The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1889-03-15
Select 1tliseellanp.
PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OLD PEOPLE

The millennium has not yet come,
and nntIi the happy era dawns upon
lis, ayarIce and seltishness will exist in
the human heart Justice and mercy
Will vainly cry over wrongful oppres-
SONS, over hearts saddened by misuse,
over physical suiferings occasioned by
unjust depriyations.
There are two conditions OF human
lie which, in their weakness, call for
sympathy and protection of those who
are strong; one is the helplessness Of
age. That there are those who, to ben
eiit themselves, will take advantage of
the weakness of old people to defraud
them OF their rightful belongings and
then misuse them, is one of the sad
things Of LIE. And when such injrs-
tice Is perpetrated by son or daugh-
ter toward a parent, it is an act over
which angels might well weep.
| vas once acquainted with an old
lady the owner of valuable farm, a
snug bank account, and much person
al property. though over seventy
years OF age, her mind was clear and
intelligent, her health comfortable
In connection with her only son, a
young man of 25 years, the large farm
had been admirably managed since
her husbands death. Finally the son
married ani brought his wife to the
farm TO live. Everything moved on
Pleasantly for awhile, until one dav
Satan put his foot in the door and sug-
sested that this old mother, who had
labored and planned and sacrificed du-
ring Il long life to accumulate some
thing ior her old age, should, on ac-
count of her advanced years and pros
pectiye intirmity, deed all the property
to her son 4 condition of the stlpula-
ton being that she was to have a life
home on the place. and be provided for
while she lived. so seductive were the
plans that were laid. so fair we're the
promises made 10 her for her future.
of the ease of her life and her freedom
from care, that finally though the love
and trustfulnes> of her heart, the
good old mother signed away ali her
earthly possessions.
1t would be long story to tell Of
the oppression that this old martyr en-
dnred in the next ten Years, for alas
she lived to be very old. Little by lit
tie her liberty was taken from her un-
Ill she became the merest nonentity in
the home where she had so long been
the Leading spirir. Her wishes were
diSrcgar,!ed her spending money was
reduced to the most meagre allowance.
At the time the property was transfer
red, she occupied large. pleasant bed
room, in which she had slept for forty
Years. 1t was hallowed in her memo
ry, for there her children were born
and there IA number of her loved ones
had passed from life The things in
this room were valued relics of her
household goods, arranged to suit her
own peculiar tastes. The young mis-
treSs conceived the idea of converting
this room into i parlor. What cared
she for the old mothers precious men,
orles or comforts, so that her ambition
was gratiticd +: Her husband had a
deed to the place which made her part
owner, So why not do rs she liked with
what was their own: SO small bed
room, with but one window and no fire
capacity, was given 10 the old mother
in exchange for her pleasant ROOM
Having no rights that she could sus-
tain, she was compelled to submit TO
whatever treatment was given her.
\ short time before death released the
gTicvcl old heart from its thraldom.
she said 10 a friend "rhe greatest
mistake ever made was when sign
etaway my property, | had lived for
= years, but never learned in all that
time what protection money is to an
old person. until mine was beyond my
control. With it went my freedom,
my rights. my comforts
Ano...c. striking illustration of this
subject once came to my knowledge