The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-12-03
THE WILL OF AN INSANE MAN

In the pocket Of an old, ragged coat belong
ing to one of the insane patients of the Chicago
poorhouse there was found, after the patients
death, will.
The man had been lawyer, and the will
was written in firm, clear hand on few scraps
of paper. So unusual was it that it was sent to
a lawyer; and he read it before the Chicago Bar
Association, and resolution was passed ordering
it probated And now it is on the records of
Cook County, Illinois.
The will reads as follows;
r Charles Lounsberry being Of sound and dis
posing mind and memory, do hereby make
- and publish this my last will and testament.
in order, as justly as may be, to distribute my
interest in the world among succeeding men,
That part of my interest which is known in
law and recognized in the sheep-bound volumes
as my property, being inconsiderable and of
none account, make no disposition of in this my
will. My right to live, being but life estate
is not at my disposal, but, these things excepted
all else in the world now proceed to devise and
bequeath: r.
Item: give to good fathers and mothers,
in trust for their children, all good little words
of praise and encouragement, and all quaint pet
names and endearments; and l charge said par
ents to use them justly, but generously, the
needs of their children shall require.
Item: I leave to children incusively, but
only for the term of their childhood all and
every the flowers of the fields and the blossoms
of the woods, with the right to play among them
freely according to the customs of children,
warning them at the same time against thistles
and thorns. And devise to children the banks
of the brooks and the golden sands beneath the
waters thereof, and the odors Of the willows that
dip therein and the white clouds that float high
the giant trees.
And I leave to the children the long, long
days to be merry in, in thousand ways, and the
night and the train of the Milky Way to wonder
at, but subject nevertheless to the nights here
matter given to lovers.
Item: / devise to boys, jointly, all the USE
full, idle fields and commons where ball may be
played all pleasant waters where one may swim,
all snow-clad hills where one may coast and all
streams and ponds where one may fish, or where,
when grim winter comes, one may skate, to hold
the same for the period of their boyhood. And
all meadows, with the clover blossoms and butter
flies thereof; the woods with their appurtenances;
the squirrels and the birds and echoes and strange
noises, and all distant places which may be visit
ed, together with the adventures there found.
And give to said boys each his own place at
the freside at night, with all pictures that may
be seen in the burning wood, to enjoy without
let or hindrance or without any remembrance OF
care.
Item: To lovers l devise their imaginary
world, with whatever they may need, as the stars
of the sky, the red roses by the wall, the bloom
of the hawthorn, the sweet strains of music, and
aught else they may desire to figure to each other
the lastingness and beauty of their love.
Item: To young men, jointly, devise and
bequeath all boisterous inspiring sports of rivalry
and give to them the disdain of weakness and
undaunted confidence in their own strength