The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-10-16
MY UNCLE'S
WILL
BY STEPHEN C. HARDwIcK

him.
Don't you smoke, major?" asked.
NO. he replied. IL do not"
He was the only man in the room
who did not smoke, and the Others
looked at him with some curiosity.
was about to turn the subject when
he gave us his reasons for not doing
so In the following story:
was brought up by an uncle who
was very rich-my parents both died
when | was very young-and since he
had no children of his own Ii was
understood that | was to he his heir.
My life was not very pleasant one,
for persons whose experience in bring
ing ur their own offspring is nil are
Mt great disadvantage in bringing up
the offspring of Others. A child is
utterly devoid of reason and a sense
of his duties toward parent. In
deed, 1t is remarkable that parents
should tolerate their own children.
This | think is the reason why adop-
tions are not usually satisfactory.
When l was ten years old boy
taught me to smoke dried leaves One
day my uncle caught me mt this and
for the first time spoke to me with
great hardness, 1t was evident that
he had a great prejudice against to-
sbacco. He told me that If he ever
caught me smoking again he would
send me away.
| passed a couple of months after
graduation at my uncle's home. As
young soldier was very attractive to
him. and he petted me without stint.
] had no desire. especially after my
experience at West Point, to offend
him by the use of tobacco, which did
not use in any form He seemed
charmed to have me with him and
spent a great deal of the time talking
to me about his estate. explaining his
projects for its increase. telling me
what property he intended to improve
and what to dispose of.
He was getting old. he said. and he
thought | would better resign and be- |
come accustomed to the care of the |
property that would fall upon me at |
his death. ] had no wish to leave the |
army to live under the tutelage of an
0pinionated old man. so | told him |
that having been educated by the gov |
eminent ! didn't consider It honorable I
to resign my commission at once hut I
in three years. If he still maintained /
the same disposition toward me. | |
would accede to his wish. He COM
mended me very highly for my sense
of honor and assented TO my remain
ing as | was.
A couple of years after that fell in
love with the lady who became my
wife. 1t was then for the first time
that I realized the benefit that would
accrue to me in my uncle'S fortune.
He had never said anything TO me on
the subject Of marriage, but | knew
that | should consult him before the
matter was settled. I deferred II. how
ever. to convenient season. for my
uncle had remained bachelor all his
life, and knew him to be a woman
hater. II he should take the same
view for me | might be put in the
poSltlou VI SlNiuS up tue xiii I lobtd
or fortune. ! could not in honor do
the first, and If l married the fortune
would mean much to me.
As luck would have it. the old rascal {
veg pardon. gentlemen, you will under I
tand better at the end of my story ]
Why | speak so disrespectfully of the !
nan who had educated ME and was to ,
cave me his estate. AS | was saying, ..
NY uncle rendered it unnecessary for !;
ne to say anything to him about my ;
owe affair by very conveniently being '
aiken i'll and showing every evidence T
hat his end was near | was tele- I
.raphed for to come at once and be- s
or her. of my expected Inheritance,
nd invited her to share 1t with me
When ! got it, This could not be long.
The returned my affection and accepted II
ne q
When reached my uncle IL was not '
expected that he would live through d
be night. He rallied, however. and a
be next day was slightly better. His l
MUSICIAN remained at the house most ,
f the time. especially at night. and :
Then he was not with his patient he
nd | sat in the library below, keeping .
ach other company. He was very
God fellow. and | grew fond of him
lie liked his toddy, in which | joined
i'm. but when it came to smoking he
as obliged to smoke alone.
My uncle fingered between life and
cath for several weeks. No one could q
III just when he would drop away.
he night he died the doctor and y
ere keeping ourselves up by an occa- Il
onal potation. The doctor pulled two "
gars from his pocket and, offering me
ne. said:
Smoke. He's too far gone to know
lything about it,
/ accepted his proposition. lighted the
gar and smoked just enough Of It TO
use me TO feel bad. Then a nurse
lied me TO my uncle. ! ran upstairs.
I'd he was telling me about sonic
he advised making in n
rtain building that was 10 be mine.
hen he smelled smoke on me-
my expected fortune
pnt the way OF the cigar had accept
from the dOctor-in smoke. Ny I'M
> lived forty-eight hours longer and
larad his will lon wing all ha f,gSsaSSa- -,