The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22


lHarper's Msgazine.l
Every one who has read Mr.. George Tick
nor Curtis Life of Daniel Webster will
remember John Taylor, Mr.. Webster's ten
ant and factotum at franklin, n. H., anG
Robert Wise, the old revolutionary soldier
who came home from the war with Captain
Ebenezer Webster, Mr.. Webster father, and
built for himself a little cottage on the cor
ner 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 a
ferryway, leading to ferry across the Mer-
rimac River. The ferry was established dur
ing tine last century; and after Robert Wise
bad lived there for some time 1t came to be
called WIse's ferry. The ferryway was or
riginally fenced on both sides, and ran be
tween the Webster farm and q farm belong
ing ct the time of which We ara about to
speak, to Deacon Farley. The fence on
Webster's side of the ferry way had been al
lowed to fall into decay, but the fence on
the Farley side had been well kept up. In
the year 184S, after . bridge had been built
across the river, the town voted to discon
sinue the ferry way aud the ferry, and the
land reverted, of course, to the original
owner. Deacon Farley, assuming that the
land belonged to himself, removed all traces
of the fence on his own side, and including
the whole of the land in his own territory
up to the line where the Webster fence for.
merly stood.
Mr. Webster came up to Franklin soon
after this had been done, and was greatly
incensed by what &c saw. He ordered John
Tay lor nto his sitting room and said to him,
stsrnly: John Taylor, how came you to
stand still and let Deacon Farley steal my
land?" Mr.. Webster was in one Of his blacK-
To snhr
eAed, for in all his life he had never seen his
gIest friend in such q towerir 6 passion. Mr..
Webster ordered him, in tones of thunder,
to 60 and bring Deacon Farley.
The deacon came, and he, too, was saluted
with . burst of wrath that made him trem-
BILE. He modestly replied that he believed
the land was his but Mr.. Webster could not
be paci6ed.
Thereupon the deacon and John Taylor
jumped into q wagon aud drove in great
alarm to see q young lawyer of the name OF
Pike (now Senator in Congress from New
Hsmpshire), who lived two miles up the
river. They told Pike he must 60 down and
see Mr.. Webster and endeayor to explain the
matter.
Pike went, but as soon as he was in Mr..
Webster's presence the latter rosred out:
Young mau did you advise Deacon Farley
to steal my lsndr'
No, sir" said Pike, 81 did not But the
statements that were laid before me are true,
the land belongs to the deacon"
well, sir" replied Webster, 'if l can
find a lawyer in this county shall bring an
action.'
There is no need Of that. Mr.. Webster,
said Peke. 81 will get the proper documents
and submit them to you, if you will hear me,
and believe you will be convinced that the
land is not yorrs"
You are bold man, sir, il You propose
to leave the case to me-" said Mr.. Web.
fair warning that consider this land mine,
aud will fight for every inch OF my fathers
property"
Pike went away and procured q copy of
the record which showed the laying out OF
the ferryway, and that all the land was
taken from the property OF Farley's grantor,
and none of it from the Webster property
o copy OF the vote of the town discontinuine
the ferry. and sIfidavlt OF former tenant oil
Webster's showing that the fence on the
Webster side had been removed and the
whole ferryway taken into the Webster field.
The strip of land which the discontinuance
of the ferryWay took off from what Mr. Web
ster had always regarded Ms 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 care
fully, and then said:
"Mr Pike, in half an hour the jury will
be ready to render their verdict Go and gel
Deacon Farley that he may hear it."
In half an hour Pike returned with the
deacon. who expected nothing but repeti.
ton of what he had met before.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Webster, "hearken
to the verdict. The jury find that the land
is Deacon Fsrley's, and Is not the land Of
1 Daniel Webster. So says the foreman, %
says all the jury. And now. Deacon Farley
I have an opology to make to you for having
treated you very roughly. But I neve
dreamed that this land was not part of m,
fathers farm, and you know what my affec
ton for this property Ia. ! was very angry