The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-08-30

S I1DCCc
came Mrs. Gallipot. No further COM
munication took place between the
cousins, and a couple of years after
ward Josephat Gallipot went the way
of all flesh.
No one was more simply astonished
than Miss Sarah Gallipot when she
learned that she had succeeded to his
entire fortune. He wrote:
ITO my wife bequeath my memory, know
ing that my love has been enough for her, and
that she has saved well during the two years OF
our welded life, for I do not believe that our
household expenses have been seventy-hva
thousand dollars per annum.
ITO my cousin, Sarah GalIipot beQueath
absolutely all my real and personal estate, IN
recognition Of her candor and sincerity, and
with unavailing regret that did not profit by
her warning"
The will was dated fortnight before
his death, and in process was duly
proved and administered.
Then Miss Gallipot discovered how
tenderly she was loved, and how count
less were her kinsmen and kinswomen.
For ffty-nine years she had been in
the habit of considering herself as
rather alone in the world. In her six
tieth year she found it was not So
Nieces dropped from the sky, neph-
ews rose from the earth, the clouds
distilled godchildren on to her head and
cousins fell around her like hailstones.
Nor did they come empty.
Some brought game from the coun-
try. some sent choice fruits from their
lighthouses.
If she had lived to be seven hundred
and eighty she could not have worn
out the cozy bedroom slippers that
were worked for her, and if she had
had as many mouths as the Nile she
could never have drunk up all the wines
that were sent her.
Devonshire cream came out Of the
west; cakes of all Sizes shapes and de-
scriptions came down from the north
and oysters from all quarters came rap
ping at her door.
And the letters of affection that &C
companied them! These pass all de-
scription, and should have convinced
their recipient that Of all the old ladies
that had ever lived she was herself the
dearest, most charming and most be-
loved by her freiends.
Eleven years after the death of old
Josephat Gallipot his cousin and heiress
followed him.
It was very hard winter, and from
almost the beginning of it the old lady
had declared that 1t would be her last
on earth.
Her house, Gray Court, was very big
one; but it was soon filled to overflow
ing-flled with nieces and nephews,
cousins and godchildren, all eager to be
Sin at the DEATH"
Each had received similar letter
from the old lady's housekeeper saying:
''Miss Gallipot thanks you for your de-
sire to come and bid her good-by, but
she begs you will not take the trouble
of coming SO far. She appreciates all
your affection, but would not like to
.trespass. If, however, you insist on
coming have her orders to prepare a
room for you"
And each one came.
Each found comfortable apartment
made ready for his or her arrival,
and each found Scripture text in large
capital letters framed upon the mantel-
piece. The text was the same in each
room: ''Where the carcass is there
shall the eagles be gathered together"
Gray Court was full of guests, but not
one of them was admitted to the dying
chamber Of the hostess.
The doctors, or the nurse, or the old
housekecper seemed always on guard,