to pay their
bills, and don't know where the next dollar's to come from, it's a great
temptation to be kind o' valooin' riches, and mebbe envyin' those that's
got 'em; whereas when one's accounts all pays themselves, and the money
comes jest when its wanted regular, a body feels sort o' composed like,
and able to take the right view o' things, like Parson Lothrop.

"Wal, arter sermon the relations all went over to the old house to hear
the will read; and, as I was kind o' friend with the family, I jest
slipped in along with the rest.

"Squire Jones he had the will; and so when they all got sot round all
solemn, he broke the seals and unfolded it, cracklin' it a good while
afore he begun; and it was so still you might a heard a pin drop when
he begun to read. Fust, there was the farm and stock, he left to his son
John Brown over in Sherburne. Then there was the household stuff and all
them things, spoons and dishes, and beds and kiver-lids, and so on, to
his da'ter Polly Blanchard. And then, last of all, he says, he left to
his da'ter Miry _the pitcher that was on the top o' the shelf in his
bedroom closet_.

"That 'are was an old cracked pitcher that Miry allers hed hated the
sight of, and spring and fall she used to beg her father to let her
throw it away; but no, he wouldn't let her touch it, and so it stood
gatherin' dust.

"Some on 'em run and handed it down; and it seemed jest full o'
scourin'-sand and nothin' else, and they handed it to Miry.

"Wal, Miry she was wrathy then. She didn't so much mind bein' left out
in the will, 'cause she expected that; but to have that 'are old pitcher
poked at her so sort o' scornful was more'n she could bear.

"She took it and gin it a throw across the room with all her might; and
it hit agin the wall and broke into a thousand bits, when out rolled
hundreds of gold pieces; great gold eagles and guineas flew round
the kitchen jest as thick as dandelions in a meadow. I tell you, she
scrabbled them up pretty quick, and we all helped her.

"Come to count 'em over, Miry had the best fortin of the whole, as
'twas right and proper she should. Miry she was a sensible gal, and
she invested her money well; and so, when Bill Elderkin got through his
law-studies, he found a wife that could make a nice beginnin' with him.
And that's the way, you see, they came to be doin' as well as they be.

"So, boys, you jest mind and remember and allers see what there is in a
providence afore yo