Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-29
miscellaneous.
A Piece Of Legal Advice.

Rcnnes. the ancient capital Of Brittany, };
q famous place for law. People come there
from the extremities of the country to getln'
formation and ask advice. To visit Renne'
without getting advice appears impossible &c
n Breton. This was true at the latter end o
the last century, Just as 1t Is ut present. ane
especially among the country people, VINO
are a timid and cautious race.
Now il happened that a farmer named
Bernard, having come to Rennes on bust
ness, be-thought himself that as he had a few
hours to spare, it would be well TO employ
them in getting the advice of good lawyer
He had often heard of Monsieur Potter de la
Germondaie, who was in such repute, that
people q lawsuit gained when he undertook
their cause. The countryman inquired for
his address, and proceeded TO his home in
Rue St. Georges. The clients were numer-
Gus, and Bernard had to wait some time. Al
length his turn arrived, and he was introdu-
ced. nj. Potter de la Germondaie signed to
him to be seated, then taking of his specta-
cles, and placing them on his desk, he re-
quested to know his business.
"Why, Mr.. Lawyer" said the farmer,
twirling his hat, ~ have heard so much
about you, that, as ] have come to Rennes, !
wish to take the opportunity of consulting
YOU"
al thank you for your confidence, my
friend: you wish to bring an action, per-
haps 2"
IAN action! no, l hold that in adherence
Never has Pierre Bernard had a word with
any one"
"Then is it a settlement-a division Of
property ?"
Excuse me-, MIR. Lawyer; my family and
l have never had a division, seeing that we
all draw from the well, as they say"
swell, is it to negotiate a purchase or n
sale ?"
"Oh, no; l am neither rich enough to
purchase, nor poor enough to sell"
"Will you tell Inc, then, what you do want
of me 2" said the lawyer in surprise.
"Why, | have already told you, Mr.. Law
yer" replied Bernard. 81 want your adcice
for payment of course, as l am well able
to give it to you, and l don't wish to lose
this opportunity"
NJ. Potter took a pen and paper, and asked
the countryman his name.
"Pierre Bernard" replied the latter, quite
happy that he was understood.
"Your z ~
"Thirty years, or very near it"
"Your vocation Z"
"My vocation! Oh, that means what i
do? am a farmer"
The lawyer wrote two lines, folded the
paper, and handed it to his strange client.
as it finished already? Wei and good.
What is the price of that advice, Mr.. Laws
yer 2"
"Three francs!l'
Bernard paid the money, and took his
leave, delighted that he had taken advantage
OF his opportunity.
When he reached home, it was four
o'clock: the journey had fatigued him, and
he determined to rest the remainder of the
day. In the meantime the hay had been two
days cut, and was completely saved. One
OF the w~orking-men came to ask if it should
be drawn in. taE
"What, this evening 7" exclaimed the far.
mer's wife, who had come in to meet hei
husband. sit would be a pity to commence
the work SO late, since it can be done to
morrow without any Inconvenience" The
man objected that the weather might change
that the horses were all ready, aud the hands
idle. But the farmers wife replied that the
wind was in a good quarter, and that nigh
would set III before their work could be com,
pleted. Bernard, who had been listening &c
the argument, was uncertain which way tc
decide, when he suddenly recollected thai
nv hou Nv iaN1Cl . duNlCC Ill Ills DOChcI
swat a minute" he exclaimed; al have
an advicc-and a famous one too-that
paid three francs for: it ought to tell us whal
to do. Here, Theresa, see what it SAYS YOU
can read written hand better than l." The
woman took the paper, and read this line
".Verer put of till TOMORROW ichat you can
do to-day"
His wife ventured a few more objections
but he declared that he had not bought q
three-tranc opinion to make no use of it, and
that he would follow the lawyers advice
lie himself set the example by taking the
lead in the work, and not returning till all
the hay was brought in. The event seemed
to prove the wisdom of his conduct, for the
weather changed during the night; an un.
expected storm burst over the valley; and
the next morning it was found that the river
had overfiowed, and carried away all the hay
that had been left in the fields. The crops
OF the n~eighboring farmers were completely
destroyed: Bernard alone had suffered.
The success OF the first experiment gave
him such faith in the advice of the LAWYER
that from that day forth he adopted it as the
rule of his conduct, and became, by his or
tier and diligence, one of the richest farm.
crs in the country. He never forgot the
service done him by NJ. Potter de la Germon.
dale, to whom he ever afterwards carried a
couple of his finest fowls every year as a to-
ken of gratitude.
FALSE NorIoNs or LIBERTY" Away
with your Temperance pledge" says the
drinker of intoxicating liquors; " can't part
with my liberty /; / must be free" Yes, free
to ruin yourself and others. "Away with
your religious and moral tests, your fixed
principles, prcscriptivc rules, methodical ar
engagements and self-consistency," says the
high-fying, moonshiny, sky-rockety, scatter
a%tionist, whit believes only in his own infal-
hbilitY, and in that as an ever changing