The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-08
How the Old Lady Beat John.

DR.. Prime in the Journal of Commerce.
We had been driving out some miles
in the afternoon, and coming home in
the twilight, passed substantial looking
though very old farm house, with com.
Portable barns and ou,buildings indicating
a we'll to do householder. The rich bot
tom lands which stretched away hall
mile from the river to the hill SLOPES
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: ITO whom
does that farm VIZ passed on the level
beIong?"
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 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 scattered
community is the recognized adviser to
whom people can go. sly old friend
had inherited this position from his
father, who had been to former gen.
Grafton what the son now. was to his
neighbors. They came to him on all oc-
casions when they needed counsel, and
he di / the work of 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. I.iv-
ing from youth up among them, known
to be man of extended education,
whose life was passed in study, but who
was also practical farmer of great skill
and success, having large property, and
always giving his advice and services as
matter Of friendship and neighbor]y
kindness, and not for fee or reward, his
position was one Of commanding influ-
ence. His influence was one of COM
manding too for the reason that he al
most never exerted it. He took no
prominent port in politics, but in the
least 2uO 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.
l have said that he drew the wills for
people who had property. This was no
small generosity, for it 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 owner
of that farm he laughed outright, and
after a moments pause, said, II will
tell you story"
zone Stormy night, after midnight,
was sitting here reading, the rest Of the
family having gone to bed long before,
when old DR.. Strong Numbered at the
door knocker, and made noise enough
to wake the Seven Sleepers. It Is way
he has, and neither my wife nor the
girls. who were reused out of slumbor,
at the door. [ 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 flared the reading lamp
30 that it broke the chimney and blazed
up to colored tissue affair which Susie
bad put over the shade, and set it on
fire, and for a moment threateneda gen.
eral conflagratjon of papers and books
on the table. Shut the door YOURSELF
] shouted. and rushed back here to put
out the fire. That done, 1 went back
and found the old doctor out of breath,
i'll the dark, trying to shut the door
against the wind. 1t took the strength
of both of US to do it. Then l told him
to find his way to the library, for he
knew it and l went off in search of
another lamp.
"W hen came back he was just re-
covering his wind. aud after gasp or
fn1 hi nd
ton is dying. She can't live till morn
ing. She's alive now only on stimuants
She wants to make will and I have
come for you"
ga nice night I said for two-mile
drive, to make a will for woman who
hasn'ta 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 case of an old woman aud an
old neiyhbor and 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 vonr things and come
with me. We shall not find her alive if
you don't hurry, and you'll be sorry il
that happens
''The upshot of it was that I went.
We had a fearful drive out to the farm
house on the flat, which you are asking
about. Mrs. Norton was the widow of
John Norton, who had died forty-odA
years before this. John Norton, when
he a1Arried her was widower with one
son, John. He was man of consider
widow, that son John, by his first wife,
and two sons by his second wife. The
cider son John had never been on very
warm terms with bis stepmother, an
for some years mad had no intercourse
with the family.
II found the old lady lying in the big
room on great bedstead on one sid
OF the room, opposite to the broad chin.
ney, in which was n roaring
fire, the only light in the room.
After the doctor had spoken
to her aNd administered something, 81
stimulant, suppose, he came over to me
and said in whisper: Hurry up; she's
very weak"
81 had brought paper and pen and
ink with me. l found a stand and a
ndle, placed them at the head of the
bed, and after saying few words to
iacr, told her l was ready to prepare the
will, if she would now go on and tell
me what she wanted to do. I wrote the
introductory phra'e rapid, and lean
LILY ONti tONGlu 1lci Sstlu. NOW ~ Ou,
Mrs. Norton" Her voice was quite
faint, and she seemed to speak with an
effort. She said: First of all l want
to give the farm to ny sons Harry and
james; just put that down." "But,"
said you can't do that, Mrs. Norton;
the farm isn't yours to give away"
''The farm isn't mine!" she said in
a voice decidedly stronger than be-
fore.
ono, the farm isn't yours. You have
only life interest in it,"
'This farm that I've run for goin' on
forty-three year next spring isn't mine
to do what please with it! Why not,
Judge? I'd like to know what you
mean?"
Why, Mr.. Norton. your husband, gave
and on your death the farm goes to his
son John, and your children get the
village houses
"And when I die John Norton is to
have this house and farm whether will
or nor
"Just so. It will be his
"Then amt going to de- said the
old woman in clear and decidedly
ringing and healthy voice. And so say
ing she threw feet over the front of the
bed, sat up, gathered q blanket and
coverlid about her, Strengthened up her
gaunt form, walked across the roo NJ and
sat down in great chair before the fire
The doctor and I came home. Tha
was fifteen years ago. The old LADY,.
alive to-day. And che accomplished
l. Snk~ HI I'll sc Ill