The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-06-17
Wanted to keep His DOES.

Ex-Associste Judge William Collins has
long enjoyed reputation among bis friends
in the legal profession a. story teller Of no
mean ability On coart weeks, when the
doctor was a member Of the court. and not
engaged on the bench, his society was al
ways sought after by members Of the bar,
and Others who enjoyed listening to the
good things that came from his store house
Of aneciote. Here l. one that deserves wi
der circulation than the doctor is able to
give Il without the HERALDs assistance
Before removed to Somerset, and long
before aspired to sit rs judicial officer in
q court Of justice, said the doctor, " was
engaged in practicing medicine in the noun
tains above Ursina, in section known TO its
denizens as !" Hexeberger-" / numbered all
kinds Of people among my patients. bat the
one Of whom wish TO speak was certainly
. ssi generis. He was q tall. Ian and lank
mOasiaineer his hair as raEssd a. = c.ctns
plant, and his clothing se-eral degrees
worse be devoted ali Of his time 70 hunting
foxez, minks, and such other Wild animals
as inhabit that section and On which there
is premium paid by the county. he was
the possessor Of le-barTeied shotgun,
two or three dogs, and wife.
Zone day wss sent for to visit the man
found him vrithing in pain on bench in
his shabbily furnished home, his gun hsag-
ing on pegs above his head, and the dogs
crouehed at bis feet. Before | had time 10
inquire into the cause Of bis misery and
pain be begged me TO write his will. Think
ing that possibly the sufferer was already
far out on the dark river, and desiring
to ease his dying moments agreed. know
ing perfectly well that be had nothing OF
value to leave behind him
His wife, very dirty and disagreeable |
looking woman, handed me pen and paper, |
and began TO write
Il, being Of sound mind, and in |
the fear of God, DO make this my last viii |
and testament / do devise and bequeath |
To-
Here paused and said that was wait
ing for him to indicate how he desired to |
dispose of his property, having first read TO
him what had written
a. Well, Doc, said the sufferer, want |
to leave you my gun, providing you agree
to take care of my wife durisg her natural |
life
Twas somewhat startled and confused at |
this request. and resolving that would not
accept under the will, wrote it down and |
requested him TO proceed.
Il 81 a..
miserable man.
assured him that had.
Read it 70 me, Doc, he said.
read it to him very slowly and distinct
ly, and then waited for him to indicate what |
he wished written next.
Doc, gzsped the apparently dying man,
suppose you write that down again
proceeded to do 50, and when l had |
finished writing he looked up into my face,
and said
Now, Doc, read me what you have
wrote
'' read it TO him, and then to my sur
prise, the patient sat up, and said:
Wei. Doc, I haven't got much else to
leave except the dogs, and id if don't
believe I'll keep them myself
All right / replied, and wrote down,
/" the tesiator reserves the dogs, and then 1
said
Now, Mr.. --, before you afiix
your signature to this instrument, desire
70 insert provision that in case of your re-
covery you will vote the Republican ticke:
as long es you live.
The patient held his head between his
hands for few moments, as if trying to
think, ana then, with a mighty effort, he
whispered
." Agreed, Doc. put that down, too
Under my skillfal treatment the patient
recovered in the course Of week and he
kept the agreement till the day of his death,
twenty years afterwards, but it must have
been pretty hard thing for him to do. be-
cause be was a Fayette county Democrat,
and they are as steadfast as the hills"