The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-06-23
I to cot had expended all NV means

y
on our establishment, and then it was har,
parting with my wife SO soon after mar
riage. However, go l must. Money
must be made, or We would soon hav
7 the wolf at our door. l accordingly Dor
, rowed a little cash, and rode off from m,
door leaving my wife standing at it, ant
waving her hand after me. Her las
look, so sweet and becoming, went to my
heart. I felt as if l could go through
, fire and water for her. / arrived at the
county town on cool October evening
The inn was crowded, for the court wa.
to commence on the following day.
knew no one, and wondered how I, &
stranger, mere youngster, was to make
way in such a crowd, and to get business
The public room was thronged with all
the idlers in the country who gather OH
such occasions. There was some drink
ing going forward, with great noise and
little alteration. Just as [ entered
the room, saw rough bully of fellow,
who was partly intoxicated, strike an old
man. He came staggering by me, and
elbowed me as he passed. I Immediate
ly knocked him down, and kicked him in
to the street. l needed no better intro
duction. In amoment [ had half do
zen rough shakes of the hand and invi-
tations to drink, and found myself quite
parsonage in this rough assemblage.
The next morning the Court opened
| took my seat among the lawyers, but
felt as mere spectator, not having any
idea where business was to come from
In the course ofthe morning man was put
to the bar, charged withpassing counterfeit
money, and was asked if he was ready for
trial. He had been confined in a place
where there were no lawyers, and had
not had an opportunity of consulting any.
He was told to choose from the lawyers
present, and be ready for trial on the fol-
lowing day. He looked around the court
and selected me. I could not tell why he
should make such choice. I, beardless
youngsteI, unpracticed at the bar, perfect
ly unknown. l felt difident yet delight
ed, and could have hugged the rascal.
Before leaving the Court, he gave me
one hundred dollars in bag as a retaining
fee. [ could scarcely believe my senses,
it seemed like dream. The heaviness
of the fee spoke but lightly in favor of
his innocence-but that was no affair of
mine. I was to be advocate, not judge
or jury. followed him to Jail, and learn
ed from him all the particulars of the case;
from thence | went TO the Clerk 's~Sce,
and took minutes of the indics =
then examined the law on the
prepared my brief in my ror
occupied me until midnigb
to bed and tried to sleer
vain. Never in my liz
awake. A host of 7
kept rushing throu
er of gold that haI
into my lap, the
wife at home, that | -
with my good fortune
responsibility had undertaken,
for the first time in 4 strange Court,
expectations the culprit had formed o.
my talents, all these, and 4 crowd of sim
liar notions, kept whirling through my
mind. tossed about all night, fearing
the morning would find me exhausted and
incompetent--in word, the day dawned
on me miserable fellow
l got up feverish and nervous. Iwalk-
ed out before breakfast, striving to collect
my thoughts, and tranquilize my feelings.
1t was a bright morning. bathed my
forehead and my hads in beautiful run
ming stream, but [ could not allay the fe-
yer heat thatraged within. / returned
to breakfast but could not eat. A single
cup of coffee formed my repast. 1t was
time to 60 to Court. went there with a
throbbing heart. | believe if it had not
been for the thoughts of my lovely wife
in her little house, should have given
back to the man his hundred dollars, and
relinguished the cause. l took my seat,
looking, am convinced, more like cul-
prit than the rougue | was about to de-
fend.
Then the time came for me to speak,
my heart died within me. | rose embar-
rassed and dismayed, and stammered in
opening my cause. | went on from bad
to worse, and felt as if | was going down
hill. Just then the public prosecutor,
man of talshts, but somewhat rough in
his practice, made sarcastic remark, on
something l had said. 1t was like an e.
lectric spark, and rang tingling through
every vein in my body. In an instant
my difidence was gone. My whole spir-
it was in arms. / answered with prompt
ness and bitterness, for felt the cruelty
of such an attack upon novice in my
situation. The public prosecutor made
a kind of an apology. This, for man
of his redoubtable powers, was vast con-
cession. renewed my argument with
fearful glow, carried the cause triumph
antly, and the man was acquitted.
This was the making of me. Every
body was anxious to know who this new
lawyer was, that had suddenly risen a
mong them, and bearded the Attorney
General at the very onset. The story
of my debut at the Inn on the proceeding
evening, when / had knocked down bull
ly and kicked him out of doors. for stri-
king an old man was circulated with IA
hna 81