Year: 1875

providing handsomely for his wife during her


lifetime. But now two brothers of the deceased


came boldly forward and claimed the property,


and the will could not be found.


"The will must be found ;" exclaimed in my


excitement, "you must look it up."'


She shook her head in sadness. ~ have


looked over every scrap of paper in papa's


writing desk and safe and library, and mamma


has helped me, but the will cannot be found. "


"Have you any suspicion that either of these


uncles have privately obtained possession of
the missing will?" l asked.


"None at all !" she frankly answered. "They
have had no access to the papers; it is all a
mystery"


promised to do my best for this lady-my
first client--and told her to renew her search
for the important paper, and | would call at
her house the next day; we would again talk
the matter over and see what could be done.


Well, could not sleep much that night;
looked up my authorities to see what could be
| done in case if the will could not be ound and
had determined upon my course, when 1 pre-
senteu ..., rlf1ery mansion tle next
morning. AS Miss Minnie came into the par





on the previous evening, and | was charmed
especially with her thoughtful attentions to her
adopted mother They had made another
search for the will, but with better success.
| inspired them with courage by stating that
under the circumstances Lne suit may be gain
ed without it, particularly as one OF the wit
nesses could readily be obtained, and believed
the right would prevail.


became so much Interested in my fair client
and her case that forgot all about my Kansas
project, and prepared myself Tor the trial
thought of it by day and dreamed of it by night


The brothers of the deceased were sure OF
winning their suit, and employed the most
skillful attorney III the State To assist them to
| secure their claim. AS the time drew for
the trial, was deeply anxious, as my future
might depend upon my success in this suit. |
retired to rest one night burdened with care in
regard to it. "If kind providence would only
put that will in my hands,, exclaimed, men
tally, 81 would never doubt him in the future"


When at last | fell asleep was still busy
with my law business. L dreamed that it was
the day before the trial, and full of anxiety, |
| uau Cd1ACu dI IAO 41ilCi iAaAolOA dhu huLhoiy
asked leave to search the house myself for the
missing will. Leave was readily obtained, and
fair Minnie went with me to the open closets,
writing desks, etc.
"Have you cleaned house since the death of
your father?" asked.


eyes," she answered, laughing heartily at the |
strange question; 1--WE had our yearly cleaning
in May"


| "Where did you put your waste papers that
you regarded as of no account?"
eve threw good many of them into the |
kindling basket but few that we fanced we |
might want to look over again, we carried to
the attic"


"Then will go to these upper regions, if you
please, and will look over every scrap of paper
that has any writing upon it,"


We proceeded to the attic and found large |
woodbox full of old letters, and began to look
them over. Before we had been there an hour,
l came to bundle of papers tied with green
ribbon, and opening the bundle, the lost will
my Joy, exclaiming, Eureka" and put it in
my pocket enjoining silence upon Minnie, who,
of course, was as delighted as child, and fair
ly wept for joy.


In a transport of ecstacy, awoke to find it |
only dream; but soon slept again, and the |
whole scene was repeated


When l awoke again old Chantcleer was an
nouncing the dawn of day, and l arose, fully !
determined to search the Ellery attic. Who |
knows but it may be true? God revealed His |
will in ancient times in dreams. May He not
sometimes do it still thought of the cases
given in mental philosophy, the sister of Major |
Andre dreaming that her brother was before |
the court martial for being spy; and all the |
particulars of the trial were vvidly impressed |
upon her mind just as they really occurred
Washington and Knox were partially designa-
ted, though she had never seen them, for the
waves of the broad Atlantic rolled between
| them.
| I was so much in earnest that did not wait
even for breakfast, but went to call upon Min
ME. put the same questions as in my dream,
and by strange coincidence, received the
same answers. We went to the attic and the
lost will was in my possession in less than an
hour after 1 entered the house. Then 1 went
to breakfast and ate with a RELISH for was as
happy as if l had million dollars in my
pocket. knew that the tide of my affairs had
turned at last, and was in the way of good
little fortune.


The day of the trial came, and the judge and
jury were all in their places, and the court
house was crowded with people, for Minnie
was favorite in the village, and the was
exciting the deepest interest. We had kept
the secret of the will being found, and the law
yer of the uncles opened his case with -four
ish of trumpets of what was natural and just
that the property should go to the legal family
heirs, instead of to strangers child, who had
already, for fifteen years, enjoyed the charity
of her kind-hearted benefactor. True, he had
learned that there was once rumor of q will,
but had such document ever existed it had
been destroyed by the same hand that made it,
as there was no trace of it as he could learn.
When it came my turn to speak, simply an
t nounced that the lost will was found, and pro-
. ceeded to read it word for word. When had
q finished the crowd began to cheer and this
, over the Judge decided the case the spot
| without it going to the jury. Minnie and her


mother came and stood beside me, and together
, we received the congratulations of the villagers
t 1t was the happest day of my life, for that
o very evening I asked Minnie to marry me, and
= she said yes, and believe she has never yet
= regretted it. had business enough after that,
t the people trusted me, and l have tried to do
: my duty. 1 am now in the Legislature, and
d may yet turn up in Congress, or be Governor of
# the State. At any rate l am happy and con-
n tented man, and grateful to kind Father for
J. all his love and care.


# This ended the story of the lawyers first eli
a ent was deeply interested, and from that


evening we were friends.


TwEEDs FAITHFUL WIFE.-They were mar
/ ried when the man was a chairmaker, and they
:, might have had happy career had the former
4 remained honest They lived in plain man


ner, mingled with mechanics society, and were
e the parents of two boys and two girls, good
's looking and healthy children. The era ofmer'