Year: 1877

The funeral was Joined in the church
yard by stranger, who mufiled his face,and
shed the only tears that fell upon that grave.
After the funeral he staid behind all the
rest aud mourned but he Joined the family
at the feast which followed and, behold
it was Garrett, come a day too late. He
was welcomed with exuberant affection, not
being down in the will but they did not
ask him to sleep there. They wanted to be
alone and read the will. He begged for
some reminiscence of his father, and they
gave him Lurcher. So he put Lurcher into
his gig and drove away to that good farm
er, sure OF his welcome, and praying God he
might find him alive. Perhaps his brothers
would not have let him go so easily had
they known he had made large fortune in
America, and was going to buy quite a slice
Of the county.


On the way he kept talking to Lurcher,
and reminding him OF certain sports they
had enjoyed together, and feats of poaching
they had performed, Poor old Lurcher kept
pricking his ears all the time, and cudg-
eled his memory as to the tones of the voice
that was addressing him. Garret reached
the farm and was received first with stares
then with cries of joy, and was dragged in
the house so TO speak. After the first ardor
Of welcome, he told them he had arrived
just in time to ubry his father. And this
old dog said he, is all that's left me of
him. He was mine first, and, when I left,
he took to father He was always wise
dog


we know him. said the wife he has
been here before And she was going to
blurt it all out, but her man said, Another
time, and gave her look as black as thun-
der which wasn't his way at all, but he ex-
planned to her afterward. They are friends,
those three, over the old mans grave. We
should think twice before we stir i'll blood
betune 'em.' So when he stopped her, she
turned it off cleverly enough, and said the
dear old dog must have his supper. Supper
they gave him, and new sheepskin to lie
on by the great fire. So there he lay and
seemed to doze.


The best bed in the house was laid for
Garret, and when he got up to go to it,
didn't that wise old dog get up, too, with an
effort, and move stihy toward Garret, and
lick his hand then he lay down again all
of piece, as who should say: Pm very
| tired of it all He knows me now at last
said Garret, joyfully. That is his way of
saying good night, l suppose. He was al
ways wonderful wise dog


In the morning they found Lurcher dead
and stiff on the sheep skin. 1t was a
long good night he had bid so quietly to the
friend of his youth.


Garrett shed tears over him, and said IF
| had only known what he meant, I'd have
set up with him. But | never could see far
He was deal wiser for a dog than | shall
ever be for a man.


Meantime the family party assembled in
the bedroom of the deceased. Every trace
of feigned regret had left their faces and
all their eyes sparkled with joy and curiosity
They went to open the chest. 1t was lock
ed They hunted for the key first quietly,
then fussily. The women found it at last,
sewed up in the bed they cut it out and
opened the chest.


The first thing they found was lot of
'tones, They gared at them, and the color
left their faces. What deviltry was this ?


Presently they found writing on one
stone Look below Then there was a
reaction and tCud laugh. The old fox
was afraid the money and parchments would
fly away, so he kept thelu down.


They plunged their hands in, and 500 n
cleared out.a barrowful of stones, till they
came to kind of paving stone They lift
; ed this carefully out, and discovered a good
new rope with running moose, and-the
will.


1t was headed in large letters finely en-,
crossed -


The last will and testament of Brian
Taafc.'


But the body of the instrument was il


he scrawl of the testator:-
4 bequeath all the stones in this box t.
the hearts that could turn their father anC


benefactor out on the highway, that storm,
night


4 bequeath this rope to any father to hans


himself with who is fool enough to give hi
= property to his children before he dies
This is a prosaic story compared with tn


Lear of Shakespeare, but it is well told b,
Gerald Griffin, who was a man of genius


Of course claim little merit, but that 0
setting the jewels Were to tell you tina


is an art, l suppose you would not be
lieve it.