Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-07-09

|
and table, half dozen chairs, q
half dozen knives and forks, half
dozen spoons-cvorything by tho
half dozcn-a little delphi ware, ov-
crything in small way; we were so
poor, but then so happy.
Wo had not boon married many
days when court was hold in a conn
try town, about twenty-five miles dis
tant. 1t was necessary for me to go
there, and put myself in tho way Of
busincss-but how was to got |
had expended all my means on our
establishment, aud then it was hard
parting with my wife so soon after
marriage. However, 60 must. Mo-
noy must DO made, or wc would soon
have the wolf at our door. accor-
dinghy borrowed 4 horse. and borrow
cd a little cash, and rodo on from my
door, leaving my vito standing at it,
and waving her hand after mo. Her
last look, so sweet and bccoming, went
to my heart. l felt as if | could go
through fro and water for her. | ar.
rived a, tho country town on a cool
October evening. Tho Inn was crow
dc1, for tho court was to commence
on the following day.
l knew no one and wondered how
7, stranger, nero youngstcr' was
TO make my way in such crowd, and
to get business. Tho public room
was throngcd with all tho idlors i'll
tho country, who gather on such oc.
casions. There was some drinking
going forward, with great noiso and
a little alteration. Just us | entered
the room saw rough bully of q tcl-
low, who was partlyintoxicatcd, strike
an old man. Hc camcswaggcring by
me, and olbowcd me as he passed. |
Immediately knocked him down, and
kicked him into tho street. 1nocdcd
no better introduction. In moment
| had half dozen rough shakes of
tho hand and invitations to drink, and
found myself quite a parsonage in
this rough asscmblasc.
Tho next morning the court opened
Il took my scat among the lawyers,
but felt as mere spectator, not hav-
ing any idea where business was to
como from. In tho course OF tho
morning u man was put to the bar,
charged with passing counterfeit mo-
ncy, and was asked if he was ready
for trial. Ho answered in tho mega
tive. He had been confined in place
where thcro were no lawyers, and
had no, an opportunity Of consulting
any. He was told to choose from tho
lawyers present, and be ready for tri-
al on the following day. He looked
around the court and selected nc. |
could not tell why he should make
such u choice. |, a bcardless young
stcr, Impractical at the bar; perfect
" unknown. I felt dillilent, yet de-
lighted, and could havo Rugged the
rascal.
B fore leaving tho court,h o gave nc
one hundred in n bag, as retaining
fec. could scarcely believe my SEN
scs, it seemed like n dream. Tho
hoavincss of tho fee spoke but lightly
in favor of his innoccncc-but that
was no alluir of mino. was to be
advocate, not judge Or jury. I follow
ed him to tho jail, and learned from
him all tho particulars of tho case
from thence | went to the Clerks Of
fee, and took minutes Of the indict-
mcnt. l then examined tho law on
tho subject, and prepared my brief in
my room. All this occupied mo un-
til midnight, when went to bed and
tried to sleep. 1t was all in vain.
Mover in my life was | moro wldo
awake. A host of thoughts and fan
cics kept rushing through my mind.
The shower Of gold that had so uncx-
pectcdly fallen into my lap, the idea
Of my poor little wife at home, that
| was to astonish her with my goo.!
fortune. But the awful responsible
ty had undertaken, to speak for tho
first time in q strange court, tho OK
pccta,ions tho culprit had formed Of
!, my talcnts,-all these, and crowd Of
similar notions, kept whirling through
my mind. tossed about all night,
fearing the morning would find mo
exhausted and incompetent. In II
word, tho day dawncl on mo misor-
able fellow.
I got up fovorisll md nervous. /
walked out before breakfast, striving
to collect my Thoughts, and tranquiliao
my feelings. 1t was u bright morn
ing-l bathcd my forehead aud my
hands in beautiful running stream,
but could not allay the fever heat
that ragged within. returned to
breakfast but could not cat. a single
: cup of colloc formed my rcpast. II
it lul not been for the thought of my
little wife, in her lonely house, lshould
havo given back to tho man his hun
lrcd dollars, and rclinquishod tho
cause. | took my scat, looking, l
am convinced, more like culprit than
tho rogue was to defend.
Whom tho timo camo (urmo to speak,
my heart died within mo. | rose en-