LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 993, 31 August 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

MY LEGACY

Chapter 1. Ouu little town of Gossipton was in a stal e of unusual commotion. Knots of people were standing at various corners, evidently discussing a subject of vast importance The fact was this : the eccentric and somewhat miserly Jacob Braidwood, whose wealth was supposed to be fabulous, had died a few days ago, and this was the day of his funeral. ‘ Well, what then ? That surely is nothing extraordinary.’ Ah, but after the funeral the will was to be opened and read, and publ c curiosity was excited to its highest pitch. A hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, half a million—each and all of these sums were positively reported to have been left, and the fortunate legatees as positively named ; but, in truth, nothing really could be learnt till after the funeral, which my little sister and I now watched passing our windows. Then we equipped ourselves for our afternoon walk, and set out, passing in our route several groups of people, and also several houses, the closed windows and carefully drawn down blinds of which looked the personification of decorous woe. These houses belonged to various distant relatives of the deceased, who evidently expected a good share of the fabulous fortune. Letty and I walked on, wishing that wei too, could look for a legacy; but, as that was out of the question, we dismissed the subject and enjoyed our walk. Returning home, we chose a road which would save our passing through so many streets; consequently we saw few people ; but, just as we had almost reached our home, we met Mr Brown, the rich corn merchant, whose wife was a third cousin of Jacob Braidwood’s, and to whom rumour had assigned a large legacy. As usual, we bowed politely, but in return received only a distant nod, and a scowl directed at me which quite frightened me. 4 How cross Mr Brown looked at you, Nelly,’ said Letty. ‘What can be the matter with him 1 Oh, it is the will, Nelly,’ she suddenly added ; ‘he has not got any money.’ ‘ But that needn’t make him scowl at me in that way,’ said I, still indignant at the frown. On entering to our own little parlour we found my father and mother in close conversation, which they suddenly broke off on our entrance, looking at each other and then at us in rather an embarrassed manner. Then my father said, apparently with an effort, * Nelly, T have news for you.’ ‘News for me, papa? I hope it is good news,’ said I. 4 Nothing is wrong, surely ?’ 4 No, dear ; nothing wrong,’ he replied ‘lt is this—Mr Braidwood has left you a legacy.’ ‘ Left me a legacy, papa—me ! ’ I exclaimed. ‘ Why, I never spoke to him It must be a mistake. Surely you are joking, papa. ’ ‘ Well, my child, it seems correct enough,’ said my father. 4 But I fear you will be a little hurt at the terms it is bequeathed in. Mr Reynolds, who was old Jacob’s lawyer, showed me the will, and I have copied the part of it concerning your legacy. Shall I read it to you, or will you read it yourself ?’ ‘ Read it please, papa,’ said I. ‘ But how can Ibe hurt ? He can’t say anything very bad of me, can he ? ’ 4 My dear Nelly,’ said my mother, ‘there is nothing to hurt you very much. Mr Braidwood had not very refined feelings £ and was very plain-spoken ; but you are sensible, Nelly, and won’t mind.’ After all this preamble I felt quite nervous. ‘ Well, Nell,’ said my father, ‘here it is : we won’t keep you any longer in suspense.’ My father then read as follows ; 4 1 give and bequeath to Ellen Warner the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, because she is the daughter of an honest man, and because she is so ugly that she will never get a husband; and, furthermore, as some needy rogue might marry her for the sake of this legacy, I stipulate that if the said EllenWarner marries any one with an income of less than three thousand dollars a year, the said twenty-five thousand dollars are to be restored to my heir.’ What woman could confess that such words did not give her a pang ? I always hail known that I was plain ; but to hear it thus broadly stated without any softening, was a shock. However, I soon recovered from it, and said, gayly : ‘Mamma, I am very much obliged to Mr Braidwood; I always knew that I was ugly, and I always wished for some money. And, oh, papa, is it really mine? and can I cb> what 1 like with it?’—the reality of my wealth now striking me very forcibly. 4 Of course, Nell, you cannot touch the principal now, he replied ; but the interest is yours, and you can soon begin to enjoy it. Mr Braidwood has been very thoughtful; he has left you shares in the Great American Mineral company, which will be transferred to you, so that you will have no trouble in investing your money.’ ‘ Oh, how nice,’ said I: ‘ then mamma we will get a poney carriage for you ; you know the doctor said it would make you quite strong if you could drive every day ; and Letty shall go to school, and we will get a new drawing room carpet; and you and I, mamma, will have new silk dresses, and mine shall be a bright blue. ’ Fifty other bright visions floated through my excited brain, when my father, kissing me, said, ‘Well, Nell, I congratulate you on your legacy ; but with all these schemes, you will soon spend it. We will talk it over, dear, when you have had time to think about it ’ And so saying he left the room. ‘ Oh, mamma,’ said 1, *I am glad now. I think it was kind of Mr Braidwood to leave me the money because lie thought I would not get married ; for you know mamma, it is true I am plain.’

‘ You have the best aud kindest face in the world to me, dear,’ said my mother; < an d have been my greatest comfort in all our years of poverty ; and though Mr Braidwood’s words about you ate hardly polite, I think with you that he was very kind in leaving you the money. He knew your father’s embarrassments, and that there could not be much provision for you. 1 know, dear, it lias always weighed heavily on your father’s mind, that in his peculiar d cumstances there could be so little provision made for you and L tty, and this monev will relieve him of that anxiety ; that is to say, Nelly,’ she continued, smiling, ‘ if yon are not too proud to take money that has been lett you —’ (To he continued.)