The Dawson journal., 1885-07-02

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| Depaises Makes His Will, Gathers
His Friends Around Him. Bids,
Them Farewell and Passes Calmly
! AWAY.
New York World
I Valley Cottage is way station
Ton the West Shore Railroadt anA
lis midway between : Nyaek and
| Roekland Lake. It'takes itsnarne.
from a hamlet, and the hamlet
froIa the farm Of John Ryder.
who was long the most prominent
man in the place. On June H..
Mr.. Ryder died, and under cir
oumstanees that have caused wide,
fspread comment among the villa
gers. Mr.. Ryder died after
prophesying for three days that,
June II would be his last day ON
earth. Mr.. Ryder was a wealthy
farmer and a high official In the
Methodist church at Rockaand !;
Lake, He was 70 years old, and.
his .ruddy cheek and clear blue
eye gave no indicatioMof arpfo oacli-a =
ing dissolution. He used 10 boast
that he had never been,M q day
in his life. Up to- q few weeks
ago he worked his farm, ge6ng out )
to pillow at daylight. One day he ;
returned to the farmhouse and
seated himself in an arm chair.
When asked if he was i'll he re-
piled that he was not, but saids
II have plowed my last, I have
sowed my last. Now / feel that
as have passed beyond the three
score-and-ten the good Lord al
lowed me shall not hive to- see
this harvest. Gods will be-
DONE"
His farm work fell into the
hands of his hired men, and be
mechanically received their 4e-
ports. All day he walked up and
down the veraDda, his head sank
on his breast, deep in meditation.
II am tired" he would say
when any of the neighbors or his
relatives rallied him on his actions.
Il shall not live long. Soon [
will tell you beforehand the day
on which l shall breathe my last
On Tuesday, June 8, he called
his family around him and sent q
servant after the farm hands,
meanwhile preserving a calm de-
meanor. When all had assembled
he said, in deep, impressive tones:
"My friends, my time is draw,
ing nigh. My sands of life have
nearly run out. But two days
more and I shall not be with you.
l have received a warning and it.
portends death. NV friends, I
leave you with q life, ] hope, clear
of crime, and with a hope and be-
lief in the infinite tenderness
and mercy Of the true and living
Gadp :, e.
/ Turning talasfaEna hand he,aaid i
with surprising energy: "Har-
ness up my horse and buggy, Do
it quickly" When the vehicle
was ready he sprang In unassisted
and drove to the little burying-
ground near by owned by a few OF
the old families in the neighbor-
hood. Arrived at the graveyard
he looked around, and running to
a mound where there was pile OF
stakes he marked off the space in
which he wanted to be buried.
Driving home he did not spare
the horse, and when his house was
reached he immediately dispatch
ed a servant to Nyack for o law
yer, who had done legal business
for him before. In the note he
said he wanted to draw up his will.
He also ordered the man TO bring
an undertaken back with him.
The undertaken came and joking
ly measured the old gentleman.
"Now, give me your bill, / want
to pay it now," he said to tho un-
dertaker.
The surprised undertaken obey
ed, with reluctance, and the old
gentleman paid the money down.
The lawyer came after O second
messenger had been sent for him.
The will was duly drawn up, and
after the instrument had been
signed, giving the property in even
proportions to his children and
grandchildren, he invited the law
yer to come to his funeral, as he
was an old friend of the family,
and also act as pall-bearer. The
lawyer laughingly assented to the
proposition, thinking it was but n
whim of his old clients. Mr..
Ryder then named the three other
men he wanted to act as pail bear
ers. In the lawyers presence he
named all the other details about
the funeral and made disposition
of his personal effects and men,
toned his friends.
On the following day Mr.. Ryder
sat in his old armchair on the ye-
randa most of the time. During
the night following he got up sew
eral times, and his family heard
him walking through the house.
He was in his usual place in tha
morning and appeared to be in
4 Il