Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-09-18

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They owned one of the most preten
tious homes in Mount Otto, and wer,
slowly, by persistent efforts, working
their way into the aristocratic societ,
of the village.
''Why, it'll go nicely in the parlol
bedroom" proceeded Aunt Hester
not seeming to notice the slur on hel
small house. GIVE got itall planned
I'll shut up the closet, I don't use il
for much, and then move the bureau
out into the parlor."
"Well!" exclaimed Mrs. Redfern.
II should say so," echoed Abner's
wife so loudly that Elder Cheesbro
leaned out of the buggy and looked
back to ascertain the cause as the fun
eral procession turned into the ceme
terry.
The Boutwell, lot was the only one
in the cemetery divided off by an iron
fence. Even here the family showed
their exolusiveness, and the huge pad
lock hanging to the gate told plainly
that they wished no intruders.
On the way home hardly word was
spoken by these mourners in the first
carriage; each drew her veil over her
face and wore a much-a abused air. One
remark, however, was ventured by
Abner's wife, which she designed to
be very cutting.
"The Boutwell, family can fence
people out of their cemetery lot, but
they can't fence out the MULLEN.
There was stalk half as high as the
monument on Judge Boutwell's grave.
No one condescended to reply to
this observation, but very percepti-
BILE ''heh" came from Mrs. Redfern's s
corner.
In the carriage just behind the csn-
versation had been of very different
nature. The harmony of the Coles
family had formed the principal topic
among the occupants as they rode out
to the cemetery, and coming home
they had dropped into the same sub
ject again.
"Ma was saying this morning." re-
marked Augusta Ganson, "thnt our
family hadn't missed coming together
for thanksgiving dinner in over twen-
ty-five years, and that's pretty good
record. She said, too, she didn't be-
lieve we'd ever had what could be
termed family quarrel. Once, you
remember, Aunt Hester made some
trouble for mn over that swarm of bees,
but ma let it all go. Then, you know,
when Cousin Jane coaxed the side-sad-
die away from Aunt Desire to send to
the missionary, Cousin Car'line got
awful touchy, and was going to make
a great ado about it, for she wanted
the saddle herself for one of the girls,
but somehow it all blew over and
nothing came of it. do hope there
won't be any trouble now when we
come to divide Aunt Desires things"
ooh, there won't be-" answered
Abner Coles, confidently, "for there
isn't one of the family but would
give up for the sake of peace. The
only thing that I am particularly anx-
ious to have is Uncle Abner's tester
bedstead, but that would naturally
come to me anyway for my name"
At this Augusta Ganson Strengthened
herself up. She had pale, ashen
complexion, but it turned crimson
when her cousin made this announce
ment.
"The tester bedsteadl Why, it
doesn't seem to me as if ma, if any
one, ought to have that. She was
Uncle Abner's favorite niece, and then
she has so little to make her happy,
anyway, in comparison to what the
other relatives have"
That the other two occupants of the
carriage were not Indifferent as to who
should have the ownership of the bed.
stead appearances plainly indicated.
The pink and white faces of Julia and
Carrie Redfern, which had remained
almost expressionless during the ride,
now|showed signs of great emotion.
"Mamma has always supposed she
would be the one to inherit Uncle Alb
ner's bedstead," spoke up the Oldest
of the two girls, "and when we had
our lovely spare room done over last
spring she sent to Buffalo and had
some old-fashioned wall paper made
to order, that it would harmonize with
the bedstead when it came to be hers.
"Yes, and then we entertain the
Boutwell, girls" continued the second
land I'm sure they would
wish to see their grandfather's bed
stead in our house."
They had reached the village, and
the carriage stopped before Mrs. Bout
wells house. The executor had
it best, as there were num-
ber of heirs and several legatees-
many of whom were from out OF town
to adopt the old-time custom of
reading the will directly after the fu-
neral. Accordingly, all assembled for
that purpose. Mrs. Boutwell, had not
a large property, but she had cut it
up pretty we'll, going down even into
the third generation with her legacies.
And what was quite remarkable about
it all was, with the numerous bequests,
there was no fault found with any por-
ton as assigned in the will. All ex-
pressed themselves satisfied
But before Executor Hanford left
the house he learned of the storm
over who should be the pos
SCISSOR of the tester bedstead.
"Im not surprised" he remarked
to the Younger executor, as he drew
his fingers through his long gray hair,
''for in all my years OF experience in
settling estates, I've known of more
family ouarrels over few old house.
hold things than over the division of
the property many times over; and
the yery worst feud of all commenced
over an old brass kettle"
The contention, thus begun in the
CoIes family. created rancor. bitter