Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-07-22
LAW AND LEARNlFG.-of those Who

F, LAW AND LEARNIFG.-of those who
have been acquainted with our public men
for the last twenty-five wears. there are proDa-
| biz few who do not know A.. The
prince Of good fellows" clever at song or
aistoTy,a repartee or an argument, and al
home alike in the Halls Of Justice or Of Leg
islaiion-in the popular assembly or The So
cial clrculle. Among the many good things
related Of him is the following
In the earlier part of his professional career,
while practising as an Attorney in Lincoln
county, Maine, lac was spoiled 10 by poor
widow; who i'll great distress informed hun
that suit had been commenced against her
for small debt and flock OF geese, which
she had managed to raise, and on which she
depended W procure some necesssries i'll the
winter, had been attached Touched BY her
simple, sorrowful statement, and indignant
at the littleness OF the creditor and his attor-
ney. he promised 10 do all in his power 10
aid her.
Accordingly he addressed grave letter to
Mr.. u --stating that he had been applied TO
by lhs widow, and advising him. il it were
true that he had attached the geese, TO release
them, aud settle the affair with her ON the
best terms he could, urging that The notoriety
which suit would give TO bis blHader in di-
recling such palpable violation of law, might
be oil serious Injury to his reputation as law
yer especially as he had not been in practice
long enough To have it vet firmly established.
This letter he despatched Safeguarding on
his own standing as a lawyer aud Mr.. b. s
limited legal knowledge to give itetfect.
Next morning soon after Mr.. >. had reach
ed his Office, in came Mr.. b. in "hot haste, "
and accosted him with evident perturbation:
Good morning, Squire"
J. Good morning, Mr.. B. How are you TO
| day? Fake seat"
B. "Well-you! Eve come to see about
them geese. How is il?-who. there's no law
against taking geese for debt, Squire, is
there p
SIS there Why, friend. !-you lawyer
and not know that.
B. 'Wel, but where is ill you'll can't
| find it'll have looked ia the Statutes"
IS. "lndeed! Well, did not expec' F., as
you are just beginning practice, that your read
ing could be very extensive; bat did think
| yon knew better than to look in the statutes
OF Maine lor an old established principle OF
aw?"
| B. "Wel, but I've looked in Blackstone. ~
5. "ln Bldckstone!--now, really, b. am
surprised-l must confess, thst | am aston
/ '''N' thu' W. oiionV d oiSh,ii PioChSiOHe iOi
that"
B. "Well, Squire, I'm sure Idil not mean
TO 60 against law-but where Is it?-you?-
where do you find it?"
S. why did you never read Roman His
tory"
b. ayes, have"
S. And do you reccollect that on one oc-
caslon, when the whole city except the CAPT
tol was i'll possession OF the Gaats, and they
had nearly taken thai il was saved By the CAB
bling OF some geese i'll h temple near by
which awakened tde seatinels in time tC
alarm the garrison aud save thsfortrsss!'
b. "Why, yes, do remember, now you
put me III MUD ol it,
). And, pray, are younot aware that evei
since that time, by common consent Of ma
lions, geese have been held sacred from at
tachment?"
b. "Weil, you'll decl,re it does. look rea-
able-but did not kn1w it, Well Squire
don't prosecuIe-Ill sesd EN- back-,lon
make writ.l'il settle with the widow-and
don't say anything aboulis."
5. 80, certainly not-l wbuld on no account
do anything to injure yoJr practice or pros
poets, unless compelled I'd do SO, BY the in
tie rests OF my client"
So Mr.. b. sent the getse back, withdrew
! the suit made all right NJ the f.ar widyss,
| and remained deeply grateful to MIR. 5. both
| for his lesson and his lenig5.