The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09

use of third, set apart for them,
might cripple him."
"Better that there be little incon-
venience than a wrong done to the
children" said Mrs. Crawford, "The
husband may lose every cent of what
the wife had struggled and saved all
her life to help him accumulate.
Marriage is partnership, and like
other partnerships, must suffer some
change, and inconvenience it may be,
if one of these partners dies. There
must necessarily be new adjust
ment of interests"
"But the law allows you to make a
will and give away your property, my
dear, just as it does me-"
"Yes, what I have inherited before
or since my marriage; but have in
herited none, and you have not. We
have made ours together, and you
have often said that you owe as much
to my skill and economy as to your
foresight and ability"
"And so l do, it is true; but the law
makes no provision about our COM
mon property"
"But make it yourself, then, John,
if the law does not Make will so
that, in case Of my death, my two
daughters shall have at least third
of all you are worth at that time, or,
if you prefer, put third might
feel that it ought to be half-in my
name, or perhaps the home, and let
that go to our daughters"
"But if l put the home in your
name, so that in case of losses some
thing would be saved from creditors,
l should want it willed back to me at
your death, SO that could still have
home and do as liked with it"
"And then nothing would go to the
children at my death? That is not
fair John, and l have worked too hard
and long to be willing"
swell, Betsey, you can trust me to
do the right thing. 1 will think it
over" and he kissed her as they
closed the not altogether satisfactory
conversation.
As was to be expected, Betsey Craw-
ford broke down from wear and tear
of life, and died, leaving her two
daughters to the care of a fond and
not ungenerous father. The loss was
great one to John Crawford. She
had been his competent adviser, with
tact and good sense to keep matters
right. She had guided more than he
ever suspected. He mourned her
sincerely, as did her two devoted
daughters.
He was lonely, and in time married
again, woman considerably younger
than himself, member of the same
church, an ambitious and not over
scrupulous woman. When her son
was born she became DESTROYS that
every advantage should be placed
before him, that he might attain to
wealth and honor. She convinced
Mr. Crawford, in thousand nameless
ways, that the boy would need most
of the property for business, to marry
we'll, and to carry down the family
name. The girls would doubtless
marry and be well provided for by
their husbands. She talked with Mr..
Crawford about the uncertainty of
life, and, with tact, urged that other
things besides spiritual preparation
for death were necessary. A man
should think of the younger members
of his family, who would be left COM
paratively helpless.
People said that the strong-willed
John Crawford had become very
much under the sway of his younger
wife; that he had grown less domi-
nant, more appreciative, and more
thoughtful of her needs and wishes.
He idolized his son, but he seemed
no dearer than the daughters of Bet
sey. He was a more expensive child,
for he needed all sorts of playthings,
the best schooling, the best clothes,
and a somewhat large amount of
spending money. 1t was evident that
John Crawford, Jr., would require
more money than his half-sisters.
In course of time, Mr.. Crawford,
having served term in Congress,
through good ability and the discreet
use of money in organizing his forces,
and having done we'll for his constit-
uency, followed Betsey to the other
world. To the surprise of all, save
the second Mrs. Crawford. the prop
erty was left to her and her son, with
the merest remembrance to the I'M