The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-03-09
keep my word, no matter what hap

pens"
Miss Silence had thought herself proof
against the weakness Of falling i'll but
in March she caught severe cold, and
pneumonia ensued. She felt she never
should get well again. and the doctor
told her frankly that in all probability
she would live but a few days.
II want to see the lawyer at once, il
that is the case" she said. 81 must
make new will"
Mr.. Slmons, who had managed her
business for years, came as soon as he
received her message, and the will was
made. He hardly left the house before
Tom called
"I'm worse" said Miss Silence, feeb-
ly, "but I'm not afraid to go. Per-
haps I'm peculiar in that as in other
things. Deacon Bonney and the minis
ter, Mr. Craig and Mr.. Darby have all
been here, q urgin' of their several
claims. 1 told each o EN- I'd consider
the matter"
"Will they be disappointed, Cousin
Silence ?" asked Tom.
Poor fellow he was in such sore
strait that he could not help n desire tc
have some small help from his cousin S
hoard. He hardly dare hope she had
left him cent, and yet he was her only
relative.
"That remains to be seen," was the
unsatisfactory reply he received to, his
question. "But don't You cherish nc
hopes, for amt left you cent"
A bitter smile curled Toms lips, but
he made no reply.
81 suppose you think me peculiar in
not leavin' you my money, seem you
are the only kin I've got" went on Miss
Silence, "but you've taken such pre-
clous care to convince me that you don t
want it, that I've believed you and acted
accorlin'."
Tom went homo and repeated the con-
vcrsation to Prissy, who shed few tears,
but tried to cheer her husbands droop-
ing spirits with hopes of more law bust
ness in the spring.
That night Miss Silence died, and the
whole town turned out to her funeral q
few days later.
~ expect Wolfboro Academy will find
itself able to erect new building when
Miss Silences will is read, said old Mr..
Craig. "She's told me she'd consider
the matter, and | know she was i'm
pressed with my arguments"
- rather think you are mistaken,
said Squire Darby, "for | feel r'orally
certain she has left her money to found
II library"
The minister, who stood near, smiled
to himself. He had not the slightest
doubt that the debt which hung over his
church like pail would now be lifted
through Miss Silence's will.
Tom dld not want to go 10 the reading
of the important document, but Prissy
insisted, so they went together, though
neither of them looked very cheerful.
Mr.. Simons made no objection to the
presence of Squire Darby. Mr.. Craig
and the minister chuckled as Deacon
BOnney entered with n pleasant smile
for Tom, who well knew what sarcastic
triumph lay beneath it.
The will was dated three days pre-.
vious and every penny in the bank, and
the large farm were lett Internationally
to Pressy Lowey. Her husbands name
was not mentioned.
Toms face was study, while Prissy
almost tainted from the sudden relief to
all her trouble.
The faces Of the other men present
we're studies, too. The deacon left the
house without n word, and the Squire
looked grimly at Mr.. Craig.
"Sho was very peculiar woman,
said the minister, wiping his brow, on
which the beaded drops of perspiration
stood thickly. His anxiety about his
church had been very great, you see.
But Tom and Prissy could afford to
forget their dead cousins peculiarities,
since she had kept her VOW never to give
Tom cent, and yet had managed to
make him comfortable for life. There
was an immediate fitting tothe comfort
able farm house. and Tom furnished a
nice Office i'll town and drove III every
morning in tho spring wagon. Past
troubles and cares were forgotten, the
Baldwins were made more comfortable,
and, considering all things, Miss 81
lence did more good with her money
than if she had left it to found library
or lift O church debt.
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