The Green Forest tribune., 1909-01-15
store in the morning. I am going b, that five train''


 In the large parlor of old Ezra i Sillman's mansion sat the late mer. | chants solicitor and three sons. They were gathered at the long dining la | ble-Ezra and Martin, welI-to-do and | prosperous, at either hand of MT. Ma. | kin; John, shabby and dejected, at the other extreme end, ignored and | solitary.
 The lawyer small, dry-faced, ac tive man, had pressed his hand at first meeting, and whispered some thing which John could not catch He rose from his seat now and spoke. Gentlemen, you all know the terms of your late fathers will There are no legal technicalities to explain, no complications to unraveI
 To you, MT. Ezra, the land and the house property of which your late father was possessed at the time of his decease.
 ITO you, MT. Martin, all moneys, plate, furniture, pictures, books, car. riages and horses of which your late lamented father stood possessed at the time of his decease." ITO you, MT John, the care of Janet, adopted child of your late lamented father"
 The lawyer stopped short, coughed dryly, and sharply scrutinized John Sillman. Ezra and Martin also turned contemptuous glance in the direc- tion of their brother. John pulled his ragged beard and murmured: "Ay, that is so.'
 Do you accept the charge, MT. John?' asked the attorney.
 "Ay, that do I. Poor mite, she's a lonely one this day"
 Pardon me-" remarked Mr Maxim, dubiously, but do I understand that you are-ahem!-not overburdened with this worlds goods?'
 I'm poor man, mister" said John, blurtly. T am so poor that I find life hard riddle to solve, and don't know but what death would be rest and blessin' to me and mine"
 Yet, despite your poverty and the claims that your own family have up on you, you accept this charger"
 'Ay, that l do. And why? Cos she's a lonely mite this night. And may the same be done to mine if should die and leave them unde- ,fended."
 Ezra and Martin grew impatient. Times money. lawyer" said the cid yt bo papers there. Let Martin and me know exactly what we're worth. You're man of business yourself, and will appreciate the request"
 Certainly" cried MT Maxim, bnisk- ly. I've all the details here. I can dismiss your part of the business; in a few words.
 '.Mr Ezra" said the lawyer, care lessly glancing at a deed before him, ito you, the land and house property of which your late father died pos sessed. To be sure. Your father, as you may have heard, started life, as a carpenter, and worked in hired shed on plot of ground an eighth of an acre in extent. He bought the ground and shed when times began to pros per. This is yours now. The shed needs furnishing a bit, though it makes an excellent tool house.
 Good heavens. sir!" clustered Ezra Sillman, rising wrathfully in his chair.
 But MT. Maxim, after another glance at the document, proceeded to ad- dress Martin "Mr. Martin, to you all the moneys, plate, furniture, pictures, carriages aAd horses. To be sure. In, your late fathers pockets were dol- lar and a snuffbox. In his room were an invalid chair and framed prina entitled Charity In his warehouse yard a pony and a barrow-the last two preserved in memory of his early struggling days when he hawked his handicraft through the streets. They are yoMs now. The pony is blind, and the barrow would do with fresh coat of paint"
 Martin Sillman sprang to his feet with an oath. "Confound you. sir! What does this mean? Our father died a rich man.
 Pardon me-" fnterposed the law yer. Two months before hfs death the late MT. Sillman made aver his entire wealth, with the trifiing excep- tions just mentioned, to his adopted child, Janet Mayflower, on the condi- tion that she shared with whomsoeyer should be disinterested enough to ac- cept charge of her for no other pur- pose than that of pure charity. Mr. John, you have accepted the charge. congratulate you. As to you, Mr. Ezra and MT Martin" but those two gentlemen were gone-gone as on a whirlwind.
 That night John Sillman wired to Eliza at Silver Creek: Return with Janet tomorrow. Lay cut all the loose cash-you'll find four dollars in the tin canister-in supper. The clouds have lifted for life. Kiss the younk. CTS"
 Just Suit Him.
 T don't believe you'd work if your