Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-11
IOriglnal.l

III would you mind telling me- sh,
said, If Moses We'll has been to yor
, to get YOU TO foreclose a chatte mort
J gage on my furniture!
"A lew has asked me to foreclost
such Il mortgage. | replied.
"'Then | am going to ask YOU moi
to take the case. am Il widow In
very straitened circumstances. have
been obliged to borrow money from
the jew | can't pay the indebted
ness, and If he takes my furniture
| shall have to 20 to the poorhouse |
can't pay board, and the only way |
can live Is in Il little cot Thus far
have persuaded every lawyer the Jew
| has asked to take his case not To do so.
! i hope you, too. will refuse
Il was surprised and distressed To
see so refined person thus reduced.
| j was about to promise her that |
/ would not take the case against her
/ when | thought that by doing so |
might be of service to her. But | had
no final plan and did not care to COM
NIT myself | therefore told her that
l would consider her request. She left
me much disappointed.
1.-The next day when We'll appeared
| told him that had reconSidered the
matter and would oblige him He was
very much pleased indeed. so much 50
that he said nothing about the expense
attending the matter except the court
ices, for which he made deposit. He
probably feared to antagoniZe me by
mentioning my charge.
Il called upon the widow and told her
frankly that her plan of persuading all
the lawyers not to act in the matter
was hopeless. She was clinging to Il
straw, but she would not give up the
straw.
Aou are the first lawyer she said.
that has refused me. Tell me what
your fee Is to be from the Jew, and I
will endeavor to raise the money and
pay IL TO you 10 refuse the case
That would not he in accordance
with the code among lawyers. certain
ly not my code.
/ Is It theft code tn assist creditors
to bring debtors to beggary? Indeed,
know that il is not for several of your
profession have refused to do So
"'rhis man Well I said. attempt
Ing to give her reasons that should sat
isfy her, is determined to sell YOU out
He will In the end find Il lawyer to do
his work. That YOU may not think me
more sordid than am. will turn over
my fee to you
MY offer had no other effect than to
irritate her. and | left her without
making any further attempt Mt concl.
iation.
When the papers i'll the case were
ready. | sent for my client and the
widow TO meet me mt my office ut the
same day and hour. 1t was not Il
pleasant gathering. The lady cast
reproachful glance ut me. then looked
tiXedly out of the window. The jew
looked meek. l sat reading over the
documents.
"'Mr. Well | said Mt last, these pa
pers give YOU possession Of this lady's
household goods-that is. they will give
YOU possession when turn them over
~ SoA va lNs va li4a lee. L HE
feel turned to the widow--'I volun
tarily agreed TO turn over to you.
Therefore. Mr.. Well, You may as well
pay the money direct to the lady
Certainly said the Jew. pulling
out his wallet. How much is the
1.-Two hundred dollars
HE looked at me aghast
~ pay You everything?
"'It happens that my fee is the ex-
act amount of the Indebtedness
Suppose | don't pay it,
"'You will not get the papers. and ! /
will collect my fee by law. You are
COOL for the amount
Meanwhile light began to break |
In upon the Widows brain. The Jew |
argued. threatened, pleaded. was
Finally | proposed to re-
init my fee on one condition that he |
should renew the lady's note for two !
years at moderate rate of interest. |
Then he left me alone with her.
pardon me- she said, with great |
feeling, for misjudging you. Why did |
you not tell me what you were going
10 do?'
Because l did not know myself |
TIN the last moment"
paused | mad finished my story.
And who was the widow?' asked |
Il chorus of voices.
The widow was Il lady to whom |
you are indebted for many kindnesses."
do tell u.s.
well, since you are so eager TO |
know don't mind telling you that she |
is your mother"
EDMOND r. FORBES