River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-02-10
AUNT MARSTON'S LEGACY.

10 my beloved niece, Meme stan
nope, the faithful nurse, the loving
comforter OF my declining years, be-
queathe my gold ball earring, with the
broOche to match, marked with my in
itials in black enamel" Thus ran the
passage referring to me.
When my cousin, Lucinda MarstOn
handed me the little morocco case, she
could scarcely repress a smile of tri-
umph as she thought of the difference
q few short weeks had made in our rel
alive positions.
had been brought up by aunt Mars
ton, had lived III ease and luxury all
my life, while my cousin had been
obliged for years to earn her own liv
lug by sewing.
had always looked upon Greylands
as my home, while she had never been
invited to spend even week at the de-
lightful old country house on the Hud-
son since she was child.
And now She had come into posses
sion of the old homestead, and |, the ia
yOrite, whom she had hated and envied
for so many years, was put off with this
insignificant bequest.
AFTER all your tOadying," she said,
with a sheer, 1T is too bad to be put
off with Il shilling; bu if Mr.. Lewis, the
other executor, knows anything about
it, they are worth Il great many shlll-
ings, for he says they are solid eighteen
karat gold, and that Ormulu, who had
them, would give you fifty dollars for
them to-day. However, you are wei
come to them. And now l suppose
you will see the necessity of looking
about for another home -
The bitter, Insulting words, the desc
late, deserted feeling at being thus
cruelty turned out Of the only home
knew, oyercame the unnatural calm
ness with which | had hitherto borne
my irreparable loss, and threw myself
on my bed and wept, as l never in my
short, happy life thought it possible |
could weep.
| don't know how long it lasted, but
when / became calm my heart still
ached, but my brain seemed clearer,
and | could look my situation in the
face.
/ was no sycophant; | knew that
well, for | loved my aunt dearly, and
had always given her a daughters will
ling devotion, without one thought be
yond the present; | even told Charlie
L, i
her consent, and whom | loved with all
my heart, that we'd better bide
wee for could not leave my second
mother TO spend her last days alone, or
cared for by hirelings.
Aunt Eunice had often said to me,
" You and Charlie will not have TO wait
long, dear child, and | will see that
your future is provided for. | did not
E. LIT F,Tf =
pointed for his sake, when | found that
was left absolutely penniless
| think now, as | looked back, that
after she became paralyzed she wanted
to say something to me about it; for as
she lay there so white and still, almost
like a piece of statuary, the muscles
about her lips would twitch as if trying
to form words, and the ever restless
eyes would turn on me with an earnest,
appealing look, like the yearning, pitt
full expression Of dumb animal trying
to make its suffering understood.
But she died and made no sign, and
now Charlie must plod along in the old
way, and | must try to earn my own
living, for | had made up my mind
that l would never be an additional
burden on the poor fellow.
| threw down the Jewel case with
sigh of disappointment as l thought 1t
all oyer, and then ashamed of myself,
took it up again and kissed the we'll
known trinkets, in fact the only ones
my aunt ever wore, and put them ten
DERBY away among my other treasures
her gifts and Charlie's-in the trunk
| was packing.
Alas, for the frailty Of human resolu-
tons. Charlie would not hear of my
earning my own living, and though he
lid not exactly threaten to commit
suicide if | refused, he looked so
qtterly miserable and forlorn that
1 was forced to reconsider my de
,ision.
Charlie and | are quite old married
folks now, and four little curly pated,
restless bodies tumble about i'll the
small. poor room that serves me as a
bedroom, sitting-room, and nursery,
coming to mamma with their small
hurts ana pains to be kissed well ana
petted, while often my heart and head
are both aching.
So many little mouths to feed, so
many little limbs to clothe and sew
for: eight little feet that are never
still to cover with shoes that wear out
too fast.
1t is no wonder that Charlie has to
welr his coat till it is threadbare, and
my only best dress IS my old black silk
made over again and again, which with
lace rutiles at the writs and throat, and
Aunt Marston's legacy forms my gala
day toilet.
/ would not complain to myself, but
Charlie looks so pale and tired, and his
cough gets worse and worse every day.
If he could only go into the country for
a month or two, the doctor says, rest
himself, keep in the open air, drink
plenty of milk and take plenty of gem
lie exercise, such as 4 little rowing or
riding, he could get well.
Nv head aches with thinking how to
Get the money that will save Charles
life. Ny darling husband, so devoted,
unseltish, depriving himself OF even
the smallest indulgence for me and our
little ones
| think bitterly on the unequal dis
tributiOn of the good things of this
world; so few have all, and so many
nave nothing: but when | say 50, Char
lie laughs, and says I'm n little COM
munist, dangerous character, and
must suppressed.
As usual, while | am sitting sewing, |
am devising a thousand impractieable
schemes. when my revere Is interrupt
ed bv my elder boy, Robert.
oh. mamal see those beautiful po-
niesr
look out and see phaeton, drawn
by a span of black ponies, and seated
at her ease, her lap dog beside her,
recognize my cousin Lucinda Marston:
How circumstances have changed!
She and her dog in my place; and my
children living life of privation. My
husband dying for theneed ofthe mon
ey she lavishes on her horses and dogs
in a week.
l cannot help 4 reproachful feeling
toward my aunt, rs reflect on her ca
PRECIOUS treatment of me. At sight Of
that cruel face l live over again that
last'dreadful interview when my cousin
gave me the jewels. Her words rang
in NV cars once more, but with new
meaning.
..Ormulu would give you fifty dollars
for them" she had said.
"Fiftv dollarsw | exclaimed aloud.
Fifty dollars means rest, country air,
IL