Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-02
A STRIKING LEGACY.

= Inc PERSONS assembled NJ LuInUcT
Hall to hear the hearing of old Mr.. Um-
berglowth's will after his funeral in
cluded all the nearest relatives of the
deceased, and they happened to be in
dividuals| so diverse in their pursuits
and characters that it was only in such
aplace and for such a purpose that they
could have met at all. But all were
equally interested in the circumstance
that had brought them together, for
MIR. Umberglowth had died childless
lwidower and his large property was un-
entailed. He had been cold, stern,
unsociable old man, living much alone,
and had never favored soul with any
hint as to'how he should dispose of his
wealth, except that he had once said
that his money should go to his own
kin, not to public charities or "any
nonsense of that kind"
1t was generally anticipated that his
cousin, MIR. Stephen Umberglowth,
would be found to have inherited the
bulk of the property; and Stephen was
of this hopeful opinion himself. He
had been received at the Hall as the
presumed heir, and had taken upon
himself to do the honors of the place to
his relatives These were Lady Beak-
well, the deceased's sister-in-law; the
Rev. Clement Gloam and Mr.. Dennis
Callingclere, sons of his two sisters who
were dead.
Mrs. Gloam and Mrs. Callingclere
had both come with their husbands TO
attend the funeral, and there were also
present to hear the will read DR.. Grin
ming, the deceased's physician, and DIR.
Brush, Vicar OF the parish. These two
had been invited by Mr.. Purkin, the
solicitor who had the will in his keep
ing.
1t has been said that Mr.. Umber-
glowth's relations were dissimlar in
their character; they were so much so,
indeed. that during the two days they
had spent at Lumber Hall they had
found little to say toone another. Lady
Beakwell was q widow of forty-five,
with snug jointure of f4,00O year,
who went good deal into society and
consorted only with people of the high
est rank. A very we'll dressed, selfish
gentlewoman she was, with excellent
manners, shrewd mind and sarcastic
tongue. She passed for wit, though
she set up no pretentions to that char
acter by saying smart things at random,
which would have been vulgarty de-
spicable in her sight. She simply
pecked at people and things obnoxious
to her when they came in her way. The
Rev. Clement Gloam, Vicar of st. Cap
ercuyts, Pimlico, was tall. lank- haired,
with sad voice and unctous ways. He
wore cassock and Gloucester hat and
. was noted both for the rigidity of his
tenets and for his eloguence in the pull
pit. He had a private income of E1,-
600, besides what he drew from his
church, and he was happy in the pos.
session OF awife who was as strict as
himself, who always dressed in black
Denny Callingclere and his wife Alice
were two very different people and lit
tie better than heather In the sight OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Gloam. They had an in
come. of FL, 500 and spent every penny
of it in enjoying themselves at race
meetings and in the hunting field. They
always rode together; they both betted
they whiled away their autumn ant
winter in rounds of visits to country
houses, where they were ever welcome
and they were the gayest, brightest
most attached couple you could find
They had come down to Lumber hop
ing Uncle Umberglowth had remem
bered them for ga thou or two," whicl
would help them to pay oil outstanding
''ticks," but they were less concerned
about their chances than anybody pres
.ent, and had no intention of pullin,
faces at Uncle Stephen if the latte
should get the whole inheritance to hi
own cheek. Ht
Stephen Umberglowth was just tn
man whom the world in its discretion
would have fastened upon as fiji heir
for was he not the great Mr.. TIMBER
orln l. Al
statistician, politician and general criti
OF other mems ''ismsp" He was tall
pompous, red-eared. bald person, wit
full lips always protruding, as if the
were going to say "pooh-pooh." TIL
bump of veneration il wanting on hi
pate, but self-esteem was largely devel
oped. He was q practical man, VIII
cowed and scoffed and said slut tut,
and defied mankind TO oppose any al
guments to his common-sense view Q
things. He had twice tried TO get int
Parliament and had nearly succeede
both times; it was thought he woul
get in before long. and he himself talke
OF the idea of his being beaten a thir
time as preposterous." Stephen I'm
berglowth was married, but kept hi
wife in the background as an inferio
creature, inapt for rational argument
and he had two sons still at school, VIII
by his orders were undergoing prat
tical education in mathematics, geolog,
natural science and modern language
with as little Latin and Greek an
"other fooleries" as possible.
just before the will was opene
Stephen Umberglowth thought goo
TO sing the praises Of his decease
cousin by way OF a change, for he Sc