The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-05
VOL. III.
J.:s:c Crane.

framed, and the judiciary system was es-
,ablished for the civil department, the Su-
preme Court, or that branch Of it called
the Circuit Court was appointed for
one Of the circuits in the county of Ouch
ess, and the eccentric Judge Crane was to
preside. Judge Crane was very wealthy,
and highly respected for his public and
private virtues, especially for his charl-
tableness to the poor; but he always ap-
peared in plain garb, and would hardly
ever wear an overcoat, whatever the
weather might be, and il was seldom that
he rode when he went abroad, although
he owned many valuable horses. On the
morning Of the day in which the court
was TO begin, .he judge set out before
day, and walked gently on, through hail,
rain and snow, to the appointed place.
On arriving at Poughkeepsie, cold and
wei, he walked to a tavern, where he
found the landlady and her servants were
making large preparations for the enter
tainmelt of the judges, lawyers, and other
gentlemen whom they expected would
attend the Circuit Court.
The Judge was determined to have
some sport, and in pleasant tone address
sed the landlady-l have no money and
was obliged to come to court, and have
walked through this dreadful storm more
than twenty miles. | am wet and cold,
dry and hungry want something to eat
before the court begins when the land
lady put herself into magisterial pos
ture, and putting on countenance of con
tempt, said 10 the Judge: you say you
are wet and cold, dry and hot; how can
all that be ! No, my dear madam, says
the Judge, said that was wet and cold,
and If you had been out as long as | have
been in this storm, think you would
Likewise be wet and cold. said that
wanted something to drink and eat. But
You have no money, you say, retorted the
landlady. told you the truth, says the
Judge, the whole truth and nothing but
the truth; anu were as rich as CrGsus
would be wiling to work fos something
to eat and 10 drink. .CrGsus, who is
CrGsus ? says the lady. never knew
him, said the Judge, but have understood
that he was very rich. want something
to eat and something to drink, and were
as poor as Job in his utmost calamity,
and had my health and strength as well
as | now have, would willingly go to
work little while, if could only ge,
something to drink and bite of good
vicluas. Well, old daddy says she, how
mach do you want to drink Half a gill
OF good brandy, madam, says he. Very
well, says she, will give you half a gill
and some old vicluals, if you will go into
the back yard and cut and split three arms
full Of wood, and bring it into the kitchen,
where the servants want to make a good
fire to dry the gentlemen's great coats
when they come, and after you get your
vicluals shall want you to GO away.
Well, says he, give me the brandy and
Ill soon bring the wood. lie drank the
liquor and walked quietly into the wood
yard, where he found good axe, and he
soon laid by the kitchen fire the proper
quantity Of wood, viz : his arm three times
full. The landlady had got his cold
luncheon on the table in hopes that he
would eat and be off. Now for the good
bite of victuals, says the judge. There
it is. said she coldly. And it is almost as
cold as myself, bu. no, half so wet, for
see neither tea, nor coffee, nor chocolate
to wet it. Beggars must not be choosers,
said she. | am not begging you, madam,
said he, bu. have paid the full price de-
manded. l told you, said she, would
give you cold victuals and there is cold
boiled ham, cold pork and beef, cold po-
tatoes and ,urnips, and cold vinegar,
pickles, and soup. and if you want any
thing hot, there is mustard and pepper,
and here is good bread, good butter, and
good cheese, and all good enough for such
an old ragamutfn as you are. 1t IS all
very good, said he, pleasantly, but ma
dam be so good as to let me have some
new milk, warm right from The COW, 10
wet these good victuals. The cows are
not MIXED, said she. Then let me have
bowl Of cold milk, said he. ] will not
send the servants in this storm TO the
spring-house to skim it for you, said she.
Said he, with pleasant smile, dear ma
dam, have good wife AT home, older
than you are, who would go out in a
worse storm than this, TO milk the cows,
and bring the milk TO the poorest man on
earth at his request; or to bring the milk
from the spring.housc, cream and ALL
vithom skimming. to feed the mos, abject
Of the human race. You have verv