The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-08-12
JUDGE CRANE AND. THE LAND
LADY.
Reminiscenee OF Poughkeepsie

Just after the nrst Republican con
stitution Of the State Of New York ga
framed and tue circuit branch Of tn
Supreme Court was established, Judg,
Crane, au eccentric aud wealthy man
Was chosen 20 preside ~ the first sIttln;
e the conr. in Duchess county
The HIgh Sheriff Of the county ".
also the popular landlord Of the hote
a. which the Judge and lawyers woulc
have 20 stop. The county town VA
Poughkeepsie. During the war OF III,
Revolution 1t was turned into an inn
and 10 1857 the State Legislature he!C
its session there. II was finally removed
in 1885.
Judge Crane was remarkable for thu
plainDess Of his dress and habits ant
for his foudness for joke. The Sher.
if-landlord had q wife, who, like ka-
trina Van Winkle. knew her power anC
asserted it, The first morning the court
sat Judge Crane walked from his resi-
dence five miles away, through driv
/ log storm Of rain. hail and snow, and
entering the tavern said.
/ i have no money and was obliged e
come 70 court bave walked through
this dreadful storm and am wet and
cold, dry and hungry. | want some.
thing 10 eat before court begins
The landlady. with a countenance
indicative OF contempt. said:
'You say you are wet and cold. dry
and hot How can all that be =
No. my dear madam, said the Judge
/ SAID was wet and cold, and had you
been out in this storm. as / have been.
you would also be- wet and cold. | said
! wanted something 70 eat aud drink.
But you have no money. you say,
SAID the landiady.
Il told you the truth, the who'll.
truth, and nothing but the truth. was
the Judge answer. But were IS rich
"a Crpsus, l would be willing 10 work
for something to eat aud drink
.Crususs Who IL Crrius, quericd
the landlady.
Il never knew him. sid the Jul. o.
Il have understood he was rich. want
something 70 eat and drink. and " a.
poor A. job in his utmost calamity
won!d willingly z" tn work IA little while
If conld get something to brink and
bit of good victuals.'
We'll, old Daddy said sh". now
much 10 you want to drink
Half gill Of good brandy. malam.
said he
She gave him gill of brandy, and
then instructed him To 90 10 the wood
pile and cut for her three armfuls of
wood, and she would give him some
cold victuals He fulfilled his part of
the contract faithfully. and. having
placed the wood on the hearth, said
Now for the victuals'
She gave him some cold bits. upon
which he exclaimed;
'Ic is almost as cold as l am. but not
half so wet, and see neither tea. coffee
nor chocolate with which to wet it,
'Beggars are no. choosers.' said she.
Il am not begging of you. madam,
but have paid the full price demand
ed said he.
1 told YOU, she answered, that l
would give you cold victusls, and there
is cold bolled ham, cold pork and beef.
cold potatoes and turnips. and cold VIM
egar, pickles and soup. and II you want
pepper. and here is good bread. good
butter and cheese. all good enough for
such an old ragsmuffin as you are
Very good, madam, said he, 'be so
good as to let me have SONS new milk.
warm. right from the COW, to wet these
good victuals.
The cows are not MIXED, she said.
Then let me have q bowl Of cold
milk
L will not send a servant out in this
storm to skim milk for you,' was her
angry answer,
The Judge replied pleasantly. 4
have good wife at home, my dear
madam, older than you are. who would
90 out in q worse storm than this TO
milk the cows and bring the milk to
tho poorest man on earth at his re-
quest; or bring the milk from the
spring house. cream and all. without
skimming. to feed the most abject Of
the human race.
You have Q very good wife at home.
she said.
Indeed l have, msdsm. and she keeps
my clothes clean and whole; and not
withstandin2 you called me an old rag.
amuiiin. am not ashamed 10 appear
abroad in the clothes | wear in any
good company.
After some further psrley, she told
him she wanted him Ia be cf, as she
wanted the fire to dry the gentlemen 8
great co ITS and umbrellas. and pArticu.
larly Judge Cranes
Judge Crane ? said the Judge. Who
is Judge Crane
The Circuit Judge. Que Of the Su-
prcme Judges, you old fool " she re.
piled tsrtly.
Well. ! will bet you q goose that
Judge Crane has not had and will not
have = great coat on his back nor an
umbrella over his head today was the
rejoinder.
She called him an old goose. and told
him to he of, but he said be did not
care Q rye straw for Judge Crane any
more than he did for himself. aud il
was likely that be would so right over
to the courtsinstead Of coming TO the
tavern. and wound up with saying be
knew some people said he WAS nothing
but . rusty. fusty, crusty old judge.
The Indignant old lady went to work
with will 10 drive away her plain
spoken guest, and only succeeded after