The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

! an effect. Well it is good to yield to any
influence that opens the doors of the heart
to the intrusive sunshine which comes
from many glowing suns and clamors for
| admission. How marvellous feeling is
inspired now by the inner questioning
which demand to know whether one who
understands Christianity can make the
pursuit of wealth business!
"Slow, there! We are upon the frayed
edges of ragged arguments. He that hath
it not in his marrow wisely to weigh char.
itv against justice, the sweetness OF for
giveness against the righteousness OF pun
ishment, the allurements of hope against
the definite aims of worthy ambition,
the blindness OF faith against the natural
need of cpen-eyed questioning; he that
hath it not in him to make him q wise
man lacks all that would make him a
good Christian or Jew or Brahmin or
Buddhist-lacks all that would make him
a good man even though he profess not q
religion! AS for the pursuit of wealth,
one might indulge that occupation and be
still a good man if one should acquire
money as one devises it-in the name OF
God, amen!
"What makes good MANI He who
asks the question hath it not in him to
answer it, for had he that he would not
inquire.
Under the common order Of human
affairs death cancels all obligations of
gratitude. This means to say that there
is no gratitude apart from expediency.
Hence the institution of devise, which is
safeguard erected by the law against mani
festatons of ingratitude. But it is
wonderful law that can make human
beings good and a miraculous working OF
it that cannot be turned aside by avarice.
''There are other things, and they must
have concrete expression. So 1 write:
"'In the name of God, amen! /, Peter
Magee, being of sound and disposing mind,
do make this, my last will and testament,
| to wit: To my wife, Jane Magee, L bequeath
the opportunity of enforcing her rights
under the law. To my daughters, Eliza
beth and Margaret, 1 bequeath the memory
of the education which / have given them
for the purpose of earning livelihood.
To my sons, John and jeremiah, l be-
queath my love and 81 each. Lest
these requests seem meager and made
ouate, 1 explain that 1 do not
wish to encourage idleness, extrava-
gance and dissipation by requests Of
|
rem. TO all other persons who may think
or be able to prove in court that they have
a valid claim upon my estate. It's hereby
provided that 81 each shall be left, with
which they may buy rope to hang them.
Selves
Mr.. Magee chuckled gleefully upon read
| ing this over after it had been written.
The lines in his face sank deeper and its
ashy hue became more pallid. Meanwhile
his decreasing candle was sinking toward
its socket, and he regarded it anxiously,
regretting that he had not provided
another. In order to make it fit the too
large stick he had wrapped the lower end
with paper.
'You see," he unused, "had 1 left them
my property they would have fought for 10
like thieves. Knowing myself the evils Of
wealth in unwise hands, 1 would endow
them with the blessings of poverty. As
for my property-oh the lawyers will take
good care of that!
'Still l must make pretense of other
disposition. How coy and snug it is fop
dying man to juggle with future con.
ditions which, he being dead, he has no
right to control. Has there ever lived a
millionaire whose vanity was not his inn
mortal part, refusing to accompany him
to the grave and stalking forth among
| living mankind rafting the bones of it's
| dead creator?"
Near about this time the paper which
wrapped the end of the candle caught the
| flame and fared up with ominous vigor,
The dying man regarded 1t with glance
in which an alarmed apprehension was
mingled with sinister introspection.
81 am tearing out my vitals this night"
he resumed, sin order to study the mys-
teries and strange conceits which lie hid
den in their folds. Has this unexpected
augmentation of my light come to aid my
perception, or IS it merely the flash pre-
ceding that profound darkness in which
the eye of the soul can see more clearly?''
| He looked curiously around the walls
and up at the ceiling.
1T gives warm glow" he said, "quite
unlike the cold dead light OF the past few
hours That seems very strange. had
forgotten the ways of candle wrapped
with paper and thrust into a tin stick.
But what am l doing for what people call
charity2 Only this I am diving
-. And that is good"
And the strangest part of it, the thing
which explains his Will, is that he was not
millionaire at ALL but penniless old
man without wife or children. So his
body was very properly inferred in the
potter's field the day after Christmas.