The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-01-31
THE RULING PASSION.


.si'phalet Merrew was an old money.
lender--a literal Yankee Shylock-of Car
roll county, N. Fl. He lad grown DID, and
had grown to be very rich-that is, rich fol-
that section of the great country. As the
years increased, ard his step became more
feeble-when the closing of the decade
upon which he had entered would complete
century of life-then he began to think of
preparing for the'end. He did not care to
leave his worldly affairs entirely at loose
ends. He had never married and his nat
ural heirs were the children of Brother and
sister, both of whom hal been younger
than himself--wsre now dead--and had left
goodly families behind them. And we viii
say one thing more: With not one of his
relations had old Eliphalet ever luarrelled
Well, the old man sat down and made an
inyentc cry of his property, and then calcu.
lated about what would be coming to each
of the nephews and nieces, for he had
planned to make will and leave about
everything to them.
A few days after this after the making of
dis in entory-Eliphalet Glanced to meet
his nephew, Tom Morrow. son of his
brother, on the street, when he took him by
lie button-ho.e, and drew him aside.
TON" said the old usurer, CT want 70
have a serious talk with you. I have been
blocking out ny wills aud I've got you
down for jus. an even Internationally
thousand dollars! That's pretty sum, sn'
it?"
Tom knew not What to say. He was re.
ally taken by surprise and tears started t
his eyes when he tried to answer
80! tut tutn the old man put in. as
The poor fellow stammered and hesitated.
"I understand all about your feelings, my
boy. But want you to tell me would it
be any accommodation if You could have
this money mt once and not have to wait
for my death?n
The nephew disliked very much to nc
knowledge it but snch was the fact, and he
admitted it.. Yes lit would be a great ac-
commodation. "For." said he eff my
prayers can keep you alive you will live to
be more than ar hundred"
Upon that The o.a fellows eyes snapped,
aud every nerve was strung, aud every en-
ergy aroused to business.
aha! Tom, got proposition for
you: Let's set it down that shall live ten
years more, How's that 2"
"Indeed, uncle,-I hope So"
"Then we'll call it ten years. Aud now
see: II I'll pay you down your share right
away, say, in the course of month, -wll
you make the regular discount won't
ask you to make more'n six per cent. That
would be--let me see"
about fifteen thousand dollars, for the
ten years p said Tom, eather obviously.
"Bless rae So it would O. that would
be too much. But, my boy, you'll make
fair discount, won't you ?"
Yes, uncle. will leave it for you to
fix it just as you please. | promise you,
here, aud now, that viii be satisfied"
"Ahl-good! good Thank you, Tom
I'll make it fair. Blt,-you see,-while l
live, must be doing something aud if 1
can save penny in this way, why of
course, ought to do ii. I'll make it all
eight, Tom / won't discount more'n you'll
acknowledge is fair. Good-by. Thank
you Thank you, Tom You've got the
right idea, my boy. I'll fix it,"
Aud the old man hobbled away, the pic
ture of joyous satisfaction.
A few weeks later Tom received just
twenty thousand dollars in cash. The old
man had saved five thousand by the opera
ton.
But VIC cannot leave the story mere
Elphalet Morrow lived six years beyond
that and after he was dead and buried his
will was produced by his old attorney, and
ON it codicil was found, giving to "my
beloved nephew. Thomas Morrow, in nd
dition to what have already given him, q
further sum of ten thousand dollars.
would thus have the dear boy,n the testatoi
added. :" share with me in the profits arising
from the last operations of my business
career!" Aud then was further added, as
though from later thought Good bless
him for MI his goodness to his poor old un
clel"-N. Y. Ledger.