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

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After the funeral they sat In the front
room, which she had used as parior,
and listened In silence to the reading
of the brief will
The lawyer, Mr.. Rhodes, polished his
eyeglasses and adjusted them to his
long nose. "Ahem!" he said loudly.
'Of course you all participated In the
generous distribution of Mrs Morgan's
household furniture some twenty odd
years ago?
'All the furniture in these two rooms
Is bequeathed TO Mrs. Deacon Flint
In remembrance of her never failing
kindness-aIl the furniture with the
following exceptions: Bedstead and
mattresses. mahogany bureau to match,
light cherry stand. work table. morris
chair and wicker rocker-to be divided
among my four nieces-Jane Morris,
Ann Squires, Fanny Ray and Thomas
Inc Wells-and nay two nepheWs-
George Giles and Luke Howe-in what
ever manner my esteemed friend Hen
ry Rhodes may deem wiser Once
more the lawyer challenged them to
dispute the justice OF this will
Your aunt also wishes that several
personal belongings shall be divided
among you In the same way. There
Is marble clock. u pair of vases. brass
andirons, china lamp. a looking
glass and-her parrot-the stuffed par
rot! You all recollect that this faith
full bird was the companion of your
aunt for many lonely years and that
she esteemed it highly"
Thomasine was the only one who
vouchsafed an acknowledgment of this
tribute to the defunct bird She never
had liked parrots-she thought them
noisy. screaming pests-but because
poor Aunt Lucia was dead and had
thought to mention her dead pet In the
will Thomasine smiled and said they
had all heard that the parrot was de-
voted to Aunt Lucia.
THE clothes and little personal be-
longings were distributed among her
close friends before she died." went on
the lawyer, referring to the will. "Your
aunt has left sum OF money sufficient
to cover all necessary expenses, and
ii there is little surplus 1t is to go
for the care of her burial plot. That's
all"
81 thought there was some money"
remarked George Giles. rubbing q sun
burned hand over his head in puz-
zled manner. he was prosperous
farmer. and he had promised himself a
little pleasure trip with any legacy
he might receive from Aunt Lucia
Here are copies of the will" said
the lawyer tersely, handing around
duplicates of the document "You may
keep these. You will note that Mrs.
Morgan especially emphasizes the fact
that each article and all 1t contains is
to go to the one who takes it away.
She also suggests that the distribution
be made by choice. the oldest one hav
ing first choice. This. | think. would
be very proper"
VERY WE'LL" said Ann Squires eager
ly She was the tirstborn among
them. The others slgnIfied assent with
more or less satisfaction according to
age. Thomasine Wells felt very help
less somehow She would have liked
to choose the mahogany work table. 1t
was very pretty. with glass knobs on
the drawers. but 1t was very likely
that one of the others would want
that.
ThOmasine was quite poor. She had
been apprenticed to a dressmaker
when she was fifteen. and now she
% J.. L., 81 g. -,
hired in small town fifty miles from
Little River The other heirs were well
to do farmer fork who had had many
opportunities to visit Aunt Lucia and
shower attentions upon her declining
years. Poor Thomasine had had to
struggle for a livelihood, and only her
occasional letters and the carefully
made Christmas gifts she made kept
her in touch with her old aunt When
she had been a little girl she had
loved her dearly. and now she was
grateful that the old lady had even
remembered her sufficiently to men
ton her name In so important docu-
ment as a will
"As Miss Wells must return to her
home early tomorrow morning" re-
marked the lawyer, 1T would seem
best for the heirs to make their choice
now, and after the will has been pro-
bated the articles will be sent on to
the owners. have a list of the heirs
compiled from the family Bible, and
as Mrs. Ann Squires is the Oldest she
must have first choice of the furni-
ture." He nodded to the lady in ques-
ton
"I'H take the bedstead and mat
tresses and all it contains" said Ann
Squires hastily.
Fanny Ray smiled bitterly and bent
her head to that Of Jane Morris. II
knew she'd take thatl suppose she
thinks the mattresses are stuffed with
banknotes."
'Humphr said Jane sourly. TITS
my turn next. Fanny. because you al
ways claimed you was the youngest,
you know"
Mrs. Ray smiled sheepishly. ITS
got to go according to the records"
she said family.
"Now, Mrs. Ray" said the lawyer
sharply.
"rll take the bureau" said Fanny
quickly. The bureau afforded much
space for secreting treasure. and there
might even be hidden drawer.
George Giles looked at the work ia
BILE. but he was a bachelor and shook