The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-17

ANCE
pie who took look at the hollow tree
estimated it at $4,000. Those who
didn't take look placed the figures at
$4,000 and also added lot of jewelry
to the find.
1t was passing strange what a
change took place in public opinion.
The old bachelor had callers by the
score, and each caller warmly congrat-
ulated him. Instead of being guyed by
the passersby as he worked In his
fields men climbed the fences to shake
hands with him and invite him to make
investments.
In the years past even the homeliest
old maids had declared that they
would drown themselves sooner than
marry such poke" of man. Things
were different now. At least half a
dozen old maids and three or four wild
ows began sending in custard pies and
tellies and currant wine and giving
their opinion that Mr.. Joseph Harper
would show off with the best of them
If he only had wife to give him hints
and suggestions. Joe did not come out
of his shell very far, but 1t was after
ward remembered by good many that
he had something like twinkle in his
eye as he shook hands with his numer-
GUS wellwishers
Unknown to any one but his doctor
Joseph Harper had a weak heart, and
one day he overexerted himself and
died at his own door. So far as was
known he had not spent dollar of his
was much curiosity as to whether he
had made will or not and who would
come in for his money. A village law
yer soon gratified curiosity as to a will.
One had been made only six months
before the old bachelors death More
than that. it concerned a score Of peo-
pie, each one of whom was notified to
appear on the day Of the funeral and
hear the document read.
The excitement was intense, and
more people turned out to pay a last
tribute of respect to Joseph Harper
than had ever followed another citizen
of the county. While the house was
~ C'ANo Auh dltCl lnC Ildl Ut lCdSk
200 people who could not get in stood
about the yard to learn the contents of
the will. The first person mentioned in
the document was an old maid. Before
the find of treasure she had been in the
habit of mimicking the walk of the old
bachelor and had made great hit.
Miss Lucy Arnold" read the docu.
20. H.
and initiate my gait as closely as possi-
BILE. She is then to be allowed to take
double handful of coins out of the box
as token of my esteem"
1t took Lucy five minutes to work up
her nerve for the performance, but she
figured that double handful of coins
would be at least $500, and she went
ahead
The next legatee was William John
son. farmers son. who was required
o laugh in a hearty manner for the
.silege of taking one handful of
sins. He had always been asking old
De why he didn't laugh. 1t was a
pretty hard job for him to get up a
haw! haw! on this occasion, but he
mighty one handed grab.
Then the document mentioned Mrs.
Scott, wife of Peter Scott, who was in
the habit of puckering up her mouth
In curious way and saying it was the
way Joe did when he tried to whistle
"Auld Lang Syne." She was to stand
up and pucker her mouth for two min
utes by the clock and was then to be
rewarded with a pint basin full of
coins. She hung off about it for awhile,
but her husband braced her up, and
she earned her coins and got her mouth
back to its usual shape again.
Then came the TURN of Miss Hattie
Davis, another old maid The old
bachelor was deaf In the left ear, and
he had a rather curious way Of jerk
ing up his left hand when spoken to.
Miss Davis was In the habit Of initial
ing this movement. The will read that
she was to stand up and then go
through the motion twenty times, and
she was t6 be rewarded with all the
coins she could grab with both hands.
But for her mother being present to
tell her that two big handfuls of mon
ey would doubtless bring q suitor for
her hand Miss Hattie might have not
reaped un1er the will.
A few months before discovering the
treasure Joseph Harper had suffered
for several weeks with rheumatism In
the hip and had been compelled 20
drag his right leg as he walked Young
Aaron lEaanM0Qd who MRs thA smart