Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-02-21


morning a looking. knock down
sort Of a young man was seen making to-
ward the office. How the heart OF the
young lawyer bounded at the sight Of his
first client! What success, and cases,
and fees danced in the vision in a mo-
ment!
Are you the lawyer!' said the man,
hastily taking off his hat.
Yes, sir, that's my business. What
can do for you!'
.Why. something Of job, reckon
The fact is have got into a little trouble.
and want bit of help And he took
out five dollar bill. and laid it on the
table The young lawyer made no mo-
ton toward taking it,
.Why dom, you take it!' said he. Il
don't call it pay, but to begin wlth-a
kind OF wedge-what do you call it, 4
.Retention-fee. presume you mean
Just so. and by your taking it, you are
nv lawyer. So take it,
| Not quite so fast, if you please. State
your case, and then will tell you wheth-
er or not take the retentlon-fee.'
The coarse fellow stared.
why, mister, the case is simply this
Last spring was doing little business
by way of selling meat So | bought
yoke Of oxen Of old Maj. Farnsworth. |
was to have them for one hundred dollars
VERY well-what became of the oxen'
'Butchered and sold out, to be sure
by you!'
yes
well, where's the troubled
why, they saNphat as only gave my
note for them, need not pay it, end
want you to help me to get clear of it,
How do you expect me to do lt'
Plain as day, man; just say. gentlemen
: Of the jury, this young man was not OF age
when he gave Maj. Farnsworth the note.
and therefore, in law, the note is good for
nothing-that's all!'
and was it really 500!
: Exactly
How came Maj. Farnsworth to let you
: have the oxenv
ooh, the godly old man never suspec-
ted that was under age
what did you get for the oxen in sell
ing them outv
= why, somewhere between one hundred
and thirty and one hundred and forty dol
|. lars-they were noble fellows!'
And so you want me to help you 10
: cheat that honest old man out of those OK
en-. simply because the law, this human
!, imperfcction, gives you the opportunity to
. do it! No, sir; put up your retentlon-tee
promised my dying mother never TO dc
such thing. and will starve first. And
i as for you-if wanted to help you to &c
:, TO the states prison, could take nc
: course so sure a. to do what you offer &C
:, pay me for doing. And, depend upon it
:, the lawyer who does help you, will be your
= worst enemy. Plead minority! No; go
. sir. and pay for your oxen honestly anc
;, live and act on the principle. that let wha
! will come, you will be an honest man.
: The coarse young man snatched W
e his bill. and muttering something abou
!, seeing Squire SnaPall, left the office.
. So he lost his first fee and his first case
= lie felt poor and discouraged, when LEI
- alone in the office; but he felt that he hat
:. done right. His mothers voice SCENE,
.r to whisper. Right, my son. right TIL
next day he was in old Maj Farnsworth'S
- and saw pile of bills lying upon the ia
o. BILE. The good old man said he had jus
received them for a debt which he expec
~ ted TO lose. but kind Providence had in
~ terposed in his behalf. The young law
- yer said nothing. bat his mothers voc
seemed to come again, right, my son
r. right
Some DAYS after this a man called il
the evening and asked the young man +
- defend him in trial just coming on.
i What is your case!
~ They accuse me Of stealing bee
n hive
- ~ bee -hve,-surely that could not b
- worth much!'
:, No. but the bees and the honey wer
=, in it,
". Then you really did steal itl'
M Squire are you alone here-nobody I
~, heart
" u am all alone
~ Are you bound by oath to keep the sc
90 crets Of your clients"
~ Certainly am
, wal, then. 'twixt you and ME, l di
ys have dab at that honey There wa
TO more than seventy pounds! But you ca
os clear me-
- How can IL
:, why, Ned Hazen has agreed to swes
10 that was with him fishing at Squanicoo
Or Pond that night
Fl. SO. by perjury. you hope to escap
~, punishment. What can you afford to pa
r lawyer who will do his best!'
-, The man took out twenty dollars.
a. was great temptation. The young Law
: : yer. staggered for a moment-but only f
&c q moment.
No. sir. will not undertake your cas-
l will not try to shield a man whom
~ know to be villain from the punishmel
e' which he deserves. l will starve first
=, The man with an oath bolted out Of II
"a office, and made his way 70 Snapall's G
nd flee. The poor lawyer sat down alon
,er and could have cried. But a few doiia
90 were left to him in the world. and wha,
do when they were gone. he knew not.
l.. few moments the flush and burning
~. Us the face was gone. as if he had been fa
vs. ned by the wings Of angels. and again
O. heard his own mothers voice, right, II