lolloping sort of a feller, but sure to
get all that his poor, miserable uncle was worth in the world, and
therefore, with more craft and diligence, if possible, than Lev
practised, the Williamses set Polly's cap for Lev, and who, in turn, was
not unmindful of the fact that Williams "had something" too, as well as
his two children, Polly and Peter. Things seemed indeed bright and
propitious on all sides. The day came; Lev was on hand at Squire
Cornelius's, to hear the will read, and the estate of the deceased
settled.

As usual in such cases in the country, quite a number of the neighbors
were on hand--old Williams, of course.

"He was a queer old mortal," began the Squire.

"But a good man," sobbed Lev Smith, drawing out his bandanna, and
smothering his sharp nose in it. "A good man, 'Squire."

"God's his judge," responded the Squire, and a number of the neighbors
shook their head and stroked their beards, as if to say amen.

"Joseph Gunter mout have been a good man and he mout not," continued the
Squire; "some thinks he was not; I only say he was a queer old mortal,
and here's his will. Last will and testament of Joseph Gunter, &c.,
&c.," continued the Squire.

"Poor, dear old man," sobbed Lev. "Poor _dear_ old man!"

"Being without wife or children," continued the 'Squire.

"O, dear! poor, dear old man, how _I_ shall miss him in this world of
sorrow and sin," sobs Lev, while old Williams bit his skinny lips, and
the neighbors again stroked their beards.

"To comfort my declining years--"

"Poor, _dear_ old man, he was to be pitied; I did all I could do,"
groaned the disconsolate Lev, "but I didn't do half enough."

"Passing coldly and cheerless through the world--" continued the
'Squire.

"Yes, he did, poor old man; O, dear!" says Lev.

"Cared for by none, hated and shunned by all (Lev looked vacantly over
his handkerchief, at the Squire), I have made up my mind (Lev all
attention) that no mortal shall benefit by me; I have therefore
mortgaged and sold (Lev's eyes spreading) everything I had of a dollar's
value in the world, and buried the money in the earth where none but the
devil himself can find it!"

There was a general snicker and stare--all eyes on Lev, his face as
blank as a sham cartridge, while old Williams's countenance fell into a
concatenation of grimaces and wrinkles--language fails to describe!

"But here's a codicil," says the 'Squire, re-adjusting his glasses.
"Knowing my nephew,