Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-08


company of others. 1t was
said of him that he was never known
to laugh and anythin. in the way OF II
joke, flung at him us he plOddcd his
way to town or back nome again, was
utterly thrown away. OF course every
body held him up to contempt or rid;-
Cule.
He had been living thus for ten years
when one day in Il hollow tree Oh his
own farm he found great heap OF
money. There was such weight that
he had to borrow Il neighbours horse
and wagon to convey it to the bank in
the town. He tried to keep very secret
about it, but the matter became the
gossip of the county. Neither Joe nor
the banker could tell what the sum
was, but the people who took Il look
at the hollow tree estimated it at $40
600. Those who didn't take Il look
placed the figures at $1,000, and also
added lot of jewelry to the find
1t was passing strange what Il
change took place in public opinion
score, and each caller warmly cong'at
ulated him. Instead of being guycd
by the paSsers-by as he worked in b 5
fields, men climbed the fences to shake
hand with him and invite him to make
investments.
In the years past even the honrlicst
old maids had declared that they would
drown themselves sooner than marry
such poke of a man. Things We're
different now. At least half Il dozen
old maids and three or four widows
began sending in custard pies and
jellieS and currant wine and giving
their opinion that Mr.. Joseph Harper
would show Off with the best Of them
If he only had Il wife to give him hints
and suggestions. Jos did not come out
ward remembered by good many that
be had something lik" a twinkle in his
eye as he shook hands with his numcr
GUS well-wiShcrs.
Unknown to anyone but his doctor.
Joseph Harper had Il weak heart, and
one day he overtaX ID himself and died
at his own door. so far as was known
he had not spent dollar of his liud,
and as he had no relatives. there was
much curiosity as to whether he had
made will or nor, and who would
come in for his money. 4 village law
yer soon gratiticd curiosity as to II will.
One had been made only six months be-
fore the Old bachelors death. More
than that it concerned Il 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 last tribute
of respect to Joseph Harper than had
ever followed another citizen Of the
county. While tn" house was crowded
full after the burial, at least POO people
who could net :yot in stood about the
yard to learn the contents of the will
The first person mentioned in tn" docu.
ment was an Old maid. Before the
find of the treasure she had been in the
habit of mimicking the walk Of the
ol'i p'''HtiOl anu ItN hlIli' SItut
Miss Lucy Arnold" read the doru
ment, 'is to walk twice across the
floor and initiate my gait as closely as
possible. She is then to be allowed to
take q double handful of coins out OF
the box us a token of my esteem"
1t took Lucy five minutes to work NJ
her nerve FER the performance, but
she figured that Il double handful OF
coins would be at least $500, and She
went ahead.
The next lcSatee was William John
son, farmers son, who was required
to laugh in Il hearty manner for the
privilege of taking one handful o
coins. lie had always been asking ole
Joe why lie didn't laugh. 1t was 5
pretty hard job for him to get III
q hawhaw on this occasion, but h,
finally accomplished it and made {
mighty One-handed grab.
Then the document mentioned Mrs