Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-13
JEPTHA BOGLE.

Absalom Boyle was a rich old bach
elor-worth his hundreds of thousands
land Absalom Boyle died. During all
his life he had been known to form but
one strong friendship and that was for
his only brother, who, in the other
years, had helped him to prospect in
the coal mines-his brother Jeptha.
This Jeptha, unfortunately for himself,
had not been a misanthrope. He had
loved and had been Tilted, and just
when his prospects Of success with his
brother Absalom had been Frightening
he had thrown up all his business and
gone to faroff p%arts-to parts SO far
away that not a word had been heard
Of him from that time.
And Absalom Boyle died. He depart
ed this mundane life on the fourth day Of
December, at noon. When his will was
opened, which event TRANSFERRED in the
presence of many relatives, its provisions
were found to be very simple. First, he
bequeathed everything of which he
might die possessed to his fondly re-
membered and we'll beloved brother,
Jeptha. But in case said Jeptha did not
present himself and claim the benefit
within one year from the death Of the
testator then the property was to be
divided among his other relatives, &C.
cording to their rank of kin.
Only in one direction. setting aside
his brother Jeptha, did the tide Of rela-
tionship to Absalom Boyle flow. There
were no nephews or nieces, no uncles,
or aunts, but only cousins. There were
two first cousins, four or five second
cousins, several third and fourth cousins,
and so on, in increasing ratio as they
were farther and farther removed.
Sidney Spooner, Esq, was the attor-
ney whom Boyle had selected to hold
in trust his estate. When the frosts Of
October had begun to trace their deli
cate pencilings upon the crisp foliage,
MI. Spooner sent his clerk around
among the relatives Of Absalom Boyle
to bid them prepare for presenting their
claims at the appointed time. If the
long absent brother did not show him
self on or before noon Of the fourth day
Of the coming December, the property
would be theirs.
This clerk Of Mr.. Spooner was q
quaint old fellow, answering to the
name Of Jedediah Sprout. He never
hesitated to acknowledge that the at
torney had taken him in out Of charity,
and in his humble way he sought to
serve his patron faithfully. But the
most wonderful thing about Jedediah
Sprout was that he claimed to be a near
relative Of Absalom Bogle-nearer by
far than any other living. He claimed
descent from a brother of Absalom-an
elder brother, much older than either
Absalom or Jeptha-who had died in
South America many years ago. The
cousins looked up the family history
and found that the ancient brother in
question had been one Solomon Boyle,
a wild, hayward fellow, who under a
cloud had changed his name to Sprout
and who had left no record Of having
ever married. .Jedediah acknowledged
that the said Solomon had never maj
ried, and yet he had the h%ardihood tc
claim to be his son.
Gould anything be more %impudentl
The cousins, from the first to the six
tenth remove, held up their hands in
holy horror. That a man in possession
Of his senses should unblushingly &C.
knowledge such shame, and, above all,
that from such a slough of ignominy he
should thrust himself into Relationship
with honest peoplel
And yet Jedediah Sprout worked IN
his humble station for Mr.. Spooner. He
visited the cousins with his instructions
from his patron, and to each ne tear
fully presented his own claim.
II ask not for a prime share Of thu
wealth Of my fathers relative" III
said. II am very poor, and a mere pit
lance will serve me. Let me share will
the very least"
But they secuted and jeered and wouli
not listen. They received the legal in
structions which be brought from thu
attorney, and then kicked him out.
In a neighboring town lived Kat
Winthrop. She had been Kate Wether
bee, but during the very last summer
while other cousins had been oultivat
ing their golden expectations, she hat
married Jack Winthrop and had settled
down in q snug, quiet home, peaceful
and happy. Her husband worked hare
for a living, and she helped him, ant
abe was grateful and glad that she hat
the strength 90 to do.
Jedediah Sprout CALLED upon Kat,
and presented the attorneys instruc
lions.
Come income In and rest" sale
Kate, In her winsome, CHEEKY way
"Come in and stop for dinner. but dom
say anything about the Boyle property
/ don't care to hear it"
But" urged Jedediah, 'you are ,
relativer"
my mother wal a cousin, some foui
or Eve times removed, answered Kate
"but ! found no claims upon that cir
cumstanoe. Ny poor pittanoe wouldn'
be worth the wrangling and tangling
should have to endure, and, moreover
Jack and myself have concluded tina
we had better paddle 3 own canoe"
By and by Jack came In, and to hin
Jedediah presented the subject. Blu
Jack was w emphatio az his pretty wifi,
ha.l haen. HA Didn't nnra ~ mir IN III,