AN-UNCOMMON WILL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 3

AN-UNCOMMON WILL.

Several years ago—September 3, 1898, to be exabt—there appeared in "Harper's Weekly" a little conceit entitled "A Last Will," written by Williston Fish. The prose poem, as it might properly be called, was soon forgotten, and Mr. Fish, the author,' from being a constant contributor of humorous verse to the magazines, dropped out of the literary .world For some time the Sunday newspapers throughout the country devoted much space to the story of an insane man, who, dying at the Dunning, 111, hospital, loft a unique will. This story was a pure myth, but the alleged wijl, for its beauty of'conception, and its naivete of diction, excited great comment. Then it was credited l to one "Charles Lounsbury." Now Mr'. Fislu has idaiined his own again. The astonishing thing is that it was allowed to fall into oblivion ifor so many yoars. Ho was stronger and cleverer, no donbt, than other men, and in many broad lines of business he liad grown rich, until his wealth exceeded exaggeration. One morning, in, his office, ho directed a request to his confidential lawyer to come' to him in the afternoon He intended to have his will drawn. A will is a'solemn matter, even wrth men whoso life is given up to business, and who are by habit mindful of the future. After giving this direction he took up no other matter,' but sat at his desk alone and .in silence. < Half thoughfully, half idly, he begun :t , In the Name of God, Amen—l, Charles Lounsbury, bemg of sound and disposing mind and memory, (he lingered on the word memory), do now make and publish; this day my last' will, and testament, in ordor, as justly as I .may, to distribute my interests in the world among succeeding men. And, first, that part of my interests which is known in the law and recognised in the 6heep-bound,volumes as my property, being inconsiderable and of none account, I mako no, account of'it m this, my will My right to live, it being but a life-estate, is not at my, dispbsal, but, these things excepted, all else in the World I now proceed to devise aitd bequeath. , , Item—And first_ I give to good fathers and mothers, but in trust for their children, 'all good little words of praiso and all qjfaint pet names, and I chargo said parents'to Use them jubtly but generously as the aoeds of their children shall require. leave to children exclusively, but only for/'the hfo of their, childhood, all and tlfe dandelions of the fields and the daisies* thereof, with the right to play among themiS/eely, according to the custom of children; learning them at the same time against the'-fchfttles. And I devise to children the yellow shores of creeks and the golden sands bprifejtli' the waters thereof, with tho dragonflies,rthat skim tho surface of said waters, andiflio white clouds that float high over the gJantf trees.

.' leave'to childreri-.the ilbng,' long days *?:'l*i'sW?r'.?i; in..a'!.thousand ; ways;' and the moon ' and..!the train :of the 'Milky Way to, wonder, at.Vbut subject, nevertheless,; to-.the "fights..hereinafter; given, to Jovers;:and I give! to each child the right to choose a' star that': shall < be his, arid I direct that .the : child's,- father.!shall tell him the name,.of. it, ;m order! that the. child' shall always; remember,the name of -that. s'tar.'after t ?4,^?.-: le^", ed;;aud.;forgottei:astronomy. ■■'■' joirjtly; all;the useful idle fields,andv.commbus-where ball may be.!, played, ,-Varid./all .sriow-clad;,'hills'!.w 'ofie;-'may;,;.cbast,;-arid, all .streams' arid ponds f!where;"one-,nia'y. skate; -to" haye-and to ;hold -;the;"same;; , ipr'.,the''.period-'of .their'';boyhood. /Andi-.^ll.'.'rriea.dp.^s,:.,with;. the. clover! blooms' .arid,/butterflies thereof i and .all ..woods;; with! their;:;;appuftenarices;'pf:,squirrels arid-whir-' . nrigj-biras.' arid ;.:bcho'es p.nd; strange.' noises; /end, "all; "distanti placets!' which may be visited, ■together;;with-.the .adventures, there' found. L do.giveitb said, boys' -to .be, theirs, .'and-. I' each his own ;place at the ■fireside;:.atvriight,^wi&.;'al]"'p'ietiifts-..tha't ; .'may .'be;seen;jri,the:;burnirig wood.;'or'cpal;tp'.eiijoy, ■"-wjffi9u^.:,let : ."br';;hindra'ri.cei;.a'nd'. without any. encurnbrancVof cares.-.Y : ;-.- !s; ■■[ ■■-'.:■■.. ' .devisp-iheir;.imaginary world,'..with ; :..whatever ' tlieyi may need,,'as" the.'stars. of the'!:sky, : the! red, .'red vrosps bythe ;.wall,:.;:the'--snow.-.; of:''the : !::nawthorn, the -sweet I .;strains., of ;'rririsicj';or;-/aught; else they -.. may "desire "to 'figure;; to each ..other, .the-last 7 .! /ingriess and beauty.of; their love.: ;V:^;.■•■::,;'! / 'Item—Tolyourig meri'.'.jointly;.;beirig";joined, ■'iri'\a , ;'.bravei : /bequeath.' all. boisterous,' inspiring -sports:, of ; rivalry; ;;■ -I - give".tb;;!them the -'disdain' of : weakness;'. p.nd';uridaurit'ed". confidence in their own-strength.' '■:.Thouyi;'. : th'ey I !are'; rude'.arid! ,rou?h, 1: leave';■ to.!tho'm.;alqrie..the power of m'akirig;-'la'stirig;;,frieridsh'ips' arid of; possessing' compariibiis'; Va'nd; to, 'them".exclusively;'l :gH'('';all::merryssori'gs''arid brave_choruscs;to" BiMKi'-'with-smooth; voices.-tp'; troll th'erhforth;-

.r.J^^m— : And, ; to.■ those';'who..are no longer children or youths!>r>l6ve'rsjvl''lpave : :Mem-' ory, :i*.nd I lPa've to them the volumes of the pbems'pf •/Bums ; 'andOSh'ake.speare,- and' 'of, other poets,;.; if there are others, to the: end ..that they 'mayJive 1 the ,;old.:days over- again freolyond My, withouttithe.or, diminution;' sndtbthose .who are ho, longer children'or youths; or lovers; ;I leave, tboj the knowledge of what 1 a rare, rare'wb'rld'it'is.'••' "' .vt/^^-f-'-^K^^iSTON^Fism;^