Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-11-08
UNCLE GRASPER.

! per, your maternal uncle, who died yester-
day at his residence in Old James street,
number unknown, because he would never
| spend the thirty cents which plate would
! have cost, and his neighbors not being
our clients, I am ignorant of their house
! numbers"
"And how much did he Ieavel"
81 have just figured it out. Deduct
ing the legal expenses and charges of all
kinds, you will receive the precise sum
of forty-three thousand three hundred
and sixty-seven dollars and thi-ty-eight
cents"
Solomon Lyon, the artist, seemed to
be dazzled.
"Forty-three thousand.' stammered
he, sinking into chair.
'tThree- hundred and sixty-seven dol
lars and thirty eight cents" continued
the lawyer, with his most gracious smile.
'But-" he added, gravely adjusting his
spectacles.
''Ah, there is a butt" said the heir,
starting up quickly.
Eyes, sir. And it will cost you con-
siderable"
GLOW much?'
''JuSC nail OF your inheritance.
'Then | am not the sole heir?"
"Pardon me. That does not prevent
you from having colegatee.."
"And who is he?"
"Your uncle himself"
Solomon Lyon seemed stupefed.
"What do you say?"
81 say, your uncle himself. [ will ex-
plain; by the terms of the will which is
in my hands, Mr.. Grasper makes you his
heir, but on the condition that you
transfer to him one-haf of the for
tune"
"But howe"
by putting it with him into his
coffin"
Mr.. Grasper's heir opened his eyes
wide.
''And the clause is formal, SIR" con-
tinued the lawyer. "Your deceased
uncle has expressly stipulated that if you
fail to respect his wishes, you shall be
deprived of all your rights to the in
heritance. In that case, his entire for
tune is left to the poor of the town, to
whom the deceased confesses, with
sincerity that does him honor, that he
never gave a cent during his lifetime"
"But," cried young Solomon, ''this is
absolute folly, my dear sir"
''No, sir, it is not folly. The case is
a very simple one. Mr.. Grasper was so
misery as to astonish everybody when he
died from disease rather than from the
perpetual fast which he seemed to infict
upon himself. And it would i'll become
you to complain, since it is in conse-
quence of this stinginess that he sue
ceeded in amassing, cent by cent, the
fortune which he has just left you. Now
you must be aware that the greatest tor
ture of a miser is the thought that after
his death he will have none of the money
whose possession was the sole joy of his
life. Thanks to the obligation which he
imposes upon you, he assures to his re-
mains the enjoyment of a posthumous
fortune Even when dead he will have
portion of the money which was the de-
light of his eager eyes and avaricious fin
gers. Of course he will only have half;
but if he had demanded the whole, he
could not have found an heir who would
be an accomplice, obliged for self-pro-
lection to carry out the wishes of the
testator. 1t is to this reason alone, you
may be sure, sir, that you owe the for
tune which has been left to you. Other
ooh, " interrupted Soloman, "that is
plain enough"
E'Well, sir, do you accept?"
Il should think so. Half is better
than nothing"
''Well reasoned. Be so kind as to
sign this paper. Now let Us attend to
few details at once. There are some
bills which must be paid tomorrow, es-
pecially the funeral expenses. Have you
plenty Of money!"
Il? have dollar and seventy-five
cents"
EsThat is not enough; but the matter
can easily be arranged. A week before
his death, your uncle, distrusting every
body, deposited all his money in the bank.
Here is a check-book which you can use.
Please draw a check for two hundred dol
lars; that will be enough for the funeral
and for your immediate needs"
what" said the surprised artist, ''wlll
they give me two hundred dollars on my
simple signature?"
Yes, and twenty thousand whenever
you like
'Why this is admirable, sir
Solomon Lyon, the landscape painter,
after returning to the hotel, passed the
night in state of agreeable insomnia,
swelling with pride at the idea that his
name written on piece of paper was