The Forrest City times., 1893-09-01


 tenderly she was loved, and how count less were her kinsmen and lSinswomen.
 For fifty-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 hothouses.
 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 ont 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 ac 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-filled with nieces and nephews, cousins and godchildren, all eager to be lin 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 l have her orders to prepare 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 i'll 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 housekeeper seemed always on guard, and it would have been easier to slip past sentry than to get past them. On the last day of the old year the life of their hostess ebbed away; and while the muffied peal was ringing out over the frozen fields her naked soul crept shivering out into the night.
 On the eve of the twelfth day was the funeral, and, after it, all received a mandate from the deceased's lawyer to attend the reading of the will.
 It was read in a very large room. like storeroom, in which they all found themselves for the first time.
 The will commenced with liberal be- quests to the deceased's doctor, lawyer and parish clergyman. benefactions to the local poor and to certain charities. When these were finished the guests breathed freely.
 Then followed generous legacies to her servants and handsome provision for the old housekeeper who had been faithful to her during so many years.
 Then came list of the names of all the guests. "To each of whom" said the will, "I leave and bequeath such legacy and bequest as l have already indicated to you, my executor. and which you will in turn indicate and hand over to them on the occasl on of the reading of this, my last will and testament"
 The lawyer paused, and, rising from his place. requested the attendant servants to draw back the curtains that hung on rings and rods all round the room.
 This being done, large cupboards were disclosed, each having painted upon 1t in large letters the name of one of the guests
 To each guest the lawyer handed a key, requesting them to open the cup board where they would find their be- i quest.
 Each one found within his or her cupboard every gift that he or she had ever made to the deceased exactly as they had been received. All provisions, fruit, cream, game, L.I {thau xyara nnu ipf