Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-20

sat or stood in mute suspense, when the
judge gracefully raised himself up in
the chair, carelessly folded his arms
across his breast, and then, putting his
head awkwardly on one side, said:
"You reserved this seat for Judge
Crane, did you, landlady Z"
'sIndeedI did, said she.
lit was very kind" said he, in an
ironical tone, "but if you will step to
-the-door and see if he is coming, or send
one of the servants to call for him, with
your permission and the appreciation of
these gentlemen, with whom I have
some business to do, i will occupy tlis
seat until you shall find the Judge"
"Find the iudge!" said she with en-
phasis; ego look for him yourself, not
send me or my servants. I gave you
your breakfast this morning for chop
ping little wood, because you had no
money; and expected you would go
away quietly, and keep away, and now
you must come here to disturb gentle
men at dinner.
Here the whole joke burst upon the
minds of the gentlemen present, who fell
into a loud fit of laughter. After the
tumult had little subsidized, the Judge
said, mildly:
"Did I chop wood to pay for my
breakfast z"
"Indeed you did," said she, "and
said you had no money. "ub e.
" l told you the truth, said the Judge,
"but 1 have beautiful shawl, worth
more than ten dollars, which 1 just now
bought, and will leave it with you in
pawn, if you will only let me eat dinner
with these gentlemen.
Here the gentlemen were biting their
lips to keep from laughter.
"How did you buy the shawl worth
more than ten dollars, without money 2"
81 bought it on credit" said he.
"And where did you find credit to
that amount7" said she. =
81 brought it from home, said he.
''That is likely story, and something
like your abuse of Judge Crane, this
morning." said she. .E#tt
I .'How could abuse the Judge if he
was not present % said he.
"Why," says she, "you called him a
rusty, fpsty fudge, and old codger, and
said you did not care rye straw more
for him than you did for yourself"
I And here the whole company were in
an uproar of laughter again. But as
soon as it had little slbsided, one of
the gentlemen asked the landlady how
she knew that the gentleman she was
addressing was not Judge Crane? "He
looks more like a snipe than crane !''
said she. sa .e-E
Here the loud laughter burst forth a
third time. And after little pause the
Judge said: - ''-
81 must confess that I am not bird
of very fine feathers, but / assure you
} that l anna Crane, and crane is often a
very useful instrument. [ saw very
good one in your kitchen this morning
and sometimes an instrument called q
'crane is of incalculable use, madam"
9 Before she had time to reply, some OF
the gentlemen with whom she was &C
quainted, assured her that she was talk,
ing with the presiding Judge. Aston
| ished and confounded, she attempted
some excuse, and hastily asked his par
don for her rudeness.
The judge had by this time, unob-
served, taken from his pocket the beau
: tiful shawl, and folded it at full length
one way, and in a narrow form the other,
: and it being of very fine texture, ap
peared more like an elegant sash thar
: like valuable shawl. Then he arose
with graceful dignity, and with a hall
J smile, he advanced few steps TOWARD
the landlady, saying: cit is not my
. province to. pardon, but to judge; and
> Judge that you and L shall hereafter be
, friends-and I judge that you will, with
$ out hesitation, receive this as present
if not as pawn" SO saying, he gently
laid it over her shoulders, and acrosshel
l | arms, saying "Take it, madam, and dc
D not attempt to return it, for it was pur
. chased on purpose for a present tC
S YOU" :..t.,.w .'.-
n She hastily retired in confusion, hard
s ly knowing what she did, and took will
i her the shawl worth twelve dollars in
stead of ten. r..T .,.aE. t.1
S And here are three parties who hat
n each two good things. The landlad,
had good shawl and a good lesson t.
J, mediate upon-Hthe gentlemen had
l. good dinner and good joke to tall
overland the Judge had good inten
vt tons in the joke, and agood will anc
y ability to follow up the lesson given.