A chorus of exclamations broke forth as Alison ceased reading. "What astrange old lady! Father, was she really angry with you for not doing asshe wanted? And what was it?"
"She wanted me to go into politics, backed by her money; but I had nofancy for a politician's career, and I refused. Poor Aunt Justina! Shewas a very ambitious woman, and would have liked to see me President.Well, I am glad she felt more kindly at the last. I never wanted hermoney; but I am glad she has remembered you, daughter," said Mr. Fair,examining Alison's legacy with interest.
"Keep it bright! Why, you can see your face in it now," cried Floss,peering into its shining sides. "Sister, I don't see how you can wait to'fill and light it.' I would like to see it lighted right away."
"But she says, 'Keep it as it is until you are in some strait,'" saidAlison thoughtfully. "I would rather do just as she wished."
"So it will be just an ornament to stand on your table," said Billydisgustedly. "What a cranky old lady! What good will it do you?"
But Alison was not listening to him. A thought had flashed into hermind, and glancing at her mother she read the same thought in her eyes.Quietly she lifted her "wonderful lamp" and placed it in the center ofthe table for all to admire.
Then she went away to her own room to think it over. Was she ever likelyto be in a much greater strait than she was now? And would not AuntJustina want her to go to college? If the lamp was to shed light on herperplexities, surely now was the time it was needed.
A tap at the door heralded her mother. "What is my daughter thinkingof?" she asked, smiling.
"Of the same thing you are, mother. I see it in your face. Would it beagainst Aunt Justina's wishes, to light the lamp now? She must havemeant _something_. And--if there is nothing more, after all--if it doesnot 'shed light on my perplexities,' at any rate, it is valuable initself. But--I could hardly need its help more than I do now."
"I thought of that, too, Alison, and I think it could not be wrong toinvestigate. Shall we fill it now, and wait until dark to light it?"
The question settled, they all gathered round while Alison unscrewed theold-fashioned burner of the lamp. "Maybe there is some magic about it,"she said, laughing nervously. "I feel like Aladdin. Shall I try rubbingit first? But it doesn't need any rubbing to brighten it."
The screw was a little stiff, but presently it turned. She removed itand peered curiously in the top.
"It is stuffed full of paper," she said. "More packing, I suppose. Waittill I pull it out."
"Careful," her father said, as she drew out a folded paper. He took itfrom her, and waited while she drew out another and another of the thinfolded slips, until he had a handful. The bowl was large, and held agood many of those folded papers. When Alison had drawn out the lastone, and turned to him, quite pale with excitement, he placed the packetin her hand.
"Alison, child, it is two thousand dollars!"
"Two thousand! Oh, father! Oh, mother!"
The children wondered why "Sister" should cry because her wonderful lampwas full of money; but her mother understood.
"Only I don't feel that it ought to be mine," she said presently. "Itought to be yours, father. Please take it. I am sure Aunt Justina meantit for you. It is too much money for me to spend."
"No, little daughter. I think Aunt Justina knew very well what she wasabout. She wanted me to know that she had forgiven my obstinacy, and soshe left it to my daughter. You may use it with a clear conscience. Youhave borne the disappointment bravely, and we are glad you should havethis bequest."
He kissed her, and Alison hid her face on his shoulder for a moment,quite overcome with joy and surprise and gratitude, and then ran away toher own room without another word.
"Mother," she said later, when it had been talked over and decided thatshe was to go back to Briarwood in September, "I wish Aunt Justinacould know how happy she has made me."
"Perhaps she does; and if so, I am sure it would please her to know thatyou are making a wise and good use of her legacy; all the more becausethese weeks of trial and disappointment have taught you the value of theschool years; and the discipline of patience will have made you strongerand better able to use them wisely."
"Oh, I will; and I hope Aunt Justina knows," breathed Alison, dimmingthe shining surface of her wonderful lamp with a few happy tears.