Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-08-19

less Were her kinsmen and kinsv-o-.--.
For tifry-nine years she had ~, =
the habit Of considering heraolg -
rather alone in the world. In her ~ :.
tieth year she found it was nor ~ A
Nieccs dropped from the L.
nephews rose from the earth -
clouds distilled godchndren on +, L1s
head and cousins fell around her III.
hailstOnes.
z Nor did they come empty.
Some brought game from the rom
try, some sent choice fruits from tbo-.
hOthouses.
4 II she had lived to be seven hundre5
and eighty she could not nave worn ~.
the coy bedroom slippers that vara
! worked for her and if she had had a.,
many mouths as the Nile she copI5
never have drunk up all the wines tbat
were sent her.
Deyonshire cream came out Of tho
west; cakes of all sizes. shapes ans
descriptions came down from the norrL
and oysters from all quarters came
rapping at her door
And the letters of affection that ~,
/ companied them, These pass all do
/ scription, and should have convinced
\ their recipient that Of all the old ladies
/ that had ever lived she was herself tba
dearest, most charming and most he.
loved by her friends.
\ Eleven years after the death OF old
/ Josephat Gallipot his cousin and heir.
ess followed him.
/ 1t was a very hard winter, and from
almost the beginning Of it the old lady
hal declared that it would be her list
on earth.
Her house, Gray Court, was Yerv
/ big one; but it was soon filed to over.
/ flowing filed with nieces and
nephews, cousins and godchildren. an
eager to be lin at the death"
Each Lad received a similar letter
from the old lady's housekeeper say.
ing: Miss Gallipot thanks you for your
desire to come and bid her good-by.
but she begs you will not take the
trouble of coming so far. She appraci
ates all your affection, but would not
like to trespass. If, however, you in
sist ON coming have her orders to pre-
pare a room for you"
And each one came.
Each found a comfortable apartment
made re@dy for his or her arrival, and
each found Il scripture text in large
capital letters framed upon the mante
piece: The text was the same in each
room. Where the carcass is there shall
the eagles be gathered togethr.
Gray CoGrts 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
lt0usckeeper seemed always on guard,
and it woulf have been easier to slip
pas a sentry than to get past them
ON the last day of the old year the
life of their hostess e}bed away; and
while the muifled 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
mandate FROM the deceased's lawyer 10
attend the reading Of the Will
1t was read in a very large room,
like a storeroom, in which they all
found themselves for the first time.
The will commenced with liberal be-
quests to the deceasedTs doctor lawyer
and parish Clergyman benefactions to
the local po0r and to certain charities.
When these were finished the guests
Breathed freely
Then followed generous 1egacies to
her servants and a 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 81 leave and hequeath such
legacy ana bequest as I have already
indicated TO you. my executor, and
which you win in turn, indicate and
hand over to them on the occasion OF
the reading Of this, my last will and
testment
The LAWYER paused, and, rising from
his place, requested the attending ser
wants 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 up
on il IN large letters the name Of one
Of the guests.
To each guest the lawyer handed q
key, requesting them to open the cup
board where Vhey would lind their be-
quest
Each one found within his or her cup
board every gift that he or she had
ever made to the deceased exactly as
they had been receiyd
All provisions, fruit cream, game
etc, had (they were now informed
been Immediately dispatched to one
0r other Of the great London hospitals.
But each cupboard contained also
purse in which was placed the fun
value OF such provisions, with a sum
equal TO the compound interest on the
value of the other untouched gifts 1ne
will went on:
And the residue of my estate, rt4
and personal, whether in lands, tene-
mpDtS n, snS funds stock leWeEft