Mr. Meekly read the will aloud, from beginning to end, and, in returning it to me, he cast a very give-it-up-sort of look at Daggett.  The latter inquired, with some anxiety,—­

“Is there any schedule of the property accompanying the will?”

“There is, sir,” returned Mr. Harrison; “and directions on it where to find the certificates of stock, and all the other evidences of debts—­such as bonds and mortgages.  Of the last, several are in my own possession.  I presume the bond of this Mr. Wallingford was kept by the testator himself, as a sort of family thing.”

“Well, sir, you will find that none of the stock has been touched; and I confess this bond, with a few notes given in Genessee, is all that I have been able to find.  We have been surprised at discovering the assets to be so small.”

“So much the better for you, Mr. Daggett.  Knowing what I do, I shall only give up the assets I hold to the executor and heir.  Your letters of administration will be set aside, as a matter of course, even should you presume to oppose us,—­which I should hardly think advisable.”

“We shall not attempt it, Mr. Harrison,” Meekly said, hastily; “and we expect equal liberality from your client.”

So much for having a first-rate lawyer and a man of character on my side.  Daggett gave the whole thing up, on the spot,—­re-conveying to me Clawbonny before he quitted, though the sale would unquestionably be set aside, and subsequently was set aside, by means of an amicable suit.  A great deal remained to be done, however; and I was obliged to tear myself away from Lucy, in order to do it.  Probate of the will was to be made in the distant county of Genessee—­and distant it was from New York, in 1804!  The journey that could be made, to day, in about thirty hours, took me ten days:  and I spent near a month in going through the necessary forms, and in otherwise settling my affairs at the west, as that part of the State was then called.  The time, however, was not wasted below.  Mr. Hardinge took charge of everything at Clawbonny, and Lucy’s welcome letters,—­three of which reached me weekly,—­informed me that everything was re-established in the house, on the farm, and at the mill.  The Wallingford was set running again, and all the oxen, cows, horses, hogs, &c., &c., were living in their old haunts.  The negroes were reinstated, and Clawbonny was itself again!  The only chants made wore for the better; the occasion having been improved, to paint and new-vamp the house, which Mr. Daggett’s parsimony had prevented him from defacing by modern alterations.  In a word, ‘Masser Mile’ was alone wanting to make all at the farm happy.  Chloe had communicated her engagement to ‘Miss Lucy,’ and it was understood Neb and his master were to be married about the same time.  As for Moses, he had gone up to Willow Cove, on a leave of absence.  A letter received from him, which now lies before me, will give a better account of his proceedings and feelings than I can write myself.  It was in the following words, viz.: