Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-17
That was the last they ever saw of Uncle
Gelswortby, alive.

Ihat was the last they ever saw OF Uncle
Gelsworthy, alive.
suppose it was the keen northeaster and
the driving sleet, in the teeth of which James
Gelsworthy had to fight his way home that
evening, that made him think what very
threadbare, thin, and comfortless overcoat he
had on Aud seeing that he had worn it now
for some ten winters, and had originally pro-
cured it second hand his reflections upon the
subject are not surprising Anyhow the fol-
lowing morning, as he gazed from his win
dow at the unabated inclemency of the
weather, and turned his eyes upon the dilap-
idated garment, hanging from a nail in his
bedroom door, he settled it definitely in his
mind when he muttered: "Thats what I'll
do; I'll have a coat made a-purpose." So he
went to tailor's and overhauled his entire
stock of piece goods before he finally hit up
on a cloth to his taste. 1t was heavy,
closely woven, waterproofed, drab colored
texture, of the best quality; similar to that
worn by grooms in livery in first class estab-
lishments. Then he gave minute instruc-
tions as TO the shape, the size, the pockets,
the buttons, all according to his own notions
of what coat ought to be, without any re-
gard to the prevailing fashions, which the
tailor vainly sought to bring under his notice.
When the coat was finished and sent home,
he took it back to have an inner lining
stitched in, because 1t was not warm enough !;
and afterward he took it back again to get
another lining added, because first was
not strong enough. "Pm not a. going to pay
for concern thatll wear out in G. month, " he
explained
BY this time the tailor and nis Journey
men were thoroughly sick of tbat coat, and
distinctly refused to make any further addi-
tiOus or alterations whatever.
James Gesworthy was extremely proud of
this new item to his limited wa.drObe. He
wore it on every possible oppor unity. He
turned it to account by knocking of fires in
February, and keeping ii on in the house, for
the sake of its more economical p4rmth. He
used it as a second counterpane thrown over
his bed at night. This last fact was discoy-
cred III March by his landlady, who, not hav-
ing seen anything of hm for two days, be-
came alarmed on the third, and caused the
door of his room to be burst open. They
found him lying upon his bed, still and peace
full and cold, with the favorite coat resting
across his limbs. James Gelsworthy was
dead.
Over the manteshelf was bit of paper,
fastened with pins; and upon it few words
written in a shaky but legible hand:
"In case of my death, the furniture and
other things belonging to me in my two
rooms give to my niece, Pattie Roper, 12
Cribble Street Mile End. There amt no
money, only just enough to bury me.
drawed it all out and disposed Of it months
ago. Signed by me,
JAMES GELswoRTHY.
The furniture and things we're real god
send to Mark and Pattie."
"I'll tell you what we'll do" said the hus-
afl Ill tlo lot Lie ,.alr
ing after odd Jobs, and wen get an assisted
passage to Melbourne. I've heard as how
there's heaps more chance for poor man in
Australy"
I'm willing to go anywhere" answered
Pattie, $50 long as We can manage to stick
together"
The real and personal estate of old Gels
worthy produced about twenty-five pounds in
cash-truly blessing to the extremely i'm
pecunious, as any one will know who ever
had the bad fortune to stand in urgent want
of a similar amount. and the good fortune to
come into it Unexpectedly just in the hour of
need. The last thing disposed of was the
heavy drab overcoat, by private treaty with
Mr.. Isaac SolomOns, dealer in anything.
"Well, what do you want for ii 2" inquired
Mr.. Solomons, after having turned it over sew
eral times and regarded it suspicously, as
though it were an infected garment.
Suppose We say thirty bob p suggested
Mark, tentatively.
There's no harm in saying thirty quid so
long as nobody parts with the coin. No, my
man /; that there coat amt no use to me-it's
too ugly and my customers is mostly fashion
BILE inclined.
but it's worth something. Look at the
quality"
Quality" What's quality nowadays? Moth
ing It's cut that's wanted and there amt
no cut about that there, not haporth."
"What will you give? Come I"
'If l were to speculate fifteen bob on it
should lose. Shtrike me should lose. No !;
pom my honor, l can't do it :"
well, fork over It's no good to met
don't fit"
1T amt much good to anybody, as / can
see, grumbled the jew. But for all that he
forked over" the fifteen shillings Immediate
ly and the coat became the property of Mr..
SOlomons.