Herbert Carter's Legacy; Or, the Inventor's Son by Jr. Horatio Alger (top reads .TXT) π
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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At length she said: βI wish to say that that is a very unjust will, Mr. Spencer.β
βI am not responsible for it, Mrs. Pinkerton,β answered the lawyer, quietly.
βI don't know what the rest of you think,β said the angry lady, with a general glance around the office, βbut I think the will ought to be broken.β
βOn what grounds?β asked Mr. Spencer.
βHe had no right to put off his own flesh and blood with a beggarly pittance, and leave all his money to the town.β
βPardon me; whatever you may think of Mr. Carter's will, there is no doubt that he had a perfect legal right to dispose of it as he did.β
βThen the laws ought to be altered,β said Mrs. Pinkerton, angrily. βI don't believe he was sane when he made the will.β
βIf you can prove that,β said the lawyer, βyou can set aside the will; but not otherwise.β
βMy brother was in his right mind,β here interposed Miss Nancy. βHe always meant to give the town money for a school.β
βNo doubt you think he was sane,β sneered Mrs. Pinkerton, turning upon the old lady. βYou have fared better than any of us.β
βMiss Nancy was most nearly related to the deceased,β said the lawyer, βand she needed help most.β
βIt's all very well to talk,β said the lady, tossing her head, βbut me and mine have been badly used. I have hard work enough to support the family, and little help I get from him,β she added, pointing to her unhappy husband.
βI'm workin' all the time,β remonstrated Josiah. βYou are unkind, Maria.β
βI could hire a boy to do all your work for three dollars a week,β she retorted. βThat's all you help me. I've worried along for years, expectin' Mr. Carter would do something handsome for us; and now he's put us off with four hundred dollars.β
βI get only one hundred,β said the farmer.
βAnd I, too. It's a beastly shame,β remarked Cornelius.
βReally,β said the lawyer, βit appears to me unseemly to speak so bitterly so soon after the funeral.β
βI dare say you like it well enough,β said Mrs. Pinkerton, sharply. βYou've got all our money to build a schoolhouse.β
βIt will not benefit me any more than the townspeople generally,β said the lawyer. βFor my part, I should have been glad if my late friend had left a larger sum to those connected with him by blood.β
βDon't you think we could break the will?β asked Mrs. Pinkerton, persuasively. βCouldn't you help us?β
βYou can attempt it, but I assure you in advance you haven't the ghost of a chance. You would only lose your money, for the town would strenuously oppose you.β
The stout lady's face fell. She felt that the last hope was gone.
βAll I can say is, that it's a scandalous thing,β she concluded, bitterly.
βI should like to know what's in that trunk he left you,β said Cornelius Dixon, turning to Herbert. βMaybe it's money or bonds. If it is, don't forget our agreement.β
This drew attention to Herbert.
βTo be sure,β said Mrs. Pinkerton, whose curiosity was aroused, βMr. Dixon may be right. Suppose we all go over to the house and open it.β
Herbert looked irresolutely toward the lawyer.
βThere is no objection, I suppose,β said Mr. Spencer.
βI know what's in the trunk,β said Miss Nancy.
Straightway all eyes were turned upon her.
βWhat is it?β
βIt's clothes. My brother used to keep his clothes in that trunk.β
Cornelius Dixon burst into a rude laugh.
βI say, Herbert, I congratulate you,β he said, with a chuckle. βThe old fellow's left you his wardrobe. You'll look like a peacock when you put 'em on. If you ever come to New York to see me, leave 'em at home. I wouldn't like to walk up Broadway with such a gawk as you'd look.β
βYoung man,β said Miss Nancy, her voice tremulous, βit don't look well in you to ridicule my poor departed brother. He didn't forget you.β
βHe might as well,β muttered Cornelius.
βI hope you won't laugh at my brother's gift,β said the old lady, turning to Herbert.
βNo, ma'am,β said Herbert, respectfully. βI am glad to get it. I can't afford to buy new clothes often, and they can be made over for me.β
βYou wouldn't catch me wearing such old-fashioned duds,β said Cornelius, scornfully.
βNo one asked you to, young man,β said the old lady, disturbed at the manner in which her brother was spoken of. βThe boy's worth a dozen of you.β
βThank you,β said Cornelius, bowing with mock respect. βI should like to ask,β he continued, turning to the lawyer, βwhen I can get my legacy. It isn't much, but I might as well take it.β
βAs the amount is small, I will send you a check next week,β said Mr. Spencer, βif you will leave me your address.β
βAnd can I have my money, too?β demanded Mrs. Pinkerton. βIt's a miserable pittance, but I owe it to my poor children to take it.β
βI will send your husband a check also, next week, madam.β
βYou needn't send it to him. You may send it to me,β said the lady.
βPart of it is mine,β expostulated the husband, in meek deprecation.
βI can give you your part,β said his wife. βMr. Spencer, you may make the check payable to me.β
βBut, Mariaβ-β
βBe silent, Josiah! Don't make a fool of yourself,β said his wife, in an imperious tone.
The poor man was fain to be silent, but the lawyer was indignant, and said: βMr. Pinkerton, I will certainly not pay your legacy, nor your children's, to anyone but yourself. I will send Mrs. Pinkerton a check for her own shareβone hundred dollarsβsince she desires it.β
βI insist upon your sending me the children's money also,β said the lady angrily. βHe ain't fit to take charge of it.β
βYou may insist as much as you like, Mrs. Pinkerton,β said the lawyer, coolly, βbut it will be useless. As the head of the family, I shall send the money designed for the children to your husband.β
βDo you call
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