[00:12]Last will and testament of Charles Lounsberry [00:18]In the pocket of an old ragged coat belonging to an elderly man in Chicago, a will was found, after his death. [00:29]It went like this: [00:32]I, Charles Lounsberry, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, [00:45]in order, as justly as may be, to distribute my interests in the world among succeeding men. [00:54]That part of my interests which is known in law and recognized in the sheep-bound volumes as my property, being inconsiderable and of no account, [01:08]I make no disposition of this in my Will. My right to live, being but a life estate, is not at my disposal, [01:19]but, these things excepted, all else in the world I now proceed to devise and bequeath. [01:28]ITEM: I give to good fathers and mothers, in trust to their children, all good little words of praise and encouragement, [01:41]and all quaint pet names and endearments; and I charge said parents to use them justly, [01:49]but generously, as the deeds of their children shall require. [01:55]ITEM: I leave to children inclusively, but only for the term of their childhood, all and every, [02:06]the flowers of the field, and the blossoms of the woods, with the right to play among them freely according to the custom of children, [02:17]warning them at the same time against the thistles and the thorns. And I devise to the children the banks of the brooks and the golden sands beneath the waters thereof, [02:32]and the odors of the willows that dip therein, and the white clouds that float high over the giant trees. [02:42]And I leave the children the long, long days to be merry in a thousand ways, and the night and the moon and the train of the Milky Way to wonder at, but subject, nevertheless, to the rights hereinafter given to lovers. [03:05]ITEM: I devise to boys jointly all the idle fields and commons where ball may be played, [03:17]all pleasant waters where one may swim, all snow-clad hills where one may coast, and all streams and ponds where one may fish, or where, [03:30]when grim winter comes, one may skate, to have and to hold the same for the period of their boyhood. And all meadows, [03:42]with the clover-blossoms and butterflies thereof; the woods with their appurtenances: the squirrels and birds and echoes and strange noises; [03:55]and all distant places, which may be visited, together with the adventures there to be found. [04:03]And I give to said boys, each his own place at the fireside at night, with all pictures that may be seen in the burning wood, [04:15]to enjoy without hindrance and without any encumbrance of care. [04:22]ITEM: To lovers, I devise their imaginary world, with whatever they may need, as the stars of the sky, the red roses by the wall, [04:37]the bloom of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, and anything else they may desire to figure to each other the lastingness and beauty of their love. [04:51]ITEM: To young men jointly, I devise and bequeath all boisterous inspiring sports of rivalry, [05:02]and I give to them the disdain of weakness and undaunted confidence in their own strength. [05:09]Though they are rude, I leave them the powers to make lasting friendships, and of possessing companions, [05:20]and to them exclusively I give all merry songs and brave choruses to sing with lusty voices. [05:30]ITEM: And to those who are no longer children, or youths, or lovers, [05:38]I leave memory, and bequeath to them the volumes of the poems of Burns and Shakespeare, and of other poets, [05:49]if there be any, to the end that they may live the old days over again, freely and fully without tithe or diminution. [06:00]ITEM: To the loved ones with snowy crowns, I bequeath the happiness of old age, [06:10]the love and gratitude of their children until they fall asleep.

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