Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-11-30
DEAD NEWS SHOES.

A few years ago decrepit old man
crept around the shabby precincts of
Southern town, of whom a singular
story was told.
He was the last male descendant of
family to whom belonged large es-
tates His uncle was the last possess
or. He died without children The
property was bequeathed by him to his
wife during her life, and at her death
to his nephew, then lad of fifteen.
The wealthy widow was at this time
fifty years old, and by no means heal
thy but she heartily disliked the heir,
and refused to recognize him, or give
him any immediate assistance.
But the boy congratulated himself
with the assurance that she could not
keep his Inheritance from him at her
death, and that probably her death was
not far off
Fifty appears old age to fifteen.
Hence, although the lads mother was
poor, he studied no profession and
learned no trade Indeed, he troubled
himself very little about education of
any sort. Why should he drudge over
books or in any kind of business His
fortune waited ready made for him.
Years passed The lad became a
young, middle aged man; a husband
and father. He had married merce-
nary girl, whose eyes were dazzled
with this vast prospective fortune. The
two plunged into extravagances of eve-
ry sort. Creditors at first were lenient.
The aunt was now gray, toothless
old woman. The fortune was surely
near at hand. But the patience of
creditors is not as enduring as the lives
of even the aged, and at last even hope
ful creditors refused to extend their ac-
counts
Then the crash came. The heir fell
into hopeless poverty. His children
died His wife left him. He went
about the town, gambling little,
drinking good deal, 'cursing his luck
always, but never working.
The aunt lived on. The heir grew
| old, became paralytic, and finally was
sent to the almshouse, where. after
waiting for years for the woman's shoe
who would not die, he dropped hope
lessly out of an empty life into the
grave. The .woman lived to be one
hundred and three years old, and at
her death the estate went to the State
of Tennessee.
We do not often find case of wait
ing for dead mems shoes, so extreme
as this. But in degree, the same effect
is produced whenever the heirs of
wealthy parents are brought up with
out any profession or practical work.
Their youth passes in idleness, wait
ing for death to mase rich men of them;
and out Of idleness too frequently grow
dissipation and corrupt character If,
as is often the case, the fortune takes
wings before they gain possession of it,
they are left stranded and helpless
wrecks in life Youths Companion.
The fellow, who, by mistake, sent
his auburn-haired sweetheart instead
of bottle ofDr Bulls Cough Syrup
bottle of hair dye, wants to know the
best way to commit suicide.
Wives have not invariously been
courteously treated in life, but epitaphs
are seldom quite as wanting in fiatter-
ing junction. as the following:
Here lies my wife, n sad slattern and shew.
If regretted her should lie too
Doctor Bills are abominable and
not needed in kidney and liver atfec-
tions, as Peruna and Manalin will
cure them.
Something's are past finding out.
The love of whisky is what staggers
man.
A sure, positive cure for costiveness.
Manalin.
Opium kills about one hundred and
sixty thousand persons annually in
China.