Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-09
UNCLE GRASPER.
From the French of Joseph Monet

TIC AoiOSAdPhlC VIII vi NI. OIdSpei, youi
maternal uncle, who died yesterday at his
residence in old James street, number I'M
known because he would never spend so
cents, which plate would have cost, and
his neighbors not being our clients, l am
ignorant of their house numbers"
"And how much did he leaye?"
81 have just figured it cut Deducting
the legal expenses and charges of all kinds,
you will receive the precise sum of $4S,
367 So"
solomon Lyon, the artist, seemed to be
dazzled.
"Forty-eight thousand p stammered he,
sinking into chair.
Three hundred and sixty-seven dol
lars and thirty-eight cents" continued the
lawyer, with his most gracious smile,
'sBut-" he added, gravely adjusting his
spectacles.
"Ah, there is but p said the heir, start
ing up quickly.
eyes, sir; and it will cost you consider
able"
How much"
y uSI nan Vi your inheritance.
"Then | am not the sole heir?"
"Pardon me. That does not prevent
you from having a co-legatee."
"And who is he?"
"Your uncle himself"
Solomon Lyon seemed Supplied.
''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 trans
fer to him one-half of the fortune"
"But how?"
"By putting it with him into his coffin."
Mr.. Grasper's heir opened his eyes.
"And the clause is formal, sir" said the
attorney. "Your deceased uncle has ex-
pressly stipulated that if you fail to respect
his wishes you shall be deprived of all
your rights to the inheritance. In that
case his entire fortune is left to the poor of
the town, to whom the deceased confesses,
with sincerity that does him honor, that
he never gave cent during his lifetime"
"But," cried young Solomon, ''this is abb
solute 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 infiict
upon himself. And it would i'll become
you to complain, since it is in consequence
of this stinginess that he succeeded in
amassing, cent by cent, the fortune which
he has just left you. Now, you must be
aware that the greatest torture 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 remains the enjoyment of a
posthumous fortune. Even when dead he
will have portion of the money which
was the delight of his eager eyes and av-
aricious fingers. 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 protection 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 you. Other
wise"
"Oh," interrupted Solomon, "thatis plain
enough"
"Well, sir, do you accept?"
~ should think so. Half is better than
nothing"
"Well reasoned. Be so kind as to sign
this paper. Now let US attend to a few
details at once. There are some bills
which must be paid tomorrow, especially
the funeral expenses. Have you plenty of
money!"
al? / have 81 75."
"That is not enough, but the matter can
easily be arranged. A week before his
death your uncle, distrusting everybody,
deposited all his money in the bank. Here
is check-book which you can use. Please
draw a check for 5000; that will be enough
for the funeral and for your immediate
needs"
"Whatm said the surprised artist, "will
they give me 5000 on my simple signture?"
eyes, and $4,000 whenever you like"
"Why, this is admirable, sir"
Solomon Lyon, the landscape painter,
after returning to the hotel, passed the
night in an agreeable state of insomnia,
swelling with pride at the idea that his
name written on a piece of paper was
worth more than the names of dozen
members of the academy signed upon 100
feet of canvas, even when the latter were
embellished by gilded frames One
thought, nevertheless, troubled his plea
sure; the necessity of depositing in his
uncle's coffin half the fortune which he
had received so unexpectedly. And, as he
lay between dreaming and waking, he
wondered whether the recent events were
realities or Authorizations.
The next morning he sprang out of bed,
continuing his reflections, and after wash
ing himself in a tub of cold water, pre-
pared to complete the painful sacrifice
Taking seat, he drew his check-book
from his pocket, and made ready to write
the check for the money which he was to
draw from the bank for the purpose, alas
of placing in his uncle's last resting place.
He reflected moment before putting pen
to paper, and suddenly his eyes frightened
ann smile ap oeared upon his lips.
"Ho, my boy" said he, sour uncle didn't
think of that"
Two hours later lawyer Potter, surprised
at not receiving a visit from his client, en-
tered the room, found the young man in
company with fat fowl properly cooked,
and was welcomed with the air of beati-
tude free from clouds.
81 have found the weak spot" cried the
heir, as soon as the man of law appeared
upon the threshold of the chamber.
"What weak spot?"
''Here, look for yourself"
The lawyer took the blue paper which
his client handed to him. 1t was check
in proper form, as follows:
''Pay to Joseph Grasper, or order, twentv-one
thousand six hundred and eighty three SO dol
81, sss 60"
''Now, Mr.. Potter, what say you to
that?" asked the heir, with wink. "Is
the amount correct ?"
Perfectly correct"
Every well, whenever Uncle Grasper
wants the money he need only to go and
draw it."
The argument was unanswerable, and
when Solomon Lyon had piously deposited
the check in Uncle Gasper's coffin, in the
presence of the lawyer, the latter was
obliged to certify in due form that the
heir had fulfilled all the conditions of the
will and was entitled to be placed in pos
session of his inheritance.
B0wsER GOES INTO CHARITY.
Mrs. Bowser Records One of His I'm
pulsiye Acts Landlord.