Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-11

DeCn
lawy ers, and had not had an opportunity Of con
sultino any. He was told 10 choose coun sci from
the lawyers present, and DO ready for trial the
following day. He looked around the court and
selected me. was ihunderstruck. | could not
tell why he should make such choice. !, a
bcardess youngster. unpraciised at the bar; per
fecty unknown. felt dlfident, yet delighted,
and could have Rugged the rascal
! Before leaving the court, he gave me one hun
dred dollars in a bag for retaining fee. could
scarcely believe my senses, II seemed like n
dream. The heaviness of the fee spoke but light
ly OF the man's Innocencc--but that was no al
fair Of mine. l to be advocate, not ,dge or
jury. | followed him to the jail, and learned from
him all the particulars in the case; from thence
went to the Clerks office, and took minutes OF
the Indictment | then examined the law ON the
subject and prepared by brief in my room. All
this occupied me until midnight, when | went to
bed and tried TO sleep. 1t was in vain. Never
in my life | moro wide awake. a host of
thoughts and faucIes kept rushing into my mind
the shower Of gold that had nexpectcdiy fall
len into my lap, the idea of my poor little wife al
home, that was to astonsh her with my good
fortune. Bat the awful responsibility l had I'm :
dcrtaken, 10 speak for the first time IN strange
court, the expectations tho cu'prt had formed Of
my talents; all these, and crowd Of similar
tons, KEEP, whirng through my mind. tossed
about all night, fearing morning would find me ex-
hausted and incomPetent-ln a word, the day
dawnad on me a miserable fellow.
Il got up fcverish and nervous. walked out
before breakfast, to collect my thoughts, and tran
quiiize ms feelings. 1t was bright morning
the air was pure and frosty bathed my fore
head aud my hands in beautiful running stream,
bat [ could not allay the fever heat that ragged
within. | returned to breakfast, but could not
eat. single cup Of coffee formed the repast.-
1t time to 90 to court, and wen, there with
u throbbng heart. | believe If it had not been
for the thoughts OF my dear little wife IN her
lonely house, | should have given back to the
man his dollars, and relinquished the cause.
took my seat looking am convinced moro like u
culprit that the rogue was 70 defend.
When the time came for me TO speak, my heart
died within me. | rose emb rrassei and dis
mayed and stammered 10 opening my cause.
went on f!Or bad to worse, and felt as If was
going down Just then the public prosecutor, u
of talents, but somewhat rough in his prac
-, ".aaa -c"~''- -o-~o-'- 0n eorno,hing had
sad. 1t was like an electric spark and ran ting
ling through every vein in my body IN an in
slant my dffildence was gone NV whole spirit
was in arms. | answered with promptness, for
felt the cruelty of such attack upon novice
in my situation. The public prosecutor made a
kind of apology. This for man of his redoubed
powers, was vast concession. l renewed my
argument with fearful growl, carried the cause
trumphantly, and the man was acquitted
"Ihls the making Of me. Every BODY
was curious to know who this lawyer was
that had suddenly risen among them, and beard
ed The Attorney General in the very onset. The
story of my debut at the inn on the pro seding
evening, when had knocked down a bulley and
kicked him out of doors, for striking an old man,
was circulated with favorable exaggeration.
Even my beardless chin and juvenile counte.
nance was in my favor, for the people gave me
far moro credit than | deserved. The chance
business which occurs in our court camo throng-
ing upon me. | was repeatedly employed In
arI b.-S -, - II
court closed, | found myself with a hundred and
fifty dollars in silver, three hundred dollars in
notes, and horse that | afterwards sold for two
hundred dollars more.
"Ncver did miser gloa. moro on his money
and with more delight | had locked the door of
my room, piled the money IN a heap upon the ia.
bic, walked round II, sat with my elbows the Ia.
bic, and my chin upon my hands, and gazed upon
il. Was thinking Of the monev?-No-I was
thinking Of my little wife and home.
"Another sleepess nj ght eusued, but what :
night Of golden fancies and SPLENDID air. As (
soon as morning dawned | was up, mounted the /
borrowed horse with which had come TO court
md led the other which had received as a fee. /
All the way was deligh,ing myself with the +
thoughts Of surprise had in for my wife, for
both Of US had expected nothing bat that should !
spend all the money l had borrowed and return
q debt
'Our meeting was joyous YOU may suppose;
out played the part OF the Indian hunter, who,
when he returns from the chase, never for a time
peaks Of his success. She had prepared rustic
neal for me, and while it getting ready,
eated myself at old fashioned desk IN one cor
Ter, and began 10 count over my money and put
t away. She came To me before had finished,
md asked me who | had collected tn at money for
For myself, to be sure replied with affected F
oolness; Il made it d court II
She looked at me for momen, in the face in
redulously. tried to keep my countenance
nd play the Indian. but it would not do. NV
muscles began to (which; M feelings all a once
ave way, | caught her in my arms, laughed,
ried, and danced about the room like a crazy
nan. From that time forward we never wanted
money!
Brother JOnathan's Wife-s Advice her !
Daughter, on the day of her Marriage. ,