The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-04-11

his head Then he chose the morris
chair, and Luke Howe passed the work
table and chose patent rocker be-
cause the covering was red. Jane Nor
ris f1dgeted impatiently while they
were choosing. At last her turn came
Il wanted that morris chair" she
said bitterly, but as it's gone I'll
have to take the work table. although
I've got one already" She looked con-
temptuously at the remaining article,
small round cherry stand
"I'll leave you the chair when I'm
gone" grinned George Giles.
"Now, Miss Thomasine," encouraged
the lawyer.
"I1l take the stand" said Thomasine
forlornly.
Now, the other things. Mrs. Squires,
your turn again"
"The marble clock, said Ann prompt
ly. Jane and Fanny exchanged smiles
THE vases" said Fanny Ray.
Lamp" said George Giles.
Luke Howe smirked at his reflection
in the looking glass and said he'd take
that. much to Jane Morris chagrin.
"Andirons," she snapped viciously,
though don't want 'emT'
"I-I1l take the parrot" faltered
Thomasine as each one arose and be-
gan to investigate his or her especial
choice. They we're not unkind people,
but each one was unconsciously greedy
Of gain and none of them realized that
the youngest cousin was poor and that
the inheritance that had fallen to her
share was the poorest of the lot. Aft
er the distribution had been made and
they had got over their disappoint-
ment at there being no money they
would forget all unfriendliness and
perhaps invite Thomasine to spend va
cations with them.
Now they were busily peering and
investigating into their different arti-
cles with little success. There was
nothing but dust in the vases. and the
bureau contained naught save col
lection of soap coupons. There was a
dead wasp in the clock, while the
work table contained many sewing ma
terials. 1t did not occur to Jane that
Thomasine might need the work table
They parted later. and the next morn
ing Thomasine went home and back to
work. Ten days later the legacy came
by express-the cherry stand and the
stuffed parrot on his perch. Thomas
inc placed the parrot on the stand and
stood them near the mantelpiece and
forgot them until one day she took in
homeless cat. which she fed and
warmed by the kitchen stove. After
awhile the cat wandered into the little
sitting room. and when he saw the
green parrot sitting on the perch he
snarled angrily and few at the unof-
Tending bird When Thomasine ran to
the scene the floor was covered with
bright feathers and the stufting was
protruding from the body of the bird.
The cat, chagrined at this one sided
battle. retired to corner and washed
his face.
Thomasine picked up the body of the
bird and wondered If she might not re-
pair the damage with needle and
thread and glue. Then her eyes open
ed wider and wider. for the stuffing of
that parrot was composed of tight
wads and rolls of greenbacks, and
twisted among them was queer little
note from Aunt Lucia
Dear Thomasine-I know they'll all pick
out the best and leave poor Polly to you.
so have made him worth while after all
You need all of this. and you can keep
1t without having any dispute over it.
Mr. Rhodes knows and you mustn't tell
anybody but your husband, II you ever
have one. but 1 don't see how you ever
can, handicapped with that dreadful name.
With Aunt Lucla's love-
Through her tears Thomasine count
ed the money and found there was
$1,000. and her worn little face was
glorfied by smile of perfect relief
Now she could close her sewing ma
chine and buy farm and raise chick
ems! As a beginning she closed the
machine with loud clatter Then she
Rugged the strange cat and adopted
him on the spot. and thereafter he
waxed fat and lazy and never even
blinked at the young chickens that ran
about Thomasine's poultry farm.
And Thomasine never told a soul
about the strange way her legacy had
come to her until after she was mar
r1ed. and then she told her husband,
for of course she got married.