The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-22
Selected Storm.
Aunt Becky's Legacy.
" NIT THE GREATEST OF THESE is CHARITY.

Old Aunt Becky was very happy as
she stood over her wash-tub in her
little kitchen. She did not think that
in all her seventy-two years, she had
ever known what it was to be so COM
pletely satisfied; and surely that is say
ING great deal, and to attain perfect
happiness even at that late hour, one
would 90 through much for such an
end. And yet, perhaps, Aunt Becky
had forgotten many things that were
pleasant, even so long ago as in the old
slave days; but then pleasure had so
often been counterbalanced by trouble,
that she really felt now, for the first
time, that life was made smooth for
her, and her last days were to be spent
in ease and comfort.
For to Aunt Becky had come little
fortune, or rather big one, as five
hundred dollars was sum not to be
despised by anybody. Some one she
had long ago faithfully served had died,
and left her unexpectedly this money.
And now, all Aunt Becky had to do
was to sit down and enjoy it. Five
hundred dollarsl What would it not
get? AT last she could bring home her
Young granddaughter from service
(the only one left of once large fam
ily), to live with her.
She could rent another room in the
little cottage where she lodged, and
keep house in style. But she and
Julie could put up pickles and preserves
and make nice living with such capital
to draw on; and she need not work so
hard with her washing and her mend
ing, that hitherto had been her chief
support.
There was the little lame boy, up
stairs-a nice new crutch for him would
now be bought. A Bible, bound in
red, must be given to her much-loved
church. And the dear children at the
big house must not be forgotten-had
she not nursed them, and their mamma
before them? And was it not their own
great.aunt who had left her all this
money!
1t was thus Aunt Becky dreamed over
her work, and even sometimes stopped
to count the money given her that day
by the kind lawyer, who had cashed the
checks and read to her the will, and
had also begged her to put the money
in a bank, until she needed it. But
Aunt Becky thought she must keep ii
first to look at for awhile, before any
big bank swallowed it all up.
But her dreams and plans were soon
to be disturbed, for the shrill young
voices of the Randolph children, accom-.
panied by their mamma, were heard
coming into the little yard to see her
"Oh! nanny Becky, we is so dad
'ou has gotted all dat money" shouted
little Carl, as he nearly tumbled into
the wash-tub in his wild desire to be the
first to greet his dear old nurse.
"And, Aunt Becky, what are you go
inc to do with it?" asked Mamie, 6
practical young woman of ten.
"Just what | wanted to KNOW" sale
Mrs. Randolph, laughing. "Now, Aun
Becky, give it to Mr.. Brown, the law
yer, to take care of, and he will let you
have it when you want it,"
But Aunt Becky only beamed all ovel
with joy, and said she would put it IL
the bank in day or two, but julie
must come first, room must be taken
etc. So her little plans were unfoldeC
and approved of heartily by Mrs. Ran
,dolph, who, indeed, would gladly have
given her old nanny home will
them, only she liked to be " independ
ent like and have her own room," like
80 many other old colored women.
So the children played about ant
asked lots of questions, and suggested
many enjoyable ways of spending
money, from getting up big camp
meeting" from Willie who inclined
to be all things to all men), and to put
ting it all in paper dolls, from little
Alice, who seemed to think happiness
was more sure to be found in that quar-
ter than even in the dictionary
Thus they laughed and discussed thu
situation to their hearts content, prom
Using to come to tea and eat up all tn,
waffies and the other goodies wheneve
Julie came.
But Aunt Becky was destined Il
have no more quiet that afternoon, TO
no sooner had Mrs. Randolph and tn
children left, than in came Mr. Charli
Randolph, the eldest son and brothe
of the family.
"Wen, Aunt Becky" said he, IS
you have the money at last"
Yes, Massa Charlie, it coined to-day
and that 'ere Mr.. Brown is might
nice lawyer, certainly, and no mistake
he done charge me nothin' for co
lectin' it,"
Eyes, yes, Aunt Becky" said Char
lie, impatiently-" but l want you
lend it to me for month or So"
My five hundred dollars Mass
Chariel" nearly screamed Aunt Beck.
"Ohl no, Massa Charlie, l couldn't d
dat"
every well; tell you, then, if ye
hear of my shooting myself, you w
be the one to blame. must have tt
money"
"Ohl Massa Charlie, why?"
81 would rather not have explained,
said Mr.. Charlie, hesitatingly, "but
lost it last night in cards-and yC
know if my mother hears of il, it wou
kill her; besides, if l don't pay it
once, the man owe it to will write
my uncle in New York, and that W
be good-by' to the place he has fl
me there, and to which l was goiI
next week"
"OhI Massa Charlie, Massa Charlie
was all poor Aunt Becky could say; "
x,o,,r 6aor fathar was alive IL Wnuld L