Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-10
ADAM HOLCOMB'S WILL.
How a Grateful Nephew Was
Bounteously Repaid.

dead after seventy years of money-get-
ting, and the grave had closed over
him. He had no children, for he had
led single life, induced, so it was said
though nothing was certainly known,
by an early disappointment which had
warped his nature, and made him lead
solitary and selfish life, given up to
Mammon alone.
Adam Holcomb was dead, and as yet
no one knew what disposition he had
made of his money.
Three days after the funeral, the next
to kin and possible heirs were collected
in the Office of the lawyer, who was the
custodian of the will and private papers
of the deceased. They were few in
number, for the family was not large
one. There were but three, and these
three may be briefly described.
First came James Holcomb, a nephew
of the deceased, a man of portly form,
and an air of Importance. He was a
prosperous city merchant, already in
possession of abundant means. but he
had no objection to having them in
creased by a legacy from his uncle's
boarded wealth. He was vain. selfish,
worldly man, all his thoughts centered
upon himself and his own family, who
had never been known to give a cent
for any charitable purpose.
Next came Harvey Holcomb, cousin
of the last named, and about the same
age. He was tall, thin and angular.
He belonged to the legal profession, in
which he had managed to pick up con-
siderable money, though his reputation
was none the best He was considered
tricky, willing to undertake any cause,
however disreputable, for money. He
was married and had a family, for whom
he provided in grudging manner. He
too had nourished sanguine hopes of
finding himself much better off after
his uncle's death.
Last came q young man, presenting
strong contrast to the other two. He
was of light complexion, brown hair,
clear blue eyes, and an attractive face.
He was barely twenty-five years of age,
very plainly dressed, and with a modest
mien, which prepossessed one in his
favor. He was the son of old Adam
Holcomb's youngest sister, who had
married poor minister, and her son,
Alfred Graves, was studying medicine,
for which he had decided predilection-
But he had been cramped by narrow
means, and was even now teaching
country school, hoping to obtain enough
by this means to pay for his next course
of lectures. He had applied to each of
his two relatives present for small tenn
porary loan, to help him complete his
studies, but without effect He had
been CURLY refused by both.
He had come hither to-day, as a mat
ter of form, without the slightest ex-
pectation of benefiting by the will of
his late relative. He had known him
hut slightly, and never received any
announcement upon which he could
build a hope. Yet if he could but re-
ceiye legacy of even three hundred
dollars, he thought, it would help him
materially. That was the amount
which he had vainly sought to borrow of
the merchant and lawyer, now present
with him at the reading of Adam Hol-
combs last will and testament
The merchant and lawyer conversed
while waiting for Squire Brief
Have you any idea, cousin, how
much the old gentleman had accumu-
lated?' asked James Holcomb.
II have heard it estimated 1t quar-
ter of a Million" was the reply.
Quarter of a million! repeated
al
i hope he has not been unjust enough
to squander any of it on charitable
societies"
81 hope not That would be a great
piece of injustice to his relations" said
the lawyer.
she never dropped any thing to you
about the disposition he intended to
make of his property, did hep"
Not he. He was close man,
very" said the other. Il once tried
to worm something out of him. but
didn't get much satisfaction"
..What did he say|'
'sHe said that he thought of endow-
ing an asylum for fools and lunatlcs
and that could tell whether was ike
lv to be benefited by his so doing
"Ho, hor' laughed James, shaking
his capacious sides, she got you there,
eh?"
II don't see it," said the lawyer, sour
1y.
.sYou don't appreciate the joke
hey?"
ut was a foolish piece of impertl-
nence. However, everybody knows
what the old man was, and let it pass.
If it had been any one else, would have
mi