The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-10-13
OLD n0rrLEWCLL'o WILL.

1t was 4 great shock to the feelings
of Mr.. Silas Popplcwcll to discover that
his father had bequcathed legacy Of
c2o00 TO his housckccpcr, ccrtnin Mrs.
Dray colt. The womal had entered the
old mln's service only about year be-
fore his death, and if there had been
anything remarkable in her dcmcanor
toward him il consisted rather of scant
courtesy and want of attention. She
had never apparently made the slight
est attempt to ingratiatc herself with
hcr ma ter, who, On his part, had al
ways seemed to regard his attendant
with calm indifference. But Slas felt
donbly aggricvcd because his father
had scrupulOusly concealed from Him
that he had made a will, leaving him to
believe that he was bound to inherit
everything as next of Kin and heir at
Silas Popplcwcll came across the will
quite unexpectedly while going through
the old mans papers few hours after
his dcccasc. The document appeared
TO be perfectly legal and had evidently
been pref ared by solicitor, whose
name was appended as one Of the wit
ncsscs Ia the tcsaior's signature. Ex-
ccpt the legacy TO the housckecpcr i
lcli everything to Silas Popplcwell and
appointed him sole executor. Consid-
cring old Joseph Popplewcll was reput-
cd to be II wealthy man, most persons
in S'las' position would not have suffer-
ed the unexpected legacy to disturb
their oquamimity. But Silas Popple
wcll was ono of those mean, grasping,
avarici0us individuals who cannot bear
fhn thnn"ht of lnoeino ANYTHING. lie
considered he was both legally and
morally Cniitin.i = ''''"'" VI "'7
IaIhcr's property and regarded the lcga-
cy to Mrs. DraycOit as fraud upon lis
Just rights, lie was therefore over
whclmcd with rage and disappointment
and worked him self into perfect fever
Of virluous Indignation.
In the midst Of his iribulation il snd-
dcnly occurred TO him that but for the
sheet of paper which he held in his
hand lac would he a richer man by two
thousand pounds sterling. This emil
ucntly practical view of the situation
aroused his worst passions and he soon
found himself wondering what would
probably happen if the will were not
forthcoming. Supposing, for instance,
he were TO leave the document where
he found ii and say nothing to anybody !!
The chances were, he thought, that the
hous ekccper would believe the testator
had revoked ii, assuming she had ever
been aware of its !cXistence, while il
was quite possible, considering his
fathers habitual rcticence concerning
his affairs, that the women suspected
nothing. II the worst happened, and a
hue and cry were raised, the will could
he conveniently found; or TO declare
boldly that his father had deliberately
destroyed the will in his presence!
Such insidions reflections as these are
apt 10 blunt n mans moral perceptions,
especially when he is laboring under a
keen sense Of injustice. Silas Popple-
Wells standard of morality was not a
high one, and he would any day sooner
have done n shabby trick than lose a
siXpcnsc. The consequence was that
after little hesitation he yielded TO an
uncomfortable impulse and consigned
the obnoxious will 10 the flames.
When the paper was reduced to ashe'
Silas suddenly awOkc 10 the fact iha
he had committed felony and render
ed him elf liable 10 penal servitude
lie turned deadly pale when he though
of this disagreoable contingency and fo
a moment was inclined TO repent o
what he had done. But when he re
llected that his wicked act had not becl
witnessed by any mortal eyes, Will
the only evidence of his guilt tn
chalred papers-was rapidly disappear
ing up the chimney, he soon recovere,