The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-01-11

mara assured, while those awaiting
the AFinal' were serenely superio
and had an 'I-know-all-about- air
Groups of men stood about an,
talked, others passed to and fro and
notary acknowledged deeds and sig
natures.
All this was an old story to Judg,
Gray. and he leaned his head on hi,
hand thoughtfully as lie waited t.
hear the business of the man who
stood by his desk. he was a tall
weather-beaten farmer, bowed In the
shoulders. and with long, unkemp,
gray locks hanging about his face.
He wore look of mingled uncer-
tainty and decision, as he glanced
round the room. The bystanders
looked at him in lazy curiosity. The
man rested his hand ON the railing
round the desk, and pointing with a
long and skinny finger at Judge Gray,
he asked:
BE you the jedge?"
eyes" was the reply; what do you
want, my man?"
II want justice!" The room was
very quiet, and the mans grutf voice
rang ont: "Justice!"
That is what we are here for" said
Judge Gray, smiling little. He was
accustomed to all kinds of appeals, but
his kind old heart never seemed to
harden. Tell me your story, my
friend" he said to the old man. As he
| took off his battered hat and wiped
his face with his handkerchief, the old
farmer said:
II amt much of a hand at talkin'."
Never mind" said the judge, 'go
on
'Wa-al," said he, sit was like this:
My Jane was alters set on our havin'
farm. So after we wuz married |
rented farm over on the Rock road. |
and we lived there ten years. Then |
we he'd saved some money and we |
bought the place on mortgage. We
worked and shaved and screwed. l |
dunno as we'd ever hev paid fur it,
but the people wuz awful good about
waitin' fur their money. Twas FIVE
year mortgage, and paid the interest
right along, savin' some towards the
principal. When it came due we paid
off half and renewed for five years
more. 1t TUX us ten years to git tibet
place paid fur, and we workin' all the
time. My boy Jim, he left us; said he
'wuz goin' some place where he could
earn huff to spend some He was
tired Of scrimpin'. Jane TUX on or
full when Jim run off, and peared like
she never seemed the same after {
wards. She didn't seem ter care SO
much about the farm. But at last it s
wuz all paid fur, and it's as purity bit
Nv farm land as there is in all of Mis- ,
souri,. ! thought we'd hev some peace s
then, but Jane. she fell sick, and then
she died" The mans voice choked,
but he went resolutely on. I
''She said ter me, the night before S
he died: Jesse, want yez ter prom
Sc me something
What is it, said I. i
Promise me never ter put another t
benny in land said she. We've y
worked and toiled and sent our only r
hid ter ruin, and all fur our farm. 1t C
ont pay, Jesse. And l want you ter 6
'romise me you'll never put any more s
money in land Said 1: Jane, you're d
light, and l promise b
well, jedge, for the last few years o
here's come some man to me, and he IL
'ants me to pay taxes. Says to him: y
What's taxes?'
Why, money fur your land he o
aid. "
~ won't pay any more money on II
~ land l told him.
you've got to- he said. It's the S.
NV. The state says you must u
Jane told me not to, and I won't, >,
0 that's all there is about it. said, u
nd he went away very mad. Now
ere comes notice to me sayin' that -
~ land is goin' to be sold at tax y
sle, whatever that is, and want to
now if they've got any right to do it. -
is my land. ! paid fur it and 1 amt "
oin' ter pay no more, jedge. i want ~
lstice from you, justice!' ~
There was deep furrow In Judge .
rays forehead. He had lived among :.
lese Missouri farmers all his life. and :,
new well the absolute impossibility 81
Graduating an idea once implanted ~
! their heads. He cleared his throat =,
ervously, and tried to explain to the ~ ~
ID man why taxes were levied, and n,
lat everyone had to pay them The ~
My reply he received was an impa- e.
ent gesture, and these words: 20
TITS paid fur, Jane told me not to he
ny no more, and amt goin' to do it." w.
All the judges explanations were he
seless and Clark turned from him in -,
paroxysm of rage and grief tb
II thought you wuz good" he said; th
you've got q kind face But vnn,re | -