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Show MAKING A WILL. Advice to People Who Have Earthly Riches. LISTING ONE'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS. While Alive Determine to Whom Tour Possessions Shall Fall. Ever' one cannot Induto In the ensa-tiou ensa-tiou of making a will whieh disposes of millions. But every ono cau attain a degTee of satisfaction to one's self by making a disposition of one's possessions. We accept it as a matter of- course that the rich man and the rich woman shall bequeath his or her estate to certain heirs suggested by nature or choice, but the ordinary, everyday people in the world live along- without much thought of a time wuen somebody else shall possess their all, bo it much or little. Indeed, the very suggestion of making a will is regarded by very many sensible men as a , harbinger of evil, a certain preparation , for a dreaded time which is sure to bring It nearo?. Especially is this true of self rrxide men of i certain age, who have a like dread of moving Into a now, fine house which they have built late in life and which they leave untenanted for as long a time as possible from a superstitious supersti-tious dread. MSTUfO OKE'B BO-ONOIKOS. Yet the idea of making one's will, if squarely faced, is rather a pleasant one. All of us, especially all women, have certain cer-tain possessions which are valued for one reason or another, perhaps from association associa-tion or fancy, perhaps for love of a giver or real intrinsic worth, and each is probably prob-ably aware that some other body has an admiration for and would take good care of that particular thing, while tho persons per-sons to whom the disposal of it would naturally fall might set no value on it whatever. A ease presents itself to view Just now of a little home made pluBh covered cov-ered stand, not very well finished, not much of an ornamental addition to any room, yet of inestimable value to a widow, because it chanced to bo tho last bit of work from the dear hands which had been her support through a long and happy married life. It chanced that during dur-ing the manufacture of this article a young friend was paying a visit to these people and enjoyed with them the interest inter-est in, and diversion of, watching the table grow under the tinkerer's hands, and one day made the remark, re-mark, thoughtlessly and carelessly, "You must will this to me." Shortly after the sudden death of this gentleman gentle-man the wife informed tho friend that she had straightway gone and put this bequest in her will. I)o you think there is uo comfort, perhaps only very occasional, occa-sional, hut still a comfort, in thinking that it will become the possession of one who, too, watched with interest every inch of plush glued on, every nail driven in, and will value it in quite another way than any other person? Nor is this at all an exceptional case. With almost every possession is some other person associated, and very likely none other, as, for instance, some little child who always begged to bo allowed to hold for a minute to her tiny breast tho small bust of Flora, which ornamented a bracket In "auntie's" room, or a favorite young cousin who always smoothed with tender touch the rich folds of your best velvet gown, or the friend who studied with you that history of sculpture in your middle life and brought back an unexpected unex-pected glimpse of youth and school girl friendships to you both, or the boy who helped you plant In yon big jar and care for season after season that growing palm? Who will have the same thoughts and such gratification In tho ownership of these things as they? to whom can you give a stronger proof of the lessons of kindly rememorance and friendship? NOT AT ALL UNPLEASANT. Is there no joy in making these little plans to please others, so that when tne veil of darkness shuts you from their sight, your going may not be all an unbroken un-broken pain that no tender thoughts of how you had planned to remain in their thoughts should follow you on the unknown un-known voyago to the mysterious beyond? While this, perhaps, is tho strongest argument ar-gument for persons who possess only trifling things to make a will, thero ia another, an-other, too, which has a pleasant side. Few of us have the slightest idea of what we have; things accumulate so fast. In a good sized family of comfortable means thero are enough things of value given at one Christmas season to warrant the making of a will. Tho listing of what one does possess is a pleasant occupation, full of surprises, and would fill many weary hours for elderly peoplo, whose waning eyesight and general feebleness debars them from activo Interests and employments and leaves their lives bat a quiet season of waiting. Did you ever lose a friend and feel an irresistible lougiug for something that was hers? It might bo that she had presented pre-sented you with many things, but none could give you tho satisfaction that would ensuo if you had any old book or littlo picture sho had loved and prizod. When one goes away from home it Is usual to see that all which is left behind 1b properly cared for. Why, then, not follow fol-low the Bame natural instinct when leaving leav-ing them behind forever? To those who had jewels and laces, plate and costly china, it seems as absolutely a wrong not to arrange for their disposal, Just as is done in the case of money and other es- tateB. Heirs are merely human, often very human, possessing tho faults and frailties of their race as well as the virtues, vir-tues, and ho or she who can adjust his aflairs in such order and with such simple directness that thero are no wranglings over them is not only a wise man but a public benefactor. For nothing con give to tho world a lower opinion of mankind than the published accounts of tho greed and disputes over an estate. "S. S. E. M. " lu Chicago Herald. |