“And then came half a dozen or more of men with a pale, scared little girl among them. An orphan child, she was, with plenty of money, and she was claimed by two uncles, one of whom had taken out a writ of habeas corpus, to compel the other to bring her before the judge, to decide who should have her.
“Well, there was a lawyer on each side, and witnesses on each side, and plenty of hard swearing and bold lying on both sides. And the judge sat in his red flannel shirt sleeves, astride the log on the wood horse, and stroked his stubble beard of a week’s growth, and listened patiently. The poor little object of dispute stood and trembled, until the judge noticed her and lifted her upon his knees, put his arm around her waist and held her there, saying:
“‘Don’t be afraid, little woman. No one shall hurt you in any way.’
“And the child plucked up her little spirits, and the judge listened first to one lawyer and then to the other, while they each exhausted all their law on the case, without affecting the issue in the least degree—for the result lay in the will of that helpless, orphan child, whose little head lay against the judge’s red shirt. While they all talked themselves hoarse, the judge listened gravely, but spoke never a word.
“And Mrs. Judge came in and out of the yard, hanging her clothes on the line.
“When they could talk no longer they were obliged to be silent, and then the judge lifted the child’s head from his bosom, sat her up straight, and asked her:
“‘Now, my little woman, let us hear what you have got to say, as you are the most interested party. Which uncle had you rather go and live with?’
“It was some time before the frightened child found courage to open her lips, but when, reassured by the manner of the judge, she did speak, it was to the purpose.
“‘Oh, sir, please, I want to go back to dear Uncle Ben! Mamma did leave me to Uncle Ben; indeed, indeed, the Lord knows that she did! And I don’t know Mr. Holloway! And no more did she! I never saw Mr. Holloway till he came here after me to take me away off to Portland.’
“‘Very well, you shall go back to Uncle Ben,’ said the judge, and raising his voice, he continued: ‘Mr. Benjamin Truman, here is your niece and ward. Take her, and take care of her.’