Year: 1869




to oppose the claims of James Symmons
The attorney candidly told her that he
believed all men would allow the inten-
tions of the testator to be correctly rep
resented by the will, but that those in
tentions most certainly had not been
made good in such a way as to Stand a
contest in court Lucy's mother re-
turned to her home, with the intention
of giving all up to the greedy claimant,
as soon as the few movables which
were her own could be takenaway, and
some arrangement made for providing
herself and her child with another home.
This resolution once taken, and notified
to James Symmons, her mind became
more easy, and the cheerful Lucy soon
lightened the mothers heart still more,
by detailing all her little plans for their
mutual sustenance and comfort in fu-
ture s.


few days passed over, and the
widow and her daughter were seat
ed in an humble dwelling in a retired
corner of Springwell, and Lucy had
taken in needle-work. They had
removed in the morning from the
late Richards s house. But let us leave
them, cheerful and resigned, and turn
to the miser. This day he has added
another half, at least, to his wealth..
and still he is in his old wretched hovel.
Though the night is one of ftwinter, he
has no fire, but he lies in bed with his
clothes on, and all the rags in his pos
session heaped above him to keep him
warm. Yet this night all will not do,
for he shivers necessarily. Ever and
anon, however, the thought of his new
ly acquired wealth sends something
like glow through him. Lying in bed
saves candles; this is also part Of his
creed. Has he no remorse for turning
sister and her child to the door? Z
is hard to say what are his thoughts
but of late days he has seemed excited,
though apparently more with Joy than
with any other feeling. But, bark
there is a tap at his door. 1t is unheed
ed, and in consequence, is repeated
again and again. At last the miser
cries, 4" Who is there p" 1t is II am
seeking shelter-do you not know Inc ?"
"You can get no shelter here, whoever
you are" returns James Symmons.
Father, do you not know me? It is l,
Charles Symmons-your son' There
was silence for a time within, until the
same words were repeated, when the
miser growled, $50 away do not
believe you /" Father, cried the voice
without {" the night is very cold, and
Lam in want Of sha.tAs;T-4 4s.sa-ssssals5- { A J;
| know my ssvoice. open the door, Eand,
you will see that l am Charles r" WAo-|
ece, you RE, go uaroy,' cried the in
mate in still huskier tones "you can
get nothing here. After few more
words, the colloquy ended, and all was
again silent.


On the following morning, a young
man, gcnteelly dressed, and with his
handsome countcnance deeply Drowned
by sun and air, called at the dwelling
of the widow and her daughter AS
soon as the latter saw the stranger, a
glow Of surprise and pleasure rushed
over her checks, and she sprang forward
a step with extended arms-but checked
herself. The stranger, however, made
the rest Of the advance, and caught her
in his arms and kissed her. cousin
Charles !" exclaimed Lucy. cay, ay,
Luce, cried the young man, as he gave
the same salutation to her mother "you
used to say you could know me mile
or two off when we were children, but
I think you had some doubt just now. ;"
Warm was the welcome which the youth
received from his aunt and Lucy, for,
when a boy, he had always been a great
favorite with them, and was wont to
fly from his own unhappy home to theirs
for peace He told them his story; he
had been irfehe West Indies, and had
been prosperous. He himself was the
the first to enter upon the disagreeable
subject of his fathers conduct, which
had been detailed to him by the land
lord Of the inn, where lie had slept.
His visit at night to his father was also
described to them; he had gone, he
said, "to try if his father would permi:
him to be son . him, but had found
his heart as jealous, as cold, and as
hard as ever, though the circumstances
under which the appeal was made were
purposely chosen as the likeliest to have
moved his heart. But fear not, cousin
Luce" said he: 20 thou shalt have all 1
have, though it is not much after all
but thy mother and thou shall be COM
Portable. And who knows, but when
he sees me in the light Of day, the old
man may relent after all 2"


He did not relent. Things were so
ordered that it could not be. When
the old woman who had brought him a
light every morning for more than ten
years, entered his abode on the morning
after the occurrence related, the misera-
bic man was dead-cold as ice. An in
quest, which satupon his body, declared
him to have died from cold, though it
is probable that sickness of some kind
or other had a share in the production
Of the event However this may be, it
excited mighty sensation among the
villagers of Springwell, who, as usual,
perferred to give supernatural rather
than natural solution of the occur
renee, and connected it with the legal
lied outrage of feeling. which he had
on the preceding day committed:


His death turned the fortune of his
. kind old brother once more into the
n,obt obonno1 for Hhorlac Svmnoono ,ros