Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-11-03
The Honest LaMysr's Pee.

/
TO some lwaycr, as she thought her friend
Stubs was less correct than he might be.
! asked her TO step into the parlor, and
went myself to my breakfast aud my wife,
whose advice | always asked on such points
We had known Mrs Stiles many years
her husband was great land owner in a
goodly town OF the western country, and
with a disinleresied love, that deserved
some better aim, ever pressed il on his
help-mate, rs the first rule Of life, to get all
she could, aud keep oil she got. He died,
and Mis Stiles became more aud more re-
ligious aud alms-giving, but also more aud
admirable advice which her husband had
given her,
stated the facts TO my wife, and waited
her opinion. "Well, William" said she.
after drinking cup Of coffee upon my s,o-
~, 81 fear the old lady has some money
getting claim in view you know she has
Of late given all her affections to getting
more wealth. would therefore recon-
mend her 10 the most honest and conscien-
tious lawyer in town, and not TO the mos,
acute aud thorough one She relies on
your judgment; use il, not for her seeming
but her rial good"
counted my legal acquainianccs over
twice over, before ! hit on one answering
to the terms "honest and conscientious, y
in the sense which knew Ellen used them I;
a, length found him, and taking my hat
walked with the widow TO his office.
We found Mr. SAWYER at his desk he
rose aud gave us chairs and waited Mrs
Stiles statement. But before ! go on in
this point, let inc say few words OF this
phenomenon this man with his head un-
der his leh arm close to his heau-,his
honest lawyer. in the broadesi, highest
sense Of the term. He was man OF lhir-
ty-6ve; ne had studied law because he ik.
ed the study, and began the practice be-
cause he had TO get living and now he
continued in the profession, in spite Of bad
opponents and bad courts because he
thought he had done, aud might yet do
much good by his labors; not alone by
saving the innocent and needy from the
strong and cruel, but preventing strife, put
ting stop to half knasish practices, and
dissuading men and women from unjust
suits and passion-rousing quarrels. Mr.
10 refuse acting for those whose claims he
thought dishonest, but he counted ii also a
duty and privilege, nay, more Christian
character TO strive 10 persuade them 10 for
get such claims. He sought fame and ex-
tensive practice as n means whereby TO ex-
ert a moral influence over the community
he thought lawyer bound to serve not his
client only, but his God and country, and
looked on him, who for gain would prose-
cute a suit which he thought unfair, as a
traitor to his conGirysand his religion, in
act, whatever he might be in intention. -
In short, as Bill Blunt once said, "Sawyer
is such a hanged fool as TO think il an At.
torney's business to help the pnrson to
make men good Christians"
Aud now we shall lei Mrs Stiles state
her business II seems that her HUSBAND
had sold and conveyed several lots which
her father had leh in trust for her, and il
such form that she, meaning to reeas,
her fee in the lots, had, in term, merely re
leased right OF dower--ihese lots she on
dersiood size could get back.
"Did you ever receive the money fo
them 7" said Mr. Sawyer
Certainly, sir"
"Was il fair, full price for the land ?
at was all we asked, SIR"
"Did you sign the deed willingly Z"
"Of course,-do you think Jared woul,
have driven me 10 do il !"
did you mean to convey full title il
fee, Mrs Stiles p
Beyond doubt; but rs we didn't, the
' tell me the land never passed"
Suppose, Mrs Stiles. the money ha,
been paid before you had drawn the deed
f should you have thought il honest. aiie
getting the money, 10 refuse 10 give th
deed r.
) "Why, lawyer, that would have bee
: lhieving, downright"
> swell, Mrs Stiles, you have moi yet ri,
! en- the deed, shall draw one for you /
sign ?"
: "Why, bless your soul. Sawyer, tina,
, the deed you have got in your hand"
q "Mrs Stiles. II you had given the mar
when he paid you the money for ihe-loi
# a sheet Of blank paper, and he had nc
h looked al il, would that have been deed 7
f "Of course not"
e "Bu, you meant TO give a full title j
) fee Z"
: Yes
Is SWELL this is not such a title any MOI
' than sheet Of blank paper /; you have nj
4 yet given the deed. Shall draw qu
d claim for you to signi" h
Mrs Stiles looked at me. and looked
;. the window. looked very much puzzle,
and somewhat abashed AT last she sal,
u Z" Blu, don't the law say the land is min