Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-12-13


| say to you, Hebe nor Ganymcde ever offered to
the mmortas purer wine than that. Drink
here's TO you, Dogberry, aud to your speedy pro-
motion !" and MIR Patterson swallowed every drop
in the glass, and filling it., handed it to the usher.
Without much hesitation, he drank it. He now
filed up glass nearly full, and followed the ex
ample OF my preceptor, he tho while looking nt
me with establishment.
How do you like tie letter, Mr.. Dogberry w
asked Mr.. Patterson of the pedagogue.
"What letter, sir? Mr.. Patterson, | mast say
this is strange proceeding. don'tknow, sir, to
what you alludc"
"Don't know to what alude Why, the let
ter wishing to know if you would take the acade-
my at the same price at which Sears now holds
"Sr, have received no such letter. ] certain
ly, sir, would, if it was thought that was"
"Was competent. Merit is always modest
you're the most competent of the two, sir--take
some"
So saying, Mr.. Patterson filed up the tumbler,
and Dogberry swallowed the compliment and the
wine together, and fixed his eye the rafters
with an exulting look. While he was so gazing,
the lawyer filed his glass, and observed, "Come,
drink, and let me open the other bottle | want
glass myself" Down went the wine, and with
smack of his lips, Dogberry, handed the glass to
Mr.. Patterson.
"Capita amt it ELI p
"Captal," re echoed Dogberry. The wine and
his supposed honors had aroused the brain OF the
pedagogue in a manner which seemed 20 awake
him TO new existence. while Mr.. Patterson
was striking the top from the other bottle Dog
berry handed me the candle which he heId-the
other he had put in his candlesck, taking out his
own when he first drank and lifting the tunb
Ter, he stood ready.
Again he quatfed bumper. The effect of his
potalions on him was electrical. lie had long
face, with snpe-ke nose, which was subjected
to a nervous twitching whenever its owner wns
excited. 1t now danced about, seemingly, all
over his face, while his naturally cadaverous
countenance under the excitement, turned 10 a
glowing red, and his small ferret eyes looked both
dignfed aud dancing, merry and important.
49," exclaimed he, am to be principal of the
academy; hn, hu, ha oh, Lord William Rus
sell, would reprove you on the spot, but that
you are in such distinguished company"
| Whether Dogberry meant only Mr.. Peterson,
or included himself | do not know, but MS he
spoke he arose, and paced his humble apartment
with proud tread, forgetting what figure he
cut, with his suspenders dangling about his knees
and his nightcap on, and forgetting also that his
attic was not high enough TO admit his head to be
carried at its present altitude The consequence
was that he struck it against one of the raftars,
with violence that threatened injury to the raj.
ter, if not to the head. He stopped down to rub
the effected part when MIR. Patterson said to him,
GO Pro. d-gi Gus, as Dominic Sampson, one of
you, said, amt it? Come, we'll finish this bottle
and then go forth. The scholars are all rejoced
at your promotion, and are all assembled without
to do you honor. They have made complete sat.
urnalia of it. They marvel why you treat them
with so much reserve"
"Gad, I'll do it," exclaimed Dogberry, taking
the lumber and swallowing the contents.
Just put your blanket around you, said Pat
terson to him. "Let your nightcap remain; ii
becomes you"
"No, it don't indeed though, ell ~
Z" |, does, 'pon hosoT. That's il. Now, pale
face, come forth; the eoqucnce of the Charming
Serpent has prevailed"
So speaking, MIR. Patterson opened the door,
and we stepped on to the platform.
The scene without was grotesque IN the eX-
IRENE. In front of us, suppose to the number
of II hundred persons, were the fro''ckers, com
posed Of lawyers, students, and tow people, all
seated in \ circle while Mr.. Patt,lson's client
from the West, dressed in costume, was CIV
ing the Pawnee war dance. The client was q
rough, uneducated man. but full of originality
and within. Mr. Patterson had gained suit fol
| him, in which the tile to an estate III the neigh
borhood was involved, worth upwards OF sixty
thousand dollars The whole bar had believed
that the suit could not be sustained by Patterson
but his luminous mind had detected the ceN
through the labyrinths of litigation, where they
saw nothing but confusion and defeat. His Glen
was overloyed at the result, as every one mac
croaked defeat to him. lie gave MIR. Patterson
fifteen thousand dollars five more than he MAJ
py omsed, and besides had made him present q
5 the splendid Indian dress in which, as bit G
/ fun, before the froic commenced, he had decke
5 himself, under The supervision of his client, VIII
/ acted as his costumer, and afterwards dresse
8 himself in the same way. The client had u gre'
e many Indian dresses with him, which he had co
lected with great care, and on this occasion !
1t threw open his trunks and supplied nearly II
: whole bar.
The name of Mr.. Patterson's client was Black
wood, and the admiration he excited seemed
l. give him no little pleasure. Most OF the lawye
;" in the circle had something Indian on them, viii
k the boys, who could not appear in costume, al
h were determined to appear wild, had turned the
jackets wrong side out and snapped with eae
other the big ones with the little, SO that one wo
Dr. his neighbours jacket, the whist OF which came
under his arms, and exhibited the back of b
a vest while the other wore coat, the mp hutto
e of which were at his knees.
Sc On the out skirts ofthis motley assembly cou
ry he seen, here and there, negro, who might
H. snid at once TO contribute TO the darkness IN
i'll surrounded the scene and TO reflect light upon
~ for their black skins were as ebon as night VIII
rk their broad grins certainly had something umi
GUS about them, as their white teeth shone fortl
es We stood about minute admiring the dant
g. when it was concluded, and some one esped
NJ and pointed us out to the rest. We, rather
ng should cay Dogberry, was greeted win I'M
times three. | have never seen, for the size
it, the assembly, such an uproarous outbreak of baC
Ike analan merriment. After the cheers was give
les many of the boys threw themselves on the gr
ry and rolled over and over shouting as they roll
ne, Others jerked their fellows hate of, and hur
Ike them in the air. Prettyman stood with his ar
ng folded, as if he did not know what TO make of
and then, deliberately spreading his blanket on
Die ground, as deliberately took his seat in the cen
nj of it, as if determined TO maintain the full poss
nd sion of his faculties, and, like an amateur a
he play, enjoy the scene. Morris held his sid
vas stopped down his head, and glanced sideways CT
Ter nngy at Dogberry throwing his head back ev'
tie now and then with sudden jerk while loud
laI plosive bursts of laughter, from his very he'
md echoed through the village above every ot
lite sound.
to "a speech from Dogberry" exclaimed Pref
ills, man.