Found Again

I had thought this lost --
never again.

faucon

NON-FICTION

Last Will and Testament 1897
By Williston Fish, Attorney for his client Charles Loundsbury

I, Charles Lounsbury, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do now make and publish this last will and testament, in order, as justly as I may, to distribute my interests in the world among succeeding men… First, I give to good fathers and mothers, but in trust for their children, nevertheless, all good little words of praise and all quaint pet names, and I charge said parents to use them justly but generously as the needs of their children shall require.

I leave to children exclusively, but only for the life of their childhood, all and every dandelions of the fields and daisies thereof, with the right to play among them freely, according to the custom of children, warning them at the same time against the thistles. And I devise to children the yellow shores of creeks and the golden sands beneath the waters thereof, with the dragonflies that skim the surface of said waters, and the odors of the willows that dip into said waters, and the white clouds that float high over the giant trees.

And I leave to children the long, long days to be merry in, in a thousand ways, and the Night and the Moon and the train of the Milky Way to wonder at, but subject, nevertheless, to rights hereinafter given to lovers; and to each child the right to choose a star that will be his…

To lovers I devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need, as the stars of the sky, the red, red roses by the wall, the snow of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, or aught else they may desire to figure to each other the lastingness and beauty of their love.

And to those who are no longer children or youths or lovers I leave Memory…