Palisadian., 1922-03-04

Outdone When Two Workers In Shoe
Factory Fall Heir to $4,000, 900
p Eaeh--WiII Continue to Work at
Their Benches Despite Life Of Lux
ury They Might Lead--"Might Buy
Car" Says One Of Them.
Romantic stories Of sudden and un-
expected wealth were all outdone
when two workers in a shoe factory at
Haverhill Mass, learned recently that
they had fallen heir to $5OOO,OOO.
II intend to have the house paint
ed" Patrick Canning, the elder Of
them, said when told of his good for
tune. ''That is the first thing. Then
l might buy car. 1 might-but
again, might not. never owned
one, and l am not quite sure whether
1 want to"
James Canning, his brother, and
sharer in his good fortune, had a sim
liar program. 1t was all so unexpect-
ed, and they were so happy in their
modest way of living they felt bewil-
dered.
They knew that they were related
to an Edward J. Curley, who lived in
Kentucky. Years ago he had given
them $4,000, and had enabled them
to build their own homes and to have
a small nest-egg. But they thought
this gift was all they could ever dream
Of getting from their kinsman, who
spent his time between Kentucky and
Paris.
But Curley had other plans. His
and he had greater interest In his
relatives than he admitted to any
one.
1t was only after years of hardship
that fortune smiled on him. He had
come to America II years ago, when
he was nine years old. Somehow he
had picked up an education at east
ern academies and had started to teach
school in New England.
Relative Never Married.
He obtained a school in Kentucky
when the Civil war broke out. He
hoped to make good, return to New
England, and marry a girl he had met
who belonged to wealthy family.
He enlisted in the Confederate army
and became a major. The veteran of
many of the greatest battles of the
war, he visited the girl in New Eng
land But she could not forgive his
service under the Confederate flag.
He returned to Kentucky and be-
came interested in the distilling busi-
ness. He piled up great fortune
The correspondence between him and
the New England girl continued until
her death at eighty. But he never
married.
OF the five grand-nephews, only
James and Patrick Canning survived
While letters from their uncle were
not frequent, they kept in touch with
him. and upon the rare occasions that
he did write, he manifested a friendly
interest in their affairs.
Notwithstanding, they protest that
his final demonstration of affection for
them was wholly unexpected They
anticipated some sort of remem-
brance, perhaps. but not SO much as
they received
Never Dreamed Of Wealth.
However that may be, the fact is
that Major Curley bequeathed to the
two brothers his entire estate.
1--WE figure we've always done pretty
WELL" said James Canning. We've
had our health, and worked hard. The
money uncle gave us many years ago
established us so that we didn't have
to fear poverty, but as for being rich
well, l don't know" and he shook his
head. I'm afraid I'm too old to
change my way of living. The chill
dren ought to enjoy the money, though
My boy is a shoe cutter; | don't
know what he'll want to do. When
the factory opens l think I'll go back
to the job. I'd be sort of lost with
out it,
Patrick Canning was pruning a tree
in his little garden. Yes" he said, re-
luctantly, Its lot of money. My
wife and l probably will go away on a
little vacation, but We'll come back
to Haverhill. No, l don't expect to
leave my present home. Why should
I? It's been good enough to live in
for good many years, and why not
now? We love it, our friends live
here Why should we go away and be
lonesome and unhappy just because
the world thinks we ought to2 We'll