Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-22
Mlistellanfolls.
TALES OF A BARRISTER.


."PLt give him law to his hearts content
the scoundrel" said Singleton, walking
backward and forward, in state of great
excitement.
Don't call harsh names, Mr.. Singleton"
said solicitor Trueman, looking up from the
mass of papers before him, and smiling in
quiet benevolent way, that was peculiar to
him.
every man should be known by his true
name. Williams is a scoundrel, and so he
ought to be called p responded the client,
with increasing warmth.
Z" Did you ever do reasonable thing in
your life when you were angry?" asked Mr..
Trueman, whose age and responsibility gave
him the license to speak thus freely to his
young friend, for whom he was endeavoring
to arrange some business difficulty with his
former partner.
GO | can't say that | ever did, Mr.. True
man, but now have good reason for being
angry; and the language use in reference
to Williams, is but the expression Of So
Der and rational conviction" replied Sim
gleton, little more calmly.
"Did you pronounce him scoundrel be-
fore you received this reply to your last let
ter?'' asked Mr.. Trueman.
"No, | did not but that letter confirm
ed my previously formed impression of his
character"
But / cannot find in that letter any evil
dence proving your late partner to be dis
honest man. lie will not agree to your pro-
posed mode of settlement, because he does
not see it to be the most proper way"
/" He won't agree to it, because it is an
honest and equitable mode of settlement
that is all He wants to overreach me, and
is determined to do so if he can p respon-
ded Mr.. Singleton, still excited.
"There you are decidedly wrong" sale
the lawyer. You have both allowed your.
selves to become angry, and are both unrea
sonable in the present case. Two angry
men never can settle any business properly
You have unnecessarily increased the diff
cuties in the way of speedy settlement
by writing Mr.. Williams an angry letter
which he has responded to in the like un
happy temper. Now, if am to settle th
business for you, | must write all letters tina
pass to Mr.. Williams in future"
But how can you properly express m
views and feelings l''
"That do not wish to do, if your view
and feelings are to remain as they now ar
for anything like an adjustment of tn
difficulties, under such circumstances,
should consider hopeless" replied Mr.. True
man.
"Well let me answer this letter, and al
ter that, | promise that you shall have you
own way"
"No, shall consent to no such thing.
-, ,ha La TO LOTT ,uhi lie 70
the negotiation for settlement in such
way as to bring success or failure; and
have no idea of allowing you, in the preser
state of your mind, to write such a one a
will most assuredly defeat an amicable aC
justment."
Singleton paused for some time befor
making reply, He had been forming i
his mind most cutting and bitter reloinde
to the letter Just alluded to, and he was v,
nv DESTROYS that Mr.. Williams should hav
the benefit of knowing that he thought hin
tricky and deliberate scoundrel," wit
other opinions of similar character. ii
found it, therefore, impossible to make u
his mind to let the unimpassioned Mr.. True
man write this most important eplstle.
"Indeed, must write this letter, Nj
Trueman," he said. "There are son
things that | want to say to him, which
know you won't write. You don't seem
consider that the position in which he hi
placed me by that letter, nor what is oblig
tory upon me as man of honor. l new
allow any man to reflect upon me, direct
or indirectly, without proper response"
"There is in the Bible" said Mr.. Tru
man, ga passage that is peculiarly apple
bic in the present case. 1t is this A so
answer turneth away wrath, but grievol
words stir up anger l have found tn
precept, in life that has numbered MOI
than double your years, to be one that ma
be safely and honorably adopted in all case
You blame Mr. Williams for writing you a
angry letter, and are indignant at certai
expressions contained therein Now, is
any more right for you to write an angl
letter, with cutting epithets, than 1t is i'
himF"
"But, Mr.. Trueman-"
81 do assure you my young friend" sal
o.. ,.....r intcrruplIng hun, that ! al