The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-03-06
From Moores Rural New Yorker.
THE
TRIUMPH OF TRUTH,
AREMINISCENCE OF THE BAR.
BY EDWARD WEBSTER, ESQ.

In ali ana IN each OF the pursuits OF human ,
lie, there arc, ,at various points along our path
way, obstacles which oppose our progress and
which call for strength of will and steadiness
II purpose to oycrcome-Salient points, that
project in sharp angles across our way, to
urn us from our purpose. or to conceal the
objects that lie before us in our future course
Every man, unless he is more than usually
fortunate, or possesses more than the usual
amount of prudence and toresi ght, must ex-
pect to meet with revcrSes and disappont-
mcntS.
Young professional men have, perhaps,
more to meet in the way of opposition and
than any other class in COM
munity. The wares and merchandise of
>klIitul mechanic, ii really superior, will rec
ommend themselves. He has only to recon-
mend and expose for sale, and his goods will
tell their own story; but the professional man,
before he can act, must wait until he is called.
No man of common prudence desires to risk
his life or fortune in the hands of an unskill-
full or dishonest man: and hence, frequently.
the modest and retiring, though really COM
petent and deserving Young Attorney or Ply
>can. has often to wait for employment until
he is tempted to abandon his profession in de-
SPAR.
Nor are the instances Of sudden and rapid
rise as frequent as we are led 10 suppose
The ability to combat successfully in the in
trllectual arena is not intnitive. However
brilliant may be the mental qualifications OF a
man, they must be trained and dlsci irlincd; ;
and when we see one of those rare minds el-
evating its posseS>or, step by step, above his
fellow men, we are apt to forget the many
years preliminary mental disci pine through
which he has pa~sed-ycars of toll, perhaps
of poverty, and almost of despair.
have in my mind, at this moment. a case
in point. Counsellor NJ, late of the Mas
sachusetts bar. for LONG time enioved an en-
siablc reputation and lucrative practice
was honcrrd by his constituents with many
important trusts, and has often been cited as
an example Of rapid progress and quick suc
cess. Nothing. however, is really wider from
the truth, than that Counsellor NJ rose rapid
" in his profession: and little do the world
at large know of the slow and painful manner
in which he pursued his preliminary literary
and professional course; and little do the,
suspect that he was a sound and practical
LAWYER and had been ten wears in the pro-
fession. before the circumstance occurred that
called him into public notice, rave him an cx-
tcn>ive reputation, and introduced him into
hi CHER and more lucrative sphere of prac
tie.
His Office, at that time. was located in the
great manufacturing city of New Englanl.
some TWENTY-FIVE miles from Boston He was
seated one day in his Office, examining a re-
cent volume Of Reports, and comparing the
cases it contained with the principles Of the
English common law. when a vonng man en-
tered. whom he remembered TO have seen in
some wav connected with one of the manu-
featuring corporations He was an intelligent
GOOD looking man. apparently of about the
age of twenty-five wears, and dressed in the
carb Of the better class of operatives in the
mills He was possessed Of that independent
and self reliant air that distinguishes the 4
mcrican mechanic from the Iahorine classes
of all the rest Of the world. and indicates a
degree of intellectual cultivation which is at
the same time the pride of our citizens and
the safety of the Republic. There was an
expression of deep anxiety upon his counte-
nance as he exchanged the compliments of
the morning, and proceeded at once TO say
Counsellor, | wish to consult with YOU on
a matter of deep importance, involving the
integrity and happiness of poor but virtu
ous and honorable family. A Young woman
bv the name of Lucy Kendall. who is engag
cd as Il weaver in the mill, and indeed in the
very room of which am foreman, is accused
of grand larceny under circumstances of the
most grave suspicion, Public opinion is We
~ much against her, but am satisfied she
is innoccnt OF any crime. The net Of clrcum
stances seems to he almost inextrica.,ie. bu
she must be saved in some way, and at an,
hazard
The Counsellor suggested that perhaps She
was really guilty of the charge.
No. no. he answered, it is impossibe
have known her from child We were
shoolmatcs together in one of the little vii
laces among the granite hills of New IIamp
shire Her father was man Of some prop
crtv then, and | was poor mans son bu
we were in the same classes in the vilag
school. She was two or three years vounge
than |. but looked upon her, even then, a
the pcrsonitica;ion of virtue and goodness
and the bright example she set us then, ant
lne almlratlOn nal LOT ntr character IN tnOs'
schoo-boy days, have never since been lost.
AT the aye of eighteen, left my native
village and came here as an operative in
cotton mill. in which have been ever since
engaged. lost sight of Miss Kendall! until
year ago last summer, at which time she CAM
here and entered the mill as weaver; ant
then learned, for the first time, that her ia
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