West-Jersey pioneer., 1882-08-03
DISINHERITED.

DISINHERlTED.
Sam Hilton was very poor and very
ambitious We don't mean to say that
he burned for the triumphs of the tented
field, for the honors of the senate house,
or for the glories of fame in any of its
multiform phases, but simply that, hav-
ing elegant tastes and habits, and being
naturally and habitually lazy, he desired
to possess a fortune, which would ena-
BILE him to sit down at ease i'll splendid
mansion, away from the cares and la
bors of this busy world
Making haste to be rich in other than
the patient, pains-taking way which
slowly wins wealth from the rude ele-
ments, is dangerous business. 1t often
leads men to do what they would not
| otherwise do-which is not a strictly
| original idea, but, at the same time, is
furnished without expense, and will bear
repetition.
| Sam wanted to be rich not when he
got old and stiff, but now, while he was
in the full vigor of his early manhood
He had tried several experiments in the
way of being clerk, and of keeping
shop himself; but the money either did
not come in at all, or came in so slowly,
that he lost his patience, his situation,
and his credit
| Sam expected to be rich some time or
other, for he had a rich uncle, who, in
! the natural order of events would die,
though the aspirant had begun to fear
he would live forever, if it was only to
bother him. Uncle Dan was only fifty
eight, and might live a dozen years
more, which was equivalent to cheating
him out of twelve years of existence, for
life without wealth he counted as moth
ing
Sam had another strong reason for de-
string wealth, and this was Violet Ell
lott, very pretty girl of nineteen,
whose father would not let her marry
him till he had something to support her
which was very ridiculous OF the old
gentleman, and heartily to be con-
demned by all aspirants to forbidden
matrimony Sam had sentiment, and
really loved Miss Elliott with all his
soul, which was not very large; but an
ounce of powder for a musket is more
than pound for a Paixhan. He wanted
to be married, not when he got old, but
now, while his heart was warm.
He waited a year, and Uncle Dan OBJ
stinately refused to die. or even to be
sick, though he had a mortal dread OF
cholera, ship-fever, and especially OF the
smallpox. The latter disease was quite
prevalent in the city where the parties
resided, amounting to an epidemic, and
great was the CONSERVATION of the old
gentleman. He told Sam he was sure he
should die of the small-pox-he felt it in
his bones. He was positive he should
not be alive in another month.
''Then my friends will all desert me,
and / shall die like masterless dog
added Uncle Dan, fearfuily moved by
the sad picture he had drawn.
mo they won't, uncle; at least there
is one who will not desert you," replied
Sam, with a touch of sentiment that was
creditable to his heart, considering that
he had had the smallpox himself.
Brave boy!' exclaimed Uncle Dan;
'sgive me your hand on that. You are
my heir, and for your sake, | wish was
dead now"
THANK you, uncle" said Sam, though
he was not so impolite as to say he
wished so himself, whatever he thought.
1t was very kind of Uncle Dan to wish
himself dead for the benefit of the next
of kin, and his spirit is worthy to be
copied by all old gentleman of large es-
tates who are descending the downhill
of life. Sam was duly grateful for this
kind consideration, and sorry that I'm
Gle Dan did not practice what he
preached.
As he walked home he could not help
thinking of what his uncle had said.
Why could not Uncle Dan take the
smallpox? If he got it, he was certain
to die with it. Sans brow darkened as
he walked along, and a most diabolicai
idea took possession of his mind. He
had SO long wished for the death of his
uncle, that the idea of giving him little
help as he rolled down the inclined
plane, at the foot of which lay the open
grave, did not make him shudder, as it
ought to have done-which shows how
dangerous it is to harbor wicked
thoughts.
Instead of going directly home as he
had intended, he called at the lodging
of a friend who was sick with the small
pox. After spending few moments in
conversation with the sick man, he
seated himself at the table and wrote a
short note to his uncle, requesting the
loan of a hundred dollars for a fewtweeks
not an unusual thing for Sam 80 do
With this note in his hand, he sat down
by the side of the sufferers bgdA and
contrived to bring the paper iR contact
with him several times, and only lefi
when he was sure it was infected.
Repairing to his home, f,e placed F'e
note in an envelope and was 3aJous &c
seal and superscribe it, when sudden
thought entered his head.
ssThunder p exclaimed he, Il promised
to meet Violet in half an hour from now
! I can't do it without exposing her to th'
smallpox. l will write a note to her.
Seating himself at the table, ne wrot'
to this effect
"Dearest Violet:-I have just com
from the room of johnson, who IS dowi
with the smallpox; therefore | dare no
meet you as promised. Pray excus'
Z me, and / will see you tomorrow wnei
my clothes have been fumigated.
ssDo not fear this note, for it will b