mbered cobbler, whose earlier state but few knew, and who at
this time had only a few charitably inclined friends, with some of whom
he spent the more pleasant portion of the year from spring to fall.
Thus, it was his custom to begin his annual pilgrimage with a visit of
ten days to Mr. White, where he would sit and cobble shoes for all the
members of the household. From here he would go to another acquaintance
some ten miles farther on, where he could enjoy the early fruit which
was then ripening in delicious quantity. Then he would visit a friendly
farmer whose home was upon the Missouri River still farther away, where
he did his annual fishing, and so on by slow degrees, until at last he
would reach a neighborhood rich in cider presses, where he would wind up
the fall, and so end his travel for the winter, beginning his peculiar
round once more the following spring at the home of Mr. White.
Naturally the old patriarch knew him and liked him passing well.

As he grew older, however, Uncle Bobby reached the place where even by
this method and his best efforts he could scarcely make enough to
sustain him in comfort during the winter season, which was one of nearly
six months, free as his food and lodging occasionally were. He was too
feeble. Not desiring to put himself upon any friend for more than a
short visit, he finally applied to the patriarch.

"I come to you, Mr. White," he said, "because I don't think I can do for
myself any longer in the winter season. My hand hurts a good deal and I
get tired so easily. I want to know if you'd won't help me to get into
the county farm during the winter months, anyhow. In summer I can still
look out for myself, I think."

In short, he made it clear that in summer he preferred to be out so that
he might visit his friends and still enjoy his declining years.

The old patriarch was visibly moved by this appeal, and seizing him by
the arm and leading off toward the courthouse where the judge governing
such cases was then sitting he exclaimed, "Come right down here, Uncle
Bobby. I'll see what can be done about this. Your old age shouldn't be
troubled in this fashion--not after all the efforts you have made to
maintain yourself," and bursting in on the court a few moments later,
where a trial was holding at the time, he deliberately led his charge
down the aisle, disturbing the court proceedings by so doing, and
calling as he came:

"Your Honor, I want you to hear this case espec