The Mineral argus., 1883-11-15
How the Old Lady Beat John.
The Judges Story About the Will
That Wasn't Finished.

We had been driving Out some miles
in the afternoon, and coming home IN
the twilight, passed asubstantial locking
though very old farm house, with COM
Portable barns and on buildings indicating
a well TO do householder. The rich bot
tom lands which stretched away a hall
mile from the river 10 the hill SLOPES
covered with abundant birch and maple
were luxuriant with grain and corn.
That evening, wnen we were sitting IN
the library, after dinner, smoking and
chatting, l asked the judge: ITO whom
does that farm We passed OF the level
belong?'
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-
ple, because it was an established fact
of ancient date that he 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 n scattered
community is the recognized adviser 10
whom people can 90. My old friend
had inherited this position from his
father, who had been TO a former gen
Grafton what the son now was to his
n%eighbors. They came TO him on all Oc-
casions when thew needed counsel, and
he di the work Of a half dozen lawyers.
No one had died or could die comfOrta-
bly, and leave property, unless his will
had been drawn by Judge" He
had the perfect confidence Of all. Iiy-
ing from youth up among them, known
A. l. .aw sc .NHnnsAnA alnHuaNrAa
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 and services as
a matter Of friendship and n%eighborly
kindness, and not for fee or reward, his
position was one of commanding intlu-
ence. His influence was one Of com
handing too ioI the reason that he al
most never exerted it. lie took no
prominent port in politics, but in the
old times. before the war, there were at
least 20 voters in the town and many
more in the county. who could give no
other reason for their votes than this,
that they voted rs the Judge voted.
l 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 in that town, aud quietly
performed what he regarded as the duty
and pleasure of his position.
Wien asked him who was the wne
of that farm he laughed outright. and
after a moments pause, said, Il will
tell you a story"
Zone Stormy night, after midnight, l
was sitting here reading, the rest OF the
family having gone to bed long before,
auh... LII H. AfwAu o NhrrplnraI ~ fka
door knocker, and made noise enough
to wake the Seven Sleepers. 1t Is a way
he has, and neither my wife nor the
girls. who were reused out Of slumbNr,
nor | myself, had any question who was
at the door. / let him in myself and a
tempest Of wind and snow with him
The blast that drove him into my arm;
also put out the hall lights, whirled into
the library and flared the reading lamp
80 that 1t broke the chimney and blazec
mp TO a colored tissue affair which SUSIE
had put over the shade, ami set II OF
fire, and for a moment threatened a gen
eTal c~ouiagration of papers and book
on the table. Shut the door yourself,
] shouted. and rushed back here to pu
out the fire. That done, l went bacl
aud found the old doctor out OF breath
ia the dark, trying TO shut the doc
against the wind. 1t took the strengtI
Of both Of US TO do il. Then l told hlr
to find his way 10 the library, for h
knew 1t and l went OF in search
another lamp.
when | came back he was Just r,
covering his wind. and after a gasD o
two told me his Grand. old Mrs. No.
ton is dying. Sue can't live till mort
ing. ~She'salive now only on stimulant
She wants 10 make a Will and / hay
come for you"
ga nice night, l said for a two-mil
drive, to make a will for a woman WI
hasn't a cent in the world to leav
Why didn't you tell her so and Ia,
done with it,
"'Nbw look here,' said the doctc
sthis is a case of an old woman aud
old neighbOr and a friend, and 81
wants YOU to do something for her, al
you'll do It, fits only TO comfort b
last hours. Get vour things and cor
with me. We shall mott find her awe
you don't hurry, and you'll be sorry
that happens
THE upshot Of it was that l we
We had a fearful drive out 70 TIE far
house on the fat. which you are ask
about. Mrs. Norton was the widow
JOHN Norton, who had died f0rty-o
years before this. John Norton. VIII
he MARRIED her was a widOwer with q
son, John. He was a man Of cOnsid
able property. and when ne died lei
widow, that son John. by his first ".
and two sons by bis second vie. 4
elder 81 John osd never been on ',
warm terms Eitn hS stopnothsT,