River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-08
How the Old Lady Beat John.
The Judges Story About the Will
That Wasn't Finished.

I0rlaDIe b8rns ana on buildings indlCL Ting
a well to DO householder. The rich be-,
tom lands which stretched away a hal.
mile from the river to the bill Slope
covered with abundant birch and maple
were luxuriant with grain and corn.
That evening, when we were sitting in
the library, after dinner, smoking and
chatting, asked the Judge: TO whom
does that farm We passed on the level
beIong2'
The judge Is not and never was on the
bench Yet long as | had known him,
and that was a long time, he had been
called Judge" by all the country peo-
pie, because it was an established fact
OF ancient date that ne decided most Of
the disputes and differences, commercial
and social, which arose in that part OF
the country. 1t is frequently the case,
as here, that one man in a scattered
community is the recognized adviser to
whom people can 60. sly old friend
had inherited this position from his
father, who had been to q former gen
GRAFTON what the son now was to his
neignbors. They came to him on all o.
casion5 when they needed counsel, and
be III the work Of q half dozen LAWYERS.
No one had died or could die comforta-
bly, and leave property, unless his will
bad been drawn bv Judge" He
had the perfect confidence Of all. Liy-
ing from youth up among them, known
to be man of extended education,
whose life was passed in study, but who
was also a practical farmer of great skill
aud success, having large property, and
always giving his advice aud services as
a matter of friendship and neighbOrly
kindness and not for fee or reward, his
position was one of commanding intiu-
ence His influence was one Of COM
manding too iOr the reason that he al
most never excTted it. lie took no
prominent port in politics, but in the
old times. before the war, there were at
least 30 voters in the town and many
more in the county. who could give no
other reason for their votes than this,
that they voted as the judge voted.
/ have said that he drew the wills for
people who had property. This was no
small generosity, for 1t involved much
time and often great inconvenience. But
the Judge was an essential part of the So
cial structure III that town, aud quietly
performed what he regarded as the duty
and pleasure of his position.
Wien asked him who was the owner
of that farm he laughed outright, and
after a moments pause, said, Il will
tell you q story"
Zone a.ormy night, after midnight,
was sitting mere reading, the rest Of the
family having gone to bed long before,
when old DIR. Strnn5 Numbered at the
door knocker, and made noise enough
to wake the Seven Sieepers. 1t Is n way
he has, and neither my wife nor the
girls who were reused out of slumb2r,
nor I myself, had any question who was
at the door. | let hun in myself and q
tempest of wind and snow with him.
The blast that drove him into my arms
also put out the hall lights, whirled into
the library and flared the reading lamp
80 that ii broke the chimney and blazed
up TO a ColOred tissue affair which Susie
bad put over the shade, ami set it on
fire, and for moment threatened gen
eral Confagration of papers and books
on the table. Shut the door yourself,
7 shouted, and rushed bacS here to put
ont the fire. That done, / went BAGS
and found the old doctor out of breath,
III the dark, trying to shut the door
against the wind. 1t took the strength
of both of us II do it. Then | told him
to find his way to the library, for he
knew it and | went off in search of
another Lamp.
''When [ came back he was Just re-
covering his wind, aud after gasp or
two told me his errand. odd Mrs. Nor
ton IS dying. She can't live till morn
ing. She's alive now only on stimulants.
She wants to make a Will and have
come for you
A nice night | said for a two-mile
drive, to make n Will fora woman who
hasn't cent in the world to leave
Why didn't You tell her so and have
done with it,
Now look here said the doctor,
this Is a case of an old woman aud an
old neighbor and q friend, and she
wants YOU to do something for her, and
you'll do it, if it's only to comfort her
last hours. Get vour things and come
with me- We shall not find her alive if
YOU don't hurry, and you'll be sorry ii
that happens
The upsbot of it was that | went
We had a fearful drive ont to the farm
house on the flat, which you are asking
about. Mrs. Norton was the widow of
JOHN Norton, who had died forty-Odd
years before this. john Norton, when
he a3rried her mas a widoWer with one
son. John. He was a man Of consider
IpIe property. and when ne died left Il
widow, that son John, by his first wife,
ana two sons nv his second wife. The
elder son John hai never been on very
warm terms with his stepm0ther, an
Tor some years had had no intercourse
with thc family.
Il found the old lady lying in the big
room, on q great bedstead on one sid.
OF the room, opposite to the broad chin
fire. tine only light in the room.
After the doctor had spoken
10 her AID admjs,ered something. q
stimulanf, I suppose ne came over 10 me
and sdlt in whisper: Hurry up; she's
very weak
Il had brought paper and pen and
ink VITA me. | found a stand and q
ndle. paced them st the head of the
bed, and after sayIuGa lew WOE s to
.4eT. tod her / WAS ready to prepare the
viii, If she would now 20 on and tell
me " hat she wanted to do. l wrote the
Introductory phrJ rapid p, and lean
ing over toward her said; "NOw go on,
Mrs Norton Her voice was quite
FAINT. and she seemed 10 speak with an
effort. She sand: First OF all | want
Is give tile farm 10 ny sons Harry and
James; just put that down But, "
said | ''you can't 30 that, Mrs. Norton
the farm isn't yours to give away"
The farm isn't mine" she said in
voice decidedly stronger than be-
fore.
NO. the farm isn't yours. You have
only lille interest In it,"
This farm that I've run for goin' on
fortv-three wear next spring ISN'T mine
10 do what | please W IN it. Why not,
iudze2 Id Ike 70 know what you
mean
Why, Mr. y 1rton, your husband, gave
You life estate ia all his property
and on your death the farm goes 10 his
son john. and You children get the
village houses
AID when die John Norton is &c
have tt..s house and farm whsther VIII
or no.
.''Just 50. 1t he his
'Ihen | amt going 10 die said the
old woman id clear ana decidedly
ringing and healthy voice. And so saw
iES she threw feet over the front Of tie
bed, sat up. gathered blanket and
coverhd a3Jut Her. straighteued u0 her
eaunt form, walked across the roo II and
sat down in 4 great chair before the fire
The doctor ami l came home. Tina
was fifteen years ago. The Old LADY
alive to-day. Aud she accomplished
her intent. She beat John after all
He died four years ago, in Boston, and
don't know what WILL be left. Bu
whoever CON. into the farmhouse
when she goes out, il will not be John
And since Johns death the farm ha
been better kept. and everything abou
it is in vastly better condition for strang
ers than il would have been for john