The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-01-07

"
an idyllic manner the Barlow farm,
the peaceful life which his client had
led there, the invasion of the farm by
this cruel son, and finally the "driv-
ing the old man out, "as he put it, Gin
the rain and cold" He rehearsed for
the benefit of the jury the old fable of
the husbandman who warmed SER
pent In his bosom, benumbed with
cold. and in the course of his speech,
which was long and bitter, likened
John Barlow to ''the frozen snake"
When John Barlow's counsel arose
to speak, to the surprise of every one
he made no personal criticism what
ever upon the old man. A still greater
surprise was occasioned when John re-
fused to go upon the stand and testify
or even to call witnesses against his
father. The only argumen emit upon his
side was that the old man had not
made ont case.
The jury were out an hour. Then
they came back and returned verdict
for the old man. The deed from Sam
uel Barlow to his son John was broken
and the son must give up the farm.
1t was lovely day and lonesome
day to the old man as he left the court
house. Some of his neighbors and
friends gathered around him TO con-
graduate him on his victory, but he
heard them all in silence, and did not
seem at all elated. He seemed to have
grown older by several years within
an hour. Up to this time he had talked
a great deal about the suit, and looked
forward with boyish eagerness to vic
tory, but from this day on he said no
more. He was his own self again
somewhat broken, apparently, but
quiet, silent and self contained again
as he used to be.
Judgment was entered in due time
in the old mans favor for possession
of the farm. at any time he could
eject his son. 1t was commonly re-
ported in the neighborhood that Julia
Barlow was anxious to move out at
once, but John had determined not to
go in any voluntary way, but to re-
main until he was elected by the
sheriff.
Week after week passed and the old
man came to no decision. John stayed
doggedly on. When father and son
met on the street they did not speak
and the breach was becoming wider
and wider.
1t was now about the middle of De-
cember. Samuel Barlow rarely went
out of doors. He sat by the hearth in
the lonely boarding house where he
was staying, for hours looking into the
fire and saying nothing. All efforts to
fathom his reason for delay in ejecting
the son proved fruitless, and still he
showed no sign of relenting.
At last new rumor was started and
quickly gained general support. rea-
son was found for the old mans delay.
Rumor said that he had formed the
plan of waiting until the day before
Christmas or perhaps until Christmas
Day itself-if writs could be served on
that holiday--and then to have the
sheriff appear and eject John and his
household.
This rumor finally in it's rounds
reached Julia Barlow aud by the timo
it got to her it bore no longer the ap-
pearance of a rumor but purported to
be the statement Of an unquestionable
truth. She was worn ont and dis
tressed already, and when this news
came she begged her husband to wait
no longer but to leave the farm at
once. But he said sternly mo. Julia,
I've done nothing wrong and / shall
stay until the sheriff comes and puts
me out. And if my father chooses to
have that done Christmas Day, or the
day before it, that's his concern, not
mine"
The day before Christmas dawned
and the entire neighborhood was in g
state of nervousness. Work was en-
tirely suspended. Men and boys
idled about in the vicinity of the Bar
low house with an expectant air. Wo-
men staying at home in tho nearest
houses looked nervously out of their
windows from time to time. All day
long Samuel Barlow sat looking into
the fire saying nothing.
Then the beli)f became strong that
the eviction was surely to take place
on Christmas Day. There was some
considerable discussion as to whether
O writ could legally be served Christ
mas Day, but the general opinion was
that it could.
just at the dusk of evening on
CAAA AokAhhh 4JNbf VOAn BuIAON anu his
wife we're sitting before dying fire.
They were both silent now; il had
been "a silent hour of late. All mt
once they heard the front door of the
house open and then close. Then they
they heard step in the entry. Then
came knock at the door OF the room
where they were sitting. 1t was too
late for a neighbours call. Was 1t
possible that the sheriff was TO put
them out that night.
Julia Barlow put her head down in
her lap and burst into tears. John
arose, took the lamp in his hand for
the entry was Oakland opened the
door. His father stood in the door
way.
What was said that night no one
/ outside Of that household ever knew.
On ! the chore boy stealing in late
and passing the sitting room door
head feeble voice saying again and
again ''Forgive a poor old man.
The next day the village doctor was
called TO see Julin, who was not we'll.
Ia his hearty, familiar fashion he
made his way to the great kitchen
where the family were eating their
/ 4 sos Il