Year: 1875




people there was u talented young lawyer and
his pretty wife. They Were a bright, witty, sen
sible couple, dressed we'll, and looked upor
them as fortunes fayorites, and wondered il
the passing years would fling any shadows in
thoir pathway, OF if they had known care or sor.
row. The young wife was sweet singer ane
many an evening passed very pleasantly in lis
tenihg to tho piano touched by her placticed fin
gers, and her songs wero like the bind music In
early spsingiime. Her gay laugh wond ring GU,
upon the air unmingled by a single note of sad.
ness. The manly husband seemed devoted to
his accomplished wife, finding his chief happi-
ness in her society, and as | saw them daily
was reminded Of Wlittier's beautiful poem,
"rhe wife. and | fancied, too, was some city'e
fair pale daughter" who bnd found her hns-
band among the Now Hampshiro l.lis. The limos
would come to my mind,


''we send the squire to general court


lie takes his young wife thither;


No happier man, election day,


Rides through the sweet June weather.


Though became interested in this happy pair
yet the weeks glided away and learned nothing
definitely of their history during my sojourn in
the city. But another summer came and the
same errand took me again to Concord, and |
occupied tho same old quarters. There





but the young lawyer and his wife were in their
old seats, aud apparently as happy III ever. We
met as old acquaintances this time and one
evening we were all out upon the piazza watch
ing tho sunset aud tho crowds of people that
promenade at this hour, or rode leisurily past in
thor handsome carriages,


The conversation turned upon tho struggles
OF young men of limited means in acquiring an
education and II profession, and then u foothold
IN this busy, grasping world.


6 know all about it," exclaimed Mr.. Weston,
my young lawyer friend Sc had time of it to
get started, and if the Lord ever gives me plenty
of money shall use little of it in helping 9TH
ers."


:. Tell me something of your history if you
please y L asked. 81 have had all manner
OF conjectures in regard to it, and now my Gu
riosity must be satisfied"


90 You may not care much for it." he replied,
smiling, " but think l will tell you about my
first client. 10 me, certainly, it was all interest,"
ing case"


Here his wife slipped her little hand out of
his and went quietly into the house, and then
knew that she was III some way connected with
the story.


g Well, to begin, was early left an orphan
with only eiXpence in my pocket, and jack
knife to whittle with. believe | had good
share OF energy, or pluck, as they say for
went through college, and studied law, sup
porting myself and owing no man dollar. But
the Jug of war came when went to the village
OF W., where 1 now live, and hung out my
shingle, expecting that business would come of
course. But weeks dragged into months and no
work came.


Sometimes would get little writing to do,
but the other lawyers took all the important
cases, and hardly earned enough to pay my
board bills. Every morning | rose very early
and took a long walk, then carefully swept my
Office and arranged my books, 30 that if bust
ness did come / could be ready for it. But the
monthsglided away aud Still 1 had nothing to
do. Finally began to get Il LITTLE discouraged,
and wondered If had not mistaken my calling.
| sometimes wished myself in Buiinah, teaching
the heathen, or anywhere else than in that quiet
village. At length, one day in a fit of despera.
ton, looked over my affairs, took an inventory
of my possessions, which consisted of q few law
books and two seedy suits of clothing, and ask
ed myself what had better be done L could ell
dure this waiting 10 longer. "Iry your lucl
else john" / said to myself, "these
old staid New England villages went to seed
thirty years ago. Go to Kansas and start
atresh That is. just what I'll do if no work comes
this week.


But at the close of that very day there came a
low knock at my Office door. | knew that it was
not any of the fellows who sometimes came in to
chat awhile, and L threw down my newspaper
and opened the door. There stood very hand
some young lady dressed in mourning, and was
a little frightened and awkard, but / asked her
to come in and take a scat


q Mr.. Weston, [ believe" she asked.


s Yes, at your SERVICE"


"I am Minnie Ellery," she said, with low
musical voice, "and | came to consult you on
business"


'' / shall be happy to hear your story" / an
swered, :" as have II little leisure just now


/ was in flutter OF delight that Miss Elery
had chosen to consult mo on business yet | be-
lieye that distinctly heard all that she told me.


1t seems thaG she was an adopted child of the
rich Mr.. Ellery, who had recently deceased. The
nf
adoption made out he had not regarded it as
as the child had been given to his
" care by her mother Oh her death-bed." He
bad given her happy home, and carefully edu-
Gated her as his own daughter Several years
he had made a will, in which he had
given her the bulk of his property, after provid-
ing 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, y l exclaimed, in my
excitement 'you must look again"


She shook her head IN sadness. 81 have
looked over every scrap of paper in papa's writ
ing desk and safe and library, and mamma has
helped me, but the will cannot be found"


" Have you any suspicion that either OF these
unces have privately obtained possession Of the
missing willI" asked.


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



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.


Wel could not sleep much that night
looked up my authorities to see what could be
done in case the will could not be found, and
had determined upon my course, when pre-
sented myself at the Ellery mansion the next
As Miss Minnie came into tho parlor
to greet me, she seemed more lovely than 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 no better success. l inspired
them with courage by stating that under the
the suit might be gained without
IT., particularly as one of the Witnesses could
readily be obtained and believe the right would
prevail.


L became so much Interested in my fair client
and her case, that forget all about my Kansas
project, and prepared myself for the trial. l
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 skilled
Attorney in tho State to assist them to secure
their claim. As the time drew near for the
trial was deeply anxious, az my future might
depend upon my SUCCESS in this suit. l retired
to rest one night burdened with the caro- in re-
gard to it. off kind Providence would only
put that will i'll my hands," | exclaimed, NELL
ually n would never doubt him i'll the future.


When at last / fell asleep was still busy with
before the trial, and full of anxiety, had called
at the Ellery mausion and humbly asked leave
to search the house myself for the missing will.
T a., go, ,,os rao5ilv and fair Minnie