Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-16

IN lending money and shaving notes, but
with all his snaartness and success in
pilings up some $5U, 900 in this hard cor
ner ola wilderness, his executors End
that many Of his mortgages cover land so
poor as to be hardly worth the paper
they are written on. The first money. he
earned when he was q boy.for chopping
wood one winter in pine swamp he put
into the New London bank, and it re-
manned there untouched to his dying
day. When last he looked it up it had
increased to nearly $3;uuO. He had q
wife hut be Spent little money upon her
and it was to save it that he married her.
Her Datue was charity Norman. Fifty
years ago Charity Norman was red
checked tailoress of thirty. In those
Gays country tailoresses used to 20 about
from house to house with their work
bags to stock up the
mems wardrobes for the
winter. Old Col. Hepthania Newton
was merry Yankee, who, unlik e his
son John, loved Jolly company and good
clothes, and Charity used to be called
TO his household semi-a,nually, and
many blue coat with silver bu tons
did she make for Col. Newton. While
she was there one fall Col. Ne wton died !,
Everything was changed then at the
Newton homestead. Charity kindly
lent hand in the house, and proved to
be such a sklllfui housekeeper that
John, who was Col. Newton's only child.
persuaded her to stay asd help him car
ry On the farm. She MIXED his cows,
Weeded hts onions, made bus butter and
pedt'led his procure in Norwich for
yea g. She Was mine of w. alth and
1aith.u to John, but in an evil day he
into his head that he wanted to get rid
of her. Then Charity's big brother
stepped in and threa tened breach of
promise suit fol- $500 damages if John
did not marry his sister. john, after
handing back little, led her to the al
tar rather than part with the money.
He was ~ then and she was So. Mrs.
Newton now says that he bought er
only one thing during all their married
life, and that was pair OF shoes.
A few days ago, when John Newton
knew that his life was nearly ended.
being unable TO get off his bed, he sent
for q P nnsyl vania relative, to whom he
intended to give his property, to come
On an helln him make his will. IT, man
came, and while Charity Was busy with
her cooking, she heard enough Of their
talk to convince her that The poor mort
cages were to be gwen to her as her
share, and the cash was going to the
Pennsylvania cousin. She resolved a
bit of strategy. Going Up stairs she
pulled an old hair trunk out from under
the caves. and drawing it up before the
garrett window examined it's contents. It
had been John Newton's private savings
bank and safe deposit vault for years. It
contained $60n in old gold coin. 1900 in
silver and $27 900 in Government bonds
and securities. Satisfying herself tina: it
was all there, she went down stairs to
her bedroom, put on her brown hood,
her calf~skin shoes and and q clean
apron, and started for Norwich, where
she consulted lawyer.
When she came ba K she proceeded
to carry out the lawyers instructions.
No one but her husband knew of the
whereabouts ofthe concealed treasure.
and she feared that he might tell his
cousin. So late at night she visited the
chest, this time with her biggest dinner
kettle in her hand. She transferred the
Cash to the kettle. and, huggin the $27,-
OW'parcei Ill one hand, she CROPPED her
way q >wn the stairs in the dark, and SET
the kettle under the sink.
1T was the first thing ever refused
to obey Mr.. Newton" she said, in re-
latina the story. lit made me feel ew-
fui, but / had to do it. The next dav
Mr.. Newton cal'e1 out for me to bring
down his money. said to him. Il can't
do that, Mr.. Newton-John.' Then told
hin now poorly should ne provided
for, If he died, with the old land instead
OF the money, and fha Iy he asked me
how much [ would withdraw sli claims
on his estate for. I said $4,000"
The old man was failing rapidly, the
Pennsylvania cousin WAS becoming i'm
patient, q d his lawyer was fidzeting
over the le]ay, but Charity made her
stand ana stuck to it. There was little
time to talk, and they signed paper
agreeing to pay her $40, 900 in cash. On
receipt Of this size went and brought in
the dinner kettle and turned it's conte nts
on the floor. Her money was handed
to her, the will was made out, and John
Newton died that night.
II signed off," said Charity land wit
messed his will giving the rest of what
l had Helped him earn to his relatives
out IN Pennsylvania. Charity had money
in her own name bef,re, and she now
has bank account discs 900.