The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-01-26
"They have had no access to the papers, it is

| ] promised to do my best for this lady,
my first clent--and told her to renew heI
search for the important paper, and l would
call at her home the next day and we would
again talk the matter over and see what
could be DONE
| Well, did not sleep much, that night
looked up my authorities TO see what could
be done in case the will could not be found
and had determined upon my course, when
presented myself at the Ellery mansion the
next morning. AS Miss Minnie came into
the parlor to greet me, she seemed more
| lovely than on the previous evening and
was charmed especially with her thoughtful
attentions to her adopted mother. They had
made another search for the will, but with no
better success. | inspired them with courage
| by stating that under the circumstances the
suit might be gained without it, particularly
as one of the witnesses could readily be OBJ.
tanned, and | believed the right would pre-.
| vail
| became SO much interested in my first
client and her case, that forgot all about my
Kansas project, and prepared myself for the
| trial | thought of it by day and dreamed Of
| it by night. The brothers of the deceased
| were sure of winning their suit, and employed
| the most skillful attorney in the State to as
| sist them to secure their claim. AS the time
| drew near for the trial, was deeply anxious,
as my future might depend upon my success
in this suit. | retired to rest one night, bur
dened with care in regard to it. "If kind
Providence would only put that will in my
hands," | exclaimed, mentally, 81 would
never doubt Him in future"
When at last l fell asleep, was still busy
with my law business. dreamed that it was
the day before the trial, and full of anxiety ]
had called at the Ellery mansion and humbly
| asked leave to search the house myself for
the missing will. Leave was readily obtained
| and the fair Minnie went with me to open
| closets, writing desks, etc.
"IIave you cleaned house since the death
of your father?" asked
YES" she answered. laughing heartily at
the strange question, we had our yearly clean.
ing in May.''
where did you put your waste papers
that you regarded as of no account ?"
ave threw great many Of them into the
| kindlng basket, but u few, that we fancied
we might want to look over again, we car
| ried TO the attic"
"Then | will go to these upper regions, il
| you please and | will look over every scrap
of paper that has any writing upon it,"
We proceeded to the attic, and found n
large wood box full of old letters, and began
to look them carefully over. Before we had
been there an hour, / came to q bundle OF
paper tied with n green ribbon, and, opening
| the bundle, the lost will was in my hand. !
jumped upon the floor in my joy, exclaiming
| Eureka !" and put it in my pocket, enjoining
| silence upon Minnie, who, of course, was as
delighted as child and fairly wept for joy
In transport of ecstasy | awoke to find ii
only dream; but soon slept again, and the
| whole scene was repeated.
| When | awokc again, old chanticlecr was
| announcing the dawn of day, and | arose
fully determined to search the Ellery attic
Who knows but it may be true? God re-
vealed His will in ancient times in Dreams
| May He not sometimes do it still? | thought
of the cases given in Mental Philosophy, the
sister of Major Andre dreaming that hcl
brother was before the court martial for being
Il spy; and all the particulars of the tria
were wildly impressed upon her mind, just
as they really occurred. Washington and
Knox were particularly designated, though
she had never seen them, for the waves o.
the broad Atlantic rolled between them.
| was so much in earnest that did moi
wait even for breakfast, but went to call upor
| Minnie. put the same questions rs in my
DREAM and, by a strange coincidence, recev
cd the same answers. We went to the attic
and the lost will was in my possession in less
than an hour after | entered the house.
Then | went TO breakfast, and ate with {
relsh for was as happy as if had million
dollars in my pocket. knew that the tide
of my affairs had turned at last, and was il
the way of II little good fortune.
| The day of the trial came, and the judge
and jury were all in their places, and the
court house was crowded with people, fol
Minnie was general favorite in the village
and the case was exciting the deepest interest
We had kept the secret of the will being
found and the lawyer for the uncles opened
his case with flourish of trumpets, of wha
was natural and just, that the property
should go to legal, family heirs, instead of ,
strange child, who had already, for cighieer
years, enjoyed the charity of her kind bene
factor. True, he had learned that there wal
once 1umor of a will but had such docu
stroyed by the same hand that made it, al
there was no trace Oft as he could learn
When it came my turn to speak, simpl,
announced that the lost will was found, an(
proceeded to read it word for word. Whel
l had finished the crowd began to cheer, ant
this over, the Judge decided the case on TIN
spot without it going to the jury. Minnie
and her mother came and stood behind me
and together we received the congratulation
of the villagers. 1t was the happest day O
my life, for that very evening asked Mimi
to marry me, and she said yes, and believ
she has never yet regretted. had bushes
enough after that the people trusted me, ant
| have tried to do my duty. lam now in TIL
Legislature, and may yet turn up in Congress
or be Governor of the State At any rate
am happy and contented man, and grateful
to kind Father for all His love and care.
This ended the story of the lawyers frs
client l was deeply interested, and fror
that evening we were friends. Last summe
these New Hampshire friends were m
guests for week, in my new home on til
banks of the Susquehanna We rowed to
gether over the placid waters of the Otseg
Lake, and ate our picnic dinners upon til
shores, and lived over again those summer
at Concord.
Time, that had brought Sc many change
to me and mine, had left them the same, pros
, porous and happy. The young wife's voc
is rs musical as ever, and though the husban
is not yet in Congress- when he is there h
, will be the right man in the right place.