The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-07-09

Americana

By Elmo Scott Watson

heritage
II E HAD been prominent and sue
i cessful lawyer in Chicago. Then
misfortune overlook him and he died
penniless. Among his effects they
found his last will and testament 1t
was so unusual that his former fellow
members in the Chicago Bar associa-
ton passed resolution ordering ii pro-
bated in court Today it is a part Of
the Cook county records. 1t reads:
I, Charles Lounsberry, being of sound
and disposing mind and memory, do
hereby make and publish this my last
will and testament, in order, as justly
as may be, to distribute my interest in
the world TO succeeding men.
That part of my interests which is
known in law and recognized in the
sheep-bound volumes as my property,
being inconsiderable and of none ac-
count, l make no disposition of in this
my will. Ny right to live, being but
life estate, is not at my disposal, but,
these things excepted, all else in the
world I now proceed to devise and
bequeath.
ITEM: I give to good fathers and
mothers, in trust for their children, all
good little words of praise and encour-
agement, and all quaint pet names and
endearments; and 1 charge said parents
to use them justly, but generously, as
the needs of the children shall require.
ITEM: I leave to children inconelu-
sively but only for the term of their
childhood, all and every the flowers of
the fields and the blossoms of the woods,
with the right to play among them
freely according to the customs of chill
dren, warning them at the same time
wise to children the banks of the brooks,
and the golden sands beneath the wa
tiers thereof, and the doors of the will
lows that dip therein, and the white
clouds that float high over the giant
trees.
And 1 leave to the children the long,
long days TO be merry in, in a thou
sand ways, and the night and the train
of the Milky Way to wonder at, but
subject, nevertheless, to the rights
hereinafter given to lovers.
ITEM: I devise to boys, jointly. all
the useful, idle fields and commons
where ball may be played, all pleasant
waters where one may swim, all snow
clad hills where one may coast, and all
streams and ponds where one may fish,
or where, when grim winter comes, one
may skate, to hold the same for the
period of their boyhood. And all mea-
terfies thereof; the woods with their
appurtenances; the squirrels and the
birds and echoes and strange noises,
and all distant places which may be
visited, together with the adventures
there found. And I give to said boys
each his own place at the Preside at
night, with all pictures that may be
seen in the burning wood, to enjoy
without let or hindrance, or without
any incumbrance or care.
ITEM: To lovers I devise their imag-
mary world, with whatever they may
need, as the stars of the sky, the red
roses by the wall, the bloom of the
hawthorn, the sweet strains of music,
and aught else they may desire to fig
ure to each other, the lastingness and
beauty of their love.
ITEM: To young men, Jointly, devise
and bequeath all boisterous, inspiring
sports of rivalry, and I give to them
the disdain of weakness and undaunted
confidence in their own strength. Though
they are rude, I leave to them the
power to make lasting friendships and
of possessing companions, and to them
exclusively I give all merry songs and
grave choruses to sing with Iusty voices.
ITEM: And to those who are no longer
children or youths or lovers, 1 leave
memory; and beQueath to them the
volumes of the poems of Burns and
Shakespeare and of other poets, if there
be others, to the end that they may
live the old days over again, freely
and fully, without tithes or diminution
ITEM: To our loved ones with snowy
crowns I bequeath the happiness of old
age, the love and gratitude of rheir
children, until they fall asleep.