Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-20

to me. Ny will was drawn up long
ago; and Moses Sawyer is my heir.
"Thee is welcome to do as thee likes
with thy own" said Friend Decker,
setting down the jar of wild
plum preserves and glancing wistfully
toward the cushioned arm chair by
the fire, for his limbs were enfeebled
by age and he had walked consider
able distance.
Bat Miss Akerly did not ask him to
sit down and rest, so he took fresh
grip of his knotty cane and started on
his homeward tramp.
Good morning to thee, Friend An
astasia!'' to which the old lady only
responded with an articulated grunt.
But when he was out of sight she
unscrewed the lid of the jar. and with
an old silver spoon, worn thin by long
usage, she tasted the sweetness OF It's
contents.
Jest exactly like them mother used
to boil down with molasses when l
was gall" said she. Il could most
fancy / was a gal ag'in in the wild
plum time, a cuttln across the lots
with my sun bonnet hitched on oy
one string, and the red dog a-caperln'
at my heels. WAL, wal! 1t don't
seem like was close on to seventy
years old" -,
Miss Anastasia had some of the wild
plum sauce with her scanty dinner.
1t gave it a relish. She ate some
more with brsad and cheese, for her
tea.
81 never did taste nothin' that went
to the right spot like them wild
plums," said she. ct amt cause
they're relishing'; it's cause they
make me feel like when | was agln
out In Wisconsin, with the sassafras
leaves turnin' yaller and the wind
BLOWN in my face"
Leah did not know, until a neigh
boris child brought back the jar, neat
ly wrapped in an old newspaper, what
a treat she had unwittingly afforded
the neighbors.
"What is it, Wlllie2" she asked of
the boy.
''Its the jar that had the Wild plum
sass in it," said Willie; Miss Akerly
says she's much obliged, and she gave
me a ginger cookey fur bringing 1t
back, she did"
"Father," said Lsah, repfoachfully
to the old man, this Is thy dolngs.
Thee is always thinking of some one
else"
at has done ME more good than if
had eaten it myself, Leah" said
Friend Decker, apologetically.
Leah ran to him and gave him a
hug.
"Thee is an old darling, father"
Said she; land thee makes me asham-
ID of my own temper sometimes"
And she put the jar on the top shelf
of the little pantry, and never thought
anything more aboNt it until one day,
when she wanted a jar TO put some
stewed cranberries in.
She was in hurry, for Miss Anas
tasia Akerly was to be buried that af-
tern Don,
She had died as strangely as she
had lived, sitting alone before the fire,
and this was the day appointed for her
funeral.
Friend Decker had expressed de-
sire to attend the obseauies Of the
kinswoman who had been SO little to
him, and Leah was hurrying through
her work, so that she might brush his
weil-worn suit and take a much need
ed stitch or two in his coarse worsted
gloves.
AS she tore off the newspaper wrap
pings she stopped suddenly.
Father" she cried, there is piece
of thick, yellow paper rolled up and
put inside this jar that came from
-, What Inae, fhon
suppose it is3 Father, father, 1t is a
will"
She ran eagerly with it to Friend
Decker. He looked obviously at the
outside.
"Thee is right, Leak" said he.
"Friend Anastasia's heart has soften
ed toward us. This is doubtless the
will she mentioned, the will in favor
of Moses Sawyer. She has sent it to
us to destroy. Nay, daughter, nay, !"
as Leah eagerly caughtit up and hast
ened toward the fire. Give it to me.
It. is not for us to make or NEEDLE. If
Friend Anastasia wished the will de
stroyed she should have done 1T her
self. | shall take it back to Friend
job nson, the executor"
Father" cried Leah, thou woul d
not give him the will9'
'Does thee think it would be a right
and honorable thing to destroy it,
Leah2"
eff she wanted us to do so, father"
"But we have no right to presume
anything of the sort, daughter, rea
soned Friend Decker, buttoning 1t up
under his coat. NAY, nay, do not
fret" For Leah, overcome by the
sudden blaze of hope, in the after
blackness of despair, had burst into a
flood of tears. III will be well with
us. never fear"
Judge johnson, the great man of
the neighborhood, received the paper
with some surprise.
December the 6th," he read.
Hum, ka2 this is the latest document
she has executed. Oh, yes, l remem-
Der it very we'll drew it up myself.
But why did you bring it here, Friend
Decker"
The old man briefly explained the
circumstances.
"Old people are apt to be capric
ious," said he. Doubtless the trih
ing matter of the plum sauce pleased
her and she sought to reward US. But
| should never take base advantage of
friend Moses by burning the will"
but why in the name of common
sense should you burn it2H said Judge
johnson. Are you in the habit of
having estates loft TO you every day,
that you dispose of them so readily?"
II don't think that quite under
stand thee, Friend Johnson" said
Decker.
But Leah's face frightened like
rose.
Il see. | see!" she cried. Father,
Friend Anastasia has done right, late
though it be. She has willed the Len
nox farm TO thee"
Aud Leah spoke truly. The dead
woman had wrought tardy reparation
IN her last days, and Friend Decker
and his daughter had at last legal
possession OF what should long ago
have been their own.
No amount of reasoning or remon>
STRANGE had svailed with Miss Akerly,
but one of those sudden touches which
striking the electric chain where
with we're darby bound, p" sway the
soul with disproportionate force, and
induced her to perform an act of jus
tice at last. And the jar of Wild plums
with its train of associations. had