The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-05-14

will never ba conquered.", ti.
THELAWYER WITHOUT BUSINESS. :
~ boat a: midnight, sent alene
To driSt upon moonlsss sea:
A late whose Loading chord 10 gone
A wounded bird, that has but tone ..
Imperfect wing to scar upon
Are like what 1 am uOitho&t heen'-JMo0Te.
Mr. Windfall possessed every requisite,
but one, for success in his profession. He
had good constitutional long head--ex-
cellent eyes-an accurate mcmory--perse'
verance in every thing he underlook-great
command of words, or what his admirers in
elegantly termed, 'thc gift ofthe gap He
was versed in the practice Of the courts-was
devoted TO bis prOtossien-~and would have
toiled like an elephant for his clen's--if he
had any. He had served a long and ardaous
apprenticeship in lawyers office. His
whole life had been spent in the law. He
knew every judge, juror, clerk, lawyer, con
stable, and client, in town. II must have
been as natural for him to conduct suit, as
il is for duck 10 swim, and the city-hall
would have really looked like some other
building had his well-known face and pecu-
liar form been missing from its crowded
rooms, busy Offices, and long echoing stair
cases and corridors-Here was WindlalPs
element. This was his sphere. Here he
might be seen lettering about, day after day,
with his hands iE his treuser pockets: now
noddlng to a spruce young lawyer, fastening
to get his bill of costs taxed--new making
up 10 a group Of students, with an air OF
great dgnity-now poking about from one
clerks room to another, reading over the
books on the counter, liz which, as yet, his
hand had written nothing-aRd now imped-
ing the rapid egrcss and ingress oftho sheriff's
officers by ll-imed sslutations, and intarrog-
atories, until they got to be as much afraid
of him as other people was Of them. When
any interesting trial was going OR, therS you
might bs sure to find Wiudfall.--Now in
the front circle Of auditors, listening, with
his mouth opea, to charge by Judge irving
--now on sentence day, in the Court of Ses-
sions, examining oacl unhappy victim ofex-
ternal circumstances, as the recorder dis
missed them to bridewell, penitentiary, or
state -prison--and now in the Marine Court,
down stairs, side by side with sea captains
and sailors, following through its indignant
windings, the toEtuous testimony in suit OF
assault and battery Windlall was every
where. Every body knew him--lIe knew
every one and every thing; and yet, by some
mysterious fatality, he had no more conncc-
ton with the surrounding world than if he
were net in it. He walked through those
hot, crowded court-roomlike Eneas and other
ancient adventurers through the regions Of
Pluto seeing and hearing, but not being able
TO touch or embrace TO him, all the clients
were shadows. Intangible ghosts of fees
passed and repassed before his eyes, He
was as solitary and idle as mortal on the
banks Of the styx. Poor Windfall!--he had
no business!
1t is enough 10 melt the heart Of stone to
20 into Windfalps Office. His Office! 1t was
a li,tle room down in Peck -slip-with tive
chairs and table. The ink uouldy 10 the
stand--tho pen unused-the books There
were seyen) covered with the dust--the
Aoor and windows uAwashed In a small
adjoining closet was bed and bit of bro
ken looking glass; and, on the shutter, halt
efaced by age aud exposure, was nailed a
bit of black tin, on which was inscribed in
yellow letters, ''Horace Windfall, attorney
and counsellor at law How he lived was
mystery Although somewhat outrs in his
appearance, he always had on respectable
cloths, and looked fat and contented, as il
he ate enoush.-He walked mis- rounds with
the slow and dignGed air Of person on
good terms with himself. A man may
pick up great many stray things whe is viii
ling to dc anything. There are hints ofwhaI
is going on in the courts TO be dropped to ths
daily papers---a ne at sketch now and then
Of occurrences at the polce--a paper to bs
drawn up, or bit Of advice given OF the
ward eourls. Although councillor at law
Nyiadfall was too much Of philosopher to
vsfuss any mode Of procuring a few shillingg
II is even whispered that he haa occasional
produced for cash on delivery, sonnet fol
an album, or declaration of love from rough
notes by the lover--'Io young lady-twen.
to lines-name Jane-~peraon smslt--eye,
dark blue --maners bet0itehins.' Whatever
might be his mode Of procuring livelihood
il is certain that he hung on, when many o.
the fraternity, overwhelmed with business,
lef, the mental scene. He was obseryet
too, not only to be alive and well, but no
unfrequntly TO have on pieces Of attire di6
i arort FINN those nsevously Worn--a lnFpf