
The dreary autumn and the snow
robed winter days sped by, and once
more beauteous spring burst forth in
all her glory.
And during all the long, weary
months, Faith had kept her covenant,
studying the leaves of her sacred leg
acy with patience and fervor Indeed,
she had become so attached to the old
book that the reading Of it was to her
now a sweet delight.
One lovely morning she sat reading
a chapter of Proverbs. Thus far had
she advanced since the memorable day
of the will, ever and anon reading with
interest the notes she occasionally came
across.
The chapter before her was the
twenty-first, but she had come to an
abrupt pause at the twenty-first verse:
''He that followeth after ri righteousness
and mercy findeth life, righteousness
and honor" for on the left blank of the
page were added and underlined these
strange words: "and riches. See with
in the cover of this Bible r'
At first Faith could not clearly COM
prehend the import of these strange
words. Mechanically she turned to
the lid of the book.
A sudden faintness came over the
g1rl, as the mystery slowly began I'M