The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-05


have your broad brimmed hat off you look
middlng well, but want you TO eat and
be off, for we want the fire to dry the
gentlemen's great coats and umbrellas by;
and among the rest we expect JudgeCrane.
Judge Crane says the judge, who Is
Judge Crane! The circuit judge, says
she, one of the supreme judges, you old
fool. Well, says the Judge, | will bet q
goose that Judge Crane has not had, and
will not have great coat on his back, or
an umbrella over his head, this day. You
old goose, said she, care nothing for your
bets. Eat and be of; tell you Judge
Crane is to be here, and we've no room
for you. don't care, said he, one rye
straw more for Judge Crane than l do Tor
myself, and it has got to be so late, that II
he has to come at this time of day, he
would more likely 60 direct to the court
house, and stay until dinner time, than go
to any tavern; and if business was yely
urgent, he would be very likely to stay
away even from dinner. know some
thing about the old codger, and some peo-
pie say he is a rusty crusty old judge.
Pretty talk indeed, says the landlady,
about the supreme judge. Now eat your
cold check and be off, or be of without
eating, just as you please. tell you,
says the judge, Judge Crane is not the
supreme judge, and if he were, he is no
more Fl! TO be a judge than | am. Well
now be of with yourself, says she. Don't
be in so great hurry, said he mildly. |
wish to know who is the landlord here
| wish to know where he is! He is the
high sheriff of the county, and won't be
home till night; but if he were here you
would not stay long. Well madam, said
he, give us a cup Of cider to wet my VIC
tuals, if you won't give me milk. Not a
drop, says her ladyship. The Judge who
had now got pretty well warmed and dried,
and wished for his breakfast, put on a
stern counlenance, and positively decla-
red he would not leave the room and fire
until he pleased. But, added he, if you
will grant my request will eat and he
off. The cider was Immediately brought,
and the Judge partook heartily of the coal
laton before him, took his broad brimmed
hat, and gently walked 20 the court house
where he found good fires and clean floors,
and during the court hours presided with
dignity and propriety.
When the Judge withdrew, the landlady
anxiously looked after him for some time,
as he walked steadily on towards the
court house, supposing him to be some
poor man summoned up to court as wit
ness, or some culprt, or some vagabond
who might give her further trouble III time
Of court, and expressed to her servants a
desire that they would see that he did not
disturb the gentlemen and the Judge who
nigh. put up there. While some of the
girls declared that if lie did come, they
would use some Of his own expressions,
which he used respecting Judge Crane.
lac; me see, says one, "rusty crusiy,"
yes, and " lus,y old fudge" says another.
When dinner was announced, the court,
not being throngcd, was Immediately adj
journed, and the day being stormy and
cold, the judges and lawyers poured into
The sheriii's tavern, where they were all
sure of good fires and good fare, all eX-
cept Judge Crane, who walked to store
and purchased valuable shawl, and put
it into his pocket on the inside of his coat,
then walked quietly to the tavern. While
he was thus detained, the andIady enter
ed the dining room and earnestly inquired
ifJudgc Crane had cone in. The answer
was, "nol yet, madam, and perhaps he
may not come The landIady, who was
anxious to pay the highest respect to the
supreme Judge. retired 10 the kitchen, not
a little chagrined, or disappointed. In
the mean time the judge arrived, and be-
ing at proper times very soclablc, and al
all times fond of cheering the minds OF
those present, he begen to make some
pertinent remarks, and TO tell some lively
anecdotes, intended to convey good NOR
ais, which set the whole company into an
uproar Of laughter. And at this instant,
one of the waiting maids entered the room
TO inform the gentlemen tina, they might
sit down to dinner.-She did her errand
and hastened back to her mistress with the
tidings, tina. the old fusty fellow. with his
broad brimmeJ hat on, was right in among
the bare headed gentlemen, talking as loud
as he could, and all the judges and law
yers were laughing at lim.-'I'hen go,
said she, and whisper to the old man that
| wish him 10 come into the kitchen. The
errand was done accordingly, and the
Judge in Il low tone OF voice said to iae