The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-05-17
NILS CELL A N EO u S
a dscorgia Juage,s Decision

Many years ago, while the State
Of Georgia was yet in her Infancy,
an eccentric creature, named Young,
was one of it's Circuit Judges. He
was a man Of considerable ability, of
inaexible integrity, and much be-
loved and respected by all the legal
profession; but he had one common
fault. His social qualities would
lead him, despite his Judgment, into
frequent exeesscs. In travelling the
circuit, it was his almost invariable
habit, the night before opening the
court, to get comfortably corned,'
by means of appliances common upon
such occasions. IF he couldn't sue
ceed, while operating upon his own
hook, the members of the bar would
generally turn in and help him.
It was in the spring of the year.
Taking his wife "a model Of a wo.
man in her way-in the old.fashioncd,
but strong 'carryall,' he journeyed
some forty miles, and reached vii
lage where court was to be opened
the next day. 1t was long in the
evening Of Sunday that he arrived
at the place and took up quarters
with a relation of his 'better half
by whom the presence Of the official
dignitary was considered a singular
honor. After supper, Judge Young
strolled over to the only tavern in
the town, where he found many
friends called to the place, like him
self, on important professional bust
ness, and who were properly glad to
meet him.
'Gentleman,' said the Judge, 'his
quite q long time since VIC have en-
joyed glass togcthcr-let US take a
drink all around Ofcourse Sterritt,
addressing to the landlord,) you
have better liquor than you had the
last .t;lue,we were here 2-the stuff
you had then. was not fit to give a
dog
Sterritt, who had charge of the
house, pretended that everything was
right, and so they went to work. 1t
is unnecessary to enter large upon
a drinking bout in a country tavern
it will quite answer our purpose to
state that somewhere in the reign Of
midnight, the Judge wended his very
dubious way towards his temporary
abodes. About the time he was
leaving, however, some younger bar.
risters, fond of practical and not
much afraid of the bench, transferred
all the silver spaons of Sterritt to the
Judges coat pocket.
It was eight o'clock on Monday
morning that the Judge rose. Hav-
ing INDUCED in the process Of ablu,
ton and abstersion, and partakcn of
a cheerful and refreshing breakfast,
he went to his rooms to prepare him
self for the duties Of the day.
Well, Polly said he to his wife,
4 eellmuch better than I expected
to feel after that frolic Of last night
'Ah, Judge said she rcproachful-
ly,' you are getting too old, you
ought to leave off that business
'Ah, Polly-what's the use Of talk
ing p
It was this precise instant Of timo,
that the Judge having put on his
Soyercoat, was proceeding, according
ito his usual custom, to give lis wife
u parting kiss, that he happened, in
thrusting his hand into his pocket, to
lay hold of Sterrit's spoons. lie
jerked them out. With an expires.
sion Of horror almost indescribablc,
he exclaimed
MY God! Polly =
'What on earth's the matter,
Judgep
EJust look at these spoons!'
sDear me, were dye get them p
Get tocm ? Don't you see the
materials on thcm?- m?--cxtcnding them
towards her II stole them
'Stole them, Judge p
sYes, stole them
MY dear husband, it can't be pos
sible From whom p
From Sterritt, over there his
name is on them
Good heavens how could it hap.
pen
III know very woll, Polly, I was
very drunk when l camc home,
wasn't 2
sWhy Judge, you know ur old
habits when you get among those
lawyers.
but was I very drunk =
Yes you was
sWas remarkably drunk when J.
got homo, Irs. Young
Yes Judge, drunk as a fool, and
forty times as stupid
! thought so,fs said .hc Judge,