The Delaware farmer., 1883-11-16

Ee~N~~~-
tial-looking, though very old farm house,
with comfortable barns and out-build-
ings, indicating well-to-do householder.
The rich bottom lands which stretched
away half mile from the river to the
hill slopes, covered with abundant birch
and maple we're 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 belong? ?"
When asked him the question, the
Judge laughed outright, and after mo-
ment's pause, said: 81 will tell you
story.
cone stormy, winter night, after mid
night 1 was sitting here reading, the rest
of the family having gone to sleep long
before, when old DR.. Strong thundered
at the door r-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
slumber, nor myself, had any question
who was at the door. I let him in myself,
and 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 fared the reading !
lamp so that it broke the chimney, and |
blazed up to a colored tissue-paper
affair which Susie had put over the
shade, set it on fire, and for moment
threatened a general confagratiOn of
papers and books on the table.
{" Shut the door yourself, I shouted,
and rushed back here to put out the
fire. That done, went back and found
the old doctor out of breath, in the
dark, trying to shut the door against
the wind. 1t took the strength of both
of us to do it. Then told him to find
his way to the library, for he knew it,
and I went off in search of another
lamp.
''When I came back, he was just re-
covering his wind, and after a gasp or
two, told me his errand. old Mrs.
Norton is dying. She can't live till
She's alive now only on stimu- {
Iants. She wants to make will, and 1 {
have come for you.
"'A nice night I said, for two
nile drive to make a will for a woman
who hasn't cent in the world to leave.
Why didn't you tell her so, and have
lone with it?'
"'Now, look here, said the doctor, ,
this is a case of an old woman, and an
Id neighbor and a friend, and she
wants you to do something for her, and
QUILL do it, if it is only to comfort her
ast hours. Get your things and come t.
With me. We shall not find her alive if "
on don't hurry, and you'll be sorry if n
hat happens c.
''The upshot of it was that l went. Il
Ve had fearful drive out to the farm -
ouse on the fist, which you are asking Fl
bout. Mrs. Norton was the widow of ir
ohm Norton, who died forty odd years OF
efore this. John Norton, when he eC
iarried her, was a widower with one in
IN, John. He was man Of considera- e1
Ie property, and when he died left a le
idow, that son John by his first wife, cl
I'd two sons by his second wife. The al
der son, John, had never been on very Ell
arm terms with his stepmother, and th
r some years had had no intercourse lii
it'll the family. pc
''I found the old lady lying in the big be
ON, on a great bedstead on one side ta'
the room, opposite to the broad chin on
y, in which was a roaring fire, the to
.ly light in the room. After the doc de
r had spoken to her and administered ol'
a stimulant, suppose, he un
me over to me and said in a whisper, ms
-urry up, she's very weak. -, -,
81 had broaght paper and pen and sIi,
( with me, I found a stand and tax
ndle, placed them at the head of the
d, and after saying few
rds TO her, told her I was ready to I
epare the will, if she would now go on wa,
/ tell me what she wanted me to do +oli
7rote the Introductory phrase rapidly, sac
leaning over toward her said: tbil
DIV go on, Mrs. Norton Her voice NAT
) quite faint, and she seemed to speak Mo
in an effort. She said: First of all Fio
ant to give the farm to my sons, Sec
rry and James; just put that down. At
it, said I, you can't do that, Mrs. be
rton; the farm isn't yours to give entI
~. one
The farm isn't mine she said in cou
DICE decidedly STRONGER than before inor