Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-11-26

particulars IN the case, from tnenCc went
TO the clerks office, and took minutes of
the Indictment I then examined the law
on the subject, and prepared my brief IN my
room. All this occupied me until midnight.
when went to bed and tried to sleep. II
was all in VAN. Never in my life was more
wide awake.-A host ofthoughts and fancies
kept rushing into my mind the shower of
gold that had so unexpectedly fallen into my
lap, the idea Of my poor little wife at home,
that was to astonish her with my good for
tune. But the awful responsibility ! had
undertaken to speak for the first time in
strange court, the expectations the culprlthad
formed of my talents all these, and crowd
of similar notions kept whrling through my
mind. had tossed about all night, fearing
morning would find me exhausted and in
competent; in word the day dawncd on
me a miserable fellow.
l got up feverish and nervous. walked
out to BREAKFAST, striving to. collect my
thoughts and tranquilize my feelings. 1t was
bright morning the air was pure and
lros,y-I ba,hedmy forehead and my hands
in beautiful running stream, but | could
not allay the fevcr-hcat that ragged within.
| returned 10 breakfast, but could not eat
A single cup of coffee formed my repast
IT was time to 90 to court and went there
with a throbbng heart. believe if il 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 rclinqush-
ed the cause. | took my seat, looking, l
am convinced more like culprit than the
rogue | was to defend.
When the time came for me TO speak,
my heart died within me. rose embar-
rasscd and dIsmaycd, and sammercd in
opening my cause. went on from bad to
worse, and felt as if was going down. Just
then, the public prosecutor, man of talents,
but somewhat rough in his practice, made a
sarcastic remark on something had said.-
1t was like an electric spark, and ran ting
ing thro' every vein in my body. In an
instant my diflidcnce was gone.-My whole
spirit was in arms. answered with prompt
ness, for felt the cruelty of such an attack
upon novice in my situation. The public
prosecutor made a kind of apology. This,
for a man Of lis redoutablc powers, was a
vast concession. | renewed my argument
with a fearful growl, carried the case trium.
phanily, and the man was acquitted.
THIS was the making of me. Every body
was curious to know who this new lawyer
was that had suddenly risen among them, and
bearded the Acknowledgement in the very
outset. The story Of my debut at the inn
on the preceding evening, when knocked
down bully, and kicked him out of doors,
for striking an old man, was circulated with
favorable eXaggeration. Even my beardless
chin and juvenile countenancc was in my
| fn,,,, i,r tl,o ran,,1, Gas,
dit than deserved. The chance business
which occurs at our courts came thronging in
upon me. was repeatedly employed in
other causes, and by Saturday night, when
the court closed, found myself with a hum
dred and fifty dollars in silver, three hun
drcd dollars in notes, and horse that
afterwards sold for two hundred dollars more
Never did miscr gloat more on ms mo-
ncy and with more delight. ] locked the
door my room, piled the money in heap
upon the table, walked my eyes around it
with my elbow on the table, and my chin
upon my hands, and gazed upon it. Was
thinking of the money No. was think
ing Of my little wife at home.
Another sleepcss night ensued, but what
night of golden fances and splendid air.
is soon as morning dawned, | was up
mounted the borrowed horse on which ha i
come to court, and led the other which re-
ceivcd as a fee. All the way was delight
ng myself with thoughts of surprise had in
store for my wife; for both of us expected I
should spend all the money had borrowed
and return N debt.
Our meeting was Joyous as you may sup
pose but played the part Of the Indian
hunter, who, when hereturns from The chase,
never for time speaks of his success. She
hsdprepared a rustic meal torme, and while it
was eating ready, | seated myself at an old
fashioned desk in one corner and began to
count over my money andput it away. She
came 10 me before had finished, and asked
me who had collected money for!'
"For myself TO be surc," replied With
affected GOODNESS, 81 made it at court"
She looked at me for moment incredu-
lousy. tried to keep my countenancc and
play the Indian but it would not do. My
muscles began to twitch, my feeling all at
once gave way, caught her in my arms,
laughed, cried, and danced about the room
like crazy man.-From that time forward
we never wanted money.