The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-06
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From the KnickerJocker
THE POOR LAWYER.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

/ BY WASHINGTON IRVING.
| had taken my breakfast, and was waiting
Tor my horse, when passing up and down the
piazza, ] saw young girl seated near the win
| dow, evidently a visitor She was very pretty,
with auburn hair and blue eyes, and was dress
ed In white. | had seen nothing of the kind
since left Richmond, and at that time | was too
much OF boy to be struck with female beauty.
She was so delicate and dainty. looking, so diff
ferent from the hale buxom, brown girls of the
woods-and then her white dress II was so
dazzling! Never was poor youth so taken by
surprise, and suddenly bewitched. My heart
/ yearned TO know her, but how was TO accost
herf had grown wild in the woods, and had
none Of the habilitudes Of polite life Had she
been like Peggy Pugh or Sally Pigham, or any
OF my leather-dressed bellies Of the pigeon roost,
should have approached her without dread /;
nay, had she been fair as Shurt's daughters
with their looking glass lockets. | should not
have hesitated; bur that white dress, and those
auburn ringlets and blue eyes, and delicate locks
quite daunted while they fascinated | don't
know what put il into my head, but thought all
at once that would kiss her! II would take a
| long acquaintance 10 arrive at such a boon, but
might seize upon il by sheer robbery. No
body knew me here. | would just step in and
snatch kiss, mount my horse and ride off,
| She would not be the worse for il and that
| gave no time for the thought to cool, but
| entered the house and stepped lightly into the
| room. She was seated with her back to the
door, looking out Of the window and did not
hear my approach. tapped her chair, and she
turned and looked up. | snatched as sweet a
kiss as ever was stolen, and vanished in a
| w'nkling. The next moment was on horse
| back gallopng homeward, my heart tingling at
what had done.
After variety Of amusing adventures, Ring
wood attends the study of the law, in an OBJ
scure settlement in Kentucky, where he delved
night and day. Ralph pursues his study, occa-
sonally argues at a debating society, and at
length becomes quite genius in the eyes of the
married ladies of the village
called TO take tea one evening with one Of
these ladies, when to my surprise, and some
what to my confusion, found here the identical
little blue-eyed beauty whom had so audacious-
ly kissed. l was formally introduced to her, but
neither of US betrayed any signs of previous ac-
quaintance, except by blushing to the eyes,
While tea was getting ready, the lady of the
house went out of the room TO give some dlrec-
tons and left us alone. Heaven and earth |!
what situation | would have given all the
pittanceI was worth, to have been in the deep
est dell of the forest. | felt the necessity of
saying something in excuse for my former rude
ness. could not conjure up an idea, nor utter
WOTu. 1FeIy HOfutut IndtltTS were growing
worse felt at once tempted to do as | had
done when / robbed her of the kiss--bot from
the room and take to flight; but was chained
| to the spot, for really longed to gain her good
will.
Atlength plucked up courage on seeing her
equally confused with myself, and walking des-
perately up to her, exclaimed,
II have been trying to muster up something
/ TO say to you, but cannot. feel that | am in
| a horrible scrape. Do you have pity on me and
help me out of it ~
| A smile dimpled upon her mouth and played
umong the bushes of her cheek. She looked
up with shy, but arch glance Of the eye that
expressed volume Of comic recolections. We
| both broke into laugh, and from that moment
all went well.
4 Passing the delightful description that sue
! ceeded we proceed to the denouement Of Ring
woods love affair-the marriage and settlement.
1 That very autumn / was admitted to the bar,
! and a month afterwards was married. We
were young couple-she not above sixteen, |
! not above twenty--and both almost without a
| dollar in the world. The establishment which
we set up was suited to our circumstances a
low house with two small rooms, a bed, table,
| a half dozen knives and forks, half dozen
spoons-every thing by half dozens-a little
DELPHI ware, every thing IN small way We
were so poor, but then so happy!
4 We had not been married many DAYS, when a
| court was held in country town about 25 miles
4 off. 1t was necessary for me TO go there, and
put myself in the way OF business But how
was to go? had expended all my means in
our establishment, and then II was hard parting
with my wife so soon after marriage. However,
go must. Money must be made, or we should
have the wolf at the door, accordingly Dor
rowed horse, and borrowed little cash, and
rode off from my door, leaving my wife standing
at it, aud waving her hand after me. Her last
| look so sweet and becoming, went 10 my heart.
| felt as if could go through fire and. water for
her arrived at the country town on a cool
| October evening. The inn was crowded, for
| the court was TO commence on the following
| day.
| knew know no one and wondered how |,
| a stranger and mere youngster, was TO make my
way in such crowd and get business The
public room was thronged with all the oilers OF
the country, who gather together on such occa-
\ sions There was some drinking going forward
with great noise and little alteration. Just
4 as | entered the room, ! saw a rough bully of a
| fellow who was partly intoxicated, strike an old
| man. He came staggering by me, and elbow
4 ed me as passed Immediately knocked him
1 down and kicked him into the street. needed
no better introduction. | had half dozen rough
shakes OF the hand and invitations to drink, and
found myself quite parsonage in this rough as
semblage.
The next morning court opened. | took my
seat among the lawyers, but I felt as a mere
spectator, not having any idea where business
was to come from. In the course Of the morn
ing man was put to the bar, charged with
passing counterfeit money, and was asked if he
was ready for trial. He answered in the mega
tive. He had been confined in place where
there was no lawyers, and had not had an op
portunity Of consulting any. He was told Il
choose a counsel from the lawyers present, anc
be ready for trial the following day. He looked
around the court and selected me. was thun
derstuck Icould not tell why he should max,
| such q Ihnce- l. q heardless ynunnster. I'm