McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-18
An Old story of Dante, Webster.


ster's tenant and factotum at Franklin,
| N. H., and Robert wise, the old revo-
| lutionary soldier who came home from
the war with Capt. Ebenezer Webster,
Mr.. Webster's father, and built for him.
self little cottage one corner OF the
Webster farm, where he lived and died.
Skirting the Webster property, and
passing by the spot where Robert Wise
took up his humble abode, there had
long been q ferry-way, leading to q
ferry across the Merrimac river. The
ferry was established during the last
century, and after Robert Wise had
lived there for some time it came to be
called Wise's ferry. The ferry-way
was originally fenced on both sides, and
it ran between the Webster farm and
farm belonging, at the time of which
we are about to speak, to Deacon Far
ley. The fence on Webster's side of
the ferry-way had been allowed to fall
into decay, but the fence on the Farley
side had been well kept up. In the
year 1S48, after bridge had been built
across the river, the town voted to dis
continue the ferry-way and the ferry,
and the land reverted, of course to the
original owner. Deacon Farley, as
Stunning that the land belonged to him.
self, removed all traces of the fence on
his own side, and included the whole
of the land in his own territory up to
the line where the Webster fence FORM
erly stood.
Mr.. Webster came up to Franklin
soon after this had been done and was
greatly incensed by what he saw. He
ordered John Taylor into his sitting
room and said to him sternly: John
Taylor, how came you to stand still
and let Deacon Farley steal my land?'
Mr.. Webster was in one his blacklist
moods. Poor Taylor was frightened,
for in all his life he had never seen his
great friend in such a towering pas
sion. Mr. Webster ordered him in
tones of thunder, to bring Deacon Far
ley
The deacon came, and he, too, was
saluted with burst of wrath that made
him tremble. He modestly replied that
he believed the land was his; but Mr..
Webster could not be pacified.
Thereupon the deacon and John Tay-
lor jumped into wagon and drove in
great alarm to see a young lawyer OF
the name of Pike (now senator in con-
gress from New Hampshire,) who lived
two and half miles up the river.
They told Pike he must 90 down and
see Mr.. Webster and explain the matter.
Pike went, but as soon as he was in
Mr.. Webster's presence the latter
roared out: young man, did you
advise Deacon Farley to steal my
land?"
..No sir" said Pike, did not. But
if the statements that We're laid before
me are true, the land belongs to the
deacon"
''Well SIR replied Webster, ''if |
can find lawyer in this county, l shall
bring an action"
''There is no need of that, Mr.. Web
ster," said Pike 81 will get the proper
documents and submit them to you, if
YOU will hear me, and L believe that
YOU will be convinced that the land IS
not yours"
.'You are q bold man, sir, if you pro-
pose to leave this case to me-" said
Mr.. Webster. but do as you please,
| give YOU fair warning that | consider
this land mine, and | will fight for
every inch of my fathers property"
Pike went away and procured copy
of the record which showed the laying
out of the ferry-way, and that all the
land was taken from the property OF
Farley's grantOr, and none OF 1t from
the Webster property, copy OF the
vote of town disseminating the ferry,
and an affidavit of former tenant of
Webster's showing that the fence on
the Webster side had been removed,
and the whole ferry-way taken into the
Webster field. The strip of land which
the discontinuance of the ferry-way
took off from what Mr.. Webster had
already regarded as his own property
extended the whole length of one of his
best fields.
When Pike submitted the documents
to Mr.. Webster, the latter read them
very carefully, and then said: ''Mr.
Pike, in half an hour the jury will be
ready to render their verdict. Go and
get Deacon Farley, that he may hear
it."
In half an hour Pike returned with
the deacon, who expected nothing but
a repetition of what he had met before.
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Webster.
'.hearken to the verdict. The jury find
that the land is Deacon Farley's and
is not the land of Daniel Webster. So
says the foreman, so say all the jury.
And now, Deacon Farley, 1 have an
apology to make to you for having
treated you very roughly. But L
never dreamed that this land was not
a part of my fathers farm, and you
know what my affection for this prop
erty is. was very angry, but hope
you will excuse me-"