The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-02-22
She Made Her Will.

AouSlI, Oltl UoStp Jdt NulllpOt VI luC LII LII
OF Gallipot Il Jams), who was known to
be a millionaire, SHOULD have left her some
thing handsome. But no one could have
supposed he would make her his heiress,
least of all after she had quarrelled with
him.
After he had been a widower 20 years,
old Josephat Gallipot made up his mind
to marry his kitchenmaid, who was not
more than 40 years lis junior. and was en-
gagged to the milkman.
Then Miss Gallipot wrote him letter.
My DEAR Jos-I don't suppose it will
make any difference whether | write to you
or not, But | HAY regard for you and feel
it on my conscience to do what can to pre-
vent you bringing great misery on yourself.
You have perfect right to marry again If
you choose, and you can certainly afford to
pick W it who has nothing but herself to
recommend her But the girl you are choos-
ing would he dear at the price if she brought
you her own weight in gold, and she's no
feather by the look of her.
She Will make you miserable and l would
beg you 10 draw back from giving her the
opportunity. She has no affection for you,
and If you have any for her it will make it
the worse for you.
Your sincerely affectionate cousin,
SARAH GALLIPoT
To this letter no reply was sent and a
week later the mlkman's tiance became
Mrs. Gallipot. No further communica-
ton took place between the cousins, and a
couple of years afierward Mr.. Josephat
tiallipot went the way of all flesh.
No one was mo- simply astonished
than Miss Sarah Gallipot when she learn
ed thar she had succeeded to his entire
fortune. He wrote:
To my wife l bequeath my memory. know
ing that my love has been enough for her,
and that she has saved well during the two
years of our welded life, for | do not believe
that our Lousehod expenses have been 3d.
900 per annum.
TO nay COUSIN, Sarah Galipot, l bequeath
absolutely all my real ana personal estate,
in recognition of her cand0r and sincerity,
and With unavailing regret that | did Dot
profit 10y her warning.
The will was dated fortnight before
his death, and in due process was duly
proved and administered.
Then Miss Gallipot discovered how
tenderly she was loved, and how count
less were her kinsmen and kinswomen.
For fifty nine years she had been in the
habit OF considering herself as rather
alone in the world. In her siXtieth year
she found it was not so.
Nieces dropped from the skies, nephews
rose from the earth; and clouds distilled
godchildren on to her head, and cousins
tell around hei like hailstones.
Nor did they come empty.
Some brought game from the country,
some sent choice fruits from their hot
houses.
Ii she had lived to be 80 she could not
have worn out the cozy bedroom slippers
that were worked for her, and if She had
had as many mouths as the Nile she could
never have drunk up all the wines that
were sent her.
Dev0nshire cream came out of the west;
cakes of all sizes, shapes and descriptions
came down from the north; and oysters
from all quarters came rapping at the
door.
And the letters of affection that accom-
panied them These pass all description,
and should have convinced their recipient
that OF all the old ladies that had ever
lived she was herself the dearest, most
charming and most beloved by her friends.
Eleven years after the death of old jose
phat Gallipot his cousin and heiress fol
lowed him.
1t was a very hard winter, and from
almost the beginning OF it the old lady
had declared that it would be her last on
earth.
Iltt HpQSt, PldS Court, WIS ii very UiS
one; but it was soon filled to Overlooking
filled with nieces and nephews, cousins
and godchildren, all eager TO be lin at the
death.
Each had received similar letter from
the old lady's housekeeper saying, 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 appreciates all your affection,
but would not like to trespass. If, how
ever you insist on coming | have her
orders to prepare a room for you.'
And each one came.
Each found a comfortable apartment
made ready for his or her arrival, and each
found "A scripture text in large capital let
tiers framed upon the mantelpiece. The
text was the same in each room. "Where
the carcass is there shalt the eagles be
gathered together
Gray Court was full of guests, but not
one OF them was admitted to The dying
chamber OF the hostess.
The doctors, or the nurses, or the old
hnusekeeper seemed always on guard, and
it would have been easier to Slip past a
sentry than To get past them.
On the last day of the Old year the life
of the hostess ebbed away; and while the
mutlied peal was ringing out over the
frozen fields her naked soul crept SILVER
ing out into the night.
Gu the eve of the 18th day was the
funeral, and, after it, all received a man
date from the deceased S lawyer to attend
the reading of the will
1t was read in a very large room like a
store room, in which they all found them
selves for the first time.
The will commenced with liberal be-
quests to the deceased's doctor, lawyer
and parish clergyman, benefactions to the
local poor and to certain charities. When
these were finished the guests breathed
freely.
Then followed generous legacies to her
servants and handsome provision for the
old housekeeper who had been faithful to
her during so many years.
Then came list of the name of all the
guests. "To each of whom,'' said the
will, 81 leave and bequeath such legacy
and bequest as have already indicated to
you, my executor, and which you will in
turn, Indicate and hand over to them on
the occasion of the reading of this, my
last Will and testament
The lawyer paused, and rising from his
place, requested the attendant servants to
draw b k the curtains that hung on rings
and rods all around the room.
Il