The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-10-23

audHSCI anu iHCio youhSStCi3 " ~ w MANI
my way in such crowd, and get bust
ness. The public room was thronged
with all the oilers of the country, who
gather together on such occasions. There
was some drinking going forward, with
great noise and a little altercation.-
Just as entered the room, saw rough
bully of fellow, who was partly intoxi-
Gated, strike an old man. He came swag
gering by me, and elbowed me as he pas
sed. ! Immediately knocked him INTO
the street. | needed no better introduce
ton. had half dozen rough shakes of
the hand and invitations to drink, and
found myself quite Il parsonage in this
rough assem5lage.
The next morning court opened
took my seat among the lawyers, but !
ielt as mere spectator, not having any
idea where business was to come 'front.'
In the course of the morning man was
put to the bar, charged with passing coun-
terfeit money, and was asked if he was
ready for trial. He answered in the neg
alive. lie had been confined in Il place
where there were no lawyers. and had
not had an opportunity OF consulting any.
He was told to choose counsel from
the lawyers present, and be ready for
trial on the following day. lie looked
around the court and selected me. ! was
lhundcrsruck! could not tell why he
should make such choice. J., a beard
less youngs :er, unpraclised at the bar,
perfectly unknown. felt dtliJent, yet
delighted, and could have Rugged the
rascal.
Before leaving the court he gave me
one hundred dollars in bag as a retain
ing fee. could scarcely believe my
senses, it seemed like cream, .
Ta2 heaylness of the, fec. spoke but
! '.tly of The mans innoxeucc-but that
w.. no affair Of mine. II was to be advo-
&c, not Judge or jury | followed him
to the ,i.,il, and learned of him all the par
tlcuars in the case, from thc.ce | went
to the clerks Office, and took minutes of
the Indictment. then examined the law
on the subject, and prepared my brief in
my room. All this occpph.d me until
midnight, when went to bed and tried
to sleep. 1t was all in vain. Never in
my life was ! more wide awake. a host
of thoughts aui. lancics kept rushing into
my mind; the shower OF gold that had so
unexpectedly fallen into my lap. the idea
oim poor little wife at home, that was
| to astorlsh her with uy good fortune
But the awful responsibility had under
taken 10 speak for the lr.t time in u
strange court, the expectations the cul-
prIl had toIlncd oImy talents; all those
and Il crowd OF similar notions KEEP
whirling through my mind. III i ,osscC
about all night, iratin@ morning would
find me exhausted and Incompetent; in ;
word, the day daw"cl Oh Inc miserable
fellow.
got up lcypi.h anl nervous. | walk
e. out 10 breakfast, striving TO collect my
thoughts, and Tranquil IL my feelings, |
was "a bright morHIng-lhc air was pur,
and l,s.y--l hathcd my forehead an,
my han = in :. b auli4ul running steam
bat could not alIay tie fever heat ;lN,
ragged within. returned TO break al
but could not cat. A single cup OF coffee
formed my rcpas'. 1t was time TO 90 [,
court, and went there witha lhrobJ;rl
heart. believe if it had hot been for th
thought olmy dear little wife in her lone
ly hourc, should have givcn tacl, 10 tn
: man his dollars, and rrlnquished tn
cause. took my seat, looking an
convinced, more like : culprit than til
rogue was to defend.
When the time come for me 20 peak
, my heart died within nc. rose en-
barrassed and dismayed, and staumere
i'll opening my cause. went ON fror
| bad TO worse, and felt as if | was gYn
. down. just then, the public prosecutor
a man OF talents. but somewhat rough i
: his practice, made a sarcastic remark o
: something had said 1t was like an c
lectrlc spark, and ran lingIing througl
} every vein in my body. II an insar
my dlllldence was gone. My Who'll
t spirit was in arms. answered wit
! promptness, for felt the cruelty of sue
. an attack upon anovice in my siuriiol
S The public prosecutor made IA kind of {
e pology. This for man of his redoub
a able powers, was vast concession.
D renewed my argument with a learfl
a growl, carried the case triumphanlly, an
| the man was acquitted.
/. This was the making of me- Ever
S body was curious to know who tn
!, young lawyer was that had suddenl
= risen among them, and bearded the 4
\ torney General in the very onset. Th
J story of my debut at the inn on the pre-
: ceeding evening, when had knocke
g down bully, and kicked him out
,. doors,ior striking an old man,was circul
e ted with favorable exageration. Even m
e beardless chin and juvenile conntenane
:, was in my favor, for the people gave n
Ii tar more credit than | deserved. TT
g chance business which occurs at o,