New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-24
THE ToMBs LAWYER.
As reptiles haunt prison wall.
And search its broken cliffs for food
Enrrsr. br,r,... ar.. rul

~ some human beings cl1nge ana crawl
For daily bread where sorrows brood
One day the good huckster woman was passing
down the steps of the City Prison, for she in
variably accompanied Mrs Warren to her hus-
bands cell every morning, though it interfered
greatly with her harvest hour in the market,
she was slowly descending the prison steps, as
have said, when man whom she had passed,
leaning heavily against one of the pillars in the
vestibule, followed and addressed her
On hearing her name announced, Mrs. Gray
turned and encountered q man, perhaps thirty
five or forty years of age. with handsome but
unhealthy features, and eyes black and keen,
that seemed capable of reading your soul at
glance, but too weary with study or dissipation
for the effort.
II beg your PARDON said the stranger,
lifting his hat with degree of graceful defer
ence that quite charmed the old lady. &c l be-
lieve you are Mrs. Gray, the benevolent friend
of that poor man lodged up yonder on q charge
Of murder My young man informed rne that
a lady-it must have been you, none other
could have so beautifully answered the descrip-
| tion-had called at my Office in search of coun
| sci. l regretted much not being in. This is
peculiar case, madam, one that enlists all the
sympathies, You look surprised. know that
feeling is not usual in our profession but there
are hearts, madam, hearts so tender originally,
| that they resist the bard grindstone of the law.
1t is this that has kept me poor, when my bro
| ther lawyers are all growing rich around me.
| g Sir answered Mrs. Gray, her face all in
glow of delight, reaching forth her plump hand.
with which she shook that of her new acquaint
snce, which certainly trembled in her grasp,
but from other causes than the sympathy for
which she gave him credit, Sir, / am happy
to see you, very happy to find one lawyer that
has heart. ! don't remember calling at your
Office without finding you in, though certainly
have found good many other lawyers out"
| Here the blessed old lady gave merry
chuckle over what she considered q marvellous
play upon words, which was echoed by the law
yer, who held one hand to his side, as if abso-
cited by her facetiousness
| ssAnd, now, my dear lady, let us to business ::
the most exquisite wit, you know, must give
place to the calls of humanity My young man
| told me Of your noble intentions with regard to
| this unhappy prisoner. That out of your wealth
so honorably won, you were determined to wrest
Justice from the law. | am here with my legal
armor on, ready to aid in the good cause Ii
were rich now-if had not exhausted my life
in attempting to aid humanity would
give me so much pleasure as to go hand-in-hand
with you to his rescue, without money and
without price; as it is, my dear madam-as it
is, the laborer is worthy of his hire"
This quotation quite won the already vacil-
lating heart of poor Mrs. Gray. She shook the
lawyers thin hand again with increased cor
diality, and answered: ''True enough, true
enough, my dear sir. declare it is refreshing
to hear Bible words in the mouth of lawyer.
It's what didn't expect
'sAh, madam" cried the lawyer, drawing a
white handkerchief from side pocket, and re-
turning it as if he had determined to suppress
his emotions at any cost; 60 ah. madam, do not
apply a general rule too closely Our profess
sion is bad enough. | do not defend it, What
man, with conscience void of offence, could
make the attempt: But there exists excep-
tions-honorable exceptions. Permit me to
hope that your clear mind can distinguish be-
tween the sharper and the man who sacrifices
the worlds goods for conscience sake. Be-
lieve me, dear lady, there are such things as
honest lawyers, as pious men, in the profession.
, "Well, l must say the idea never struck me
before,' answered Mrs. Gray, with honest sim.
plicity.
"Permit me to hope, that from this hour yot
' will no longer doubt it," answered the lawyer
gently passing one hand over the place which
: anatomists allot to the human heart. And
y now, madam, suppose We walk to my office ant
settle the preliminaries Of our engagement. /
r cool head and warm heart, that is what yo,
want; fortunately such things may be found
Pray allow me to help you; the steps are lit
y tie damp, accidents frequently happen up thi
= avenue my office is close at hand, many poo
my arm"
|, Mrs. Gray hesitated; blush swept over he
: comely cheek at the thought of walking arm-in
], arm with so perfect gentleman, and that i
the open streets Of New York. It was thin
: she had not dreamed of since the death of poe
y Mr. Gray. But there was leayen of feminin
- vanity still left in the good womans natur,
IT The shrewd swindler, who stood there go grace
fully presenting his arm, had not altogethe
miscaculated the effect of his fattery ana |
olenched it adroitly, with this act of persons
20 attention.
nj Mrs Gray hesitated, blushed, drew on hi
glove little tighter, and then placed her sui
: stantial arm through the comparatively fragi
e limb of the lawyer, softly, if she quite appr
: ciated the danger of bearing him down vii
j. weight. Thus the blessed old woman was borl
d. along, sweeping half the pavement with h,
: massive person, and crowding the poor lawys
h unconsciously out to the curb-stone ever
), minute
He, exemplary man, bore it all with gent
eomplacency, cautioned her against every in
= pediment that came in her way, and console
y himself for the somewhat remarkable figure
= made in the eyes of the police officers that haul
p the neighborhood. with significant twirl of h
disengaged hand in the direction of his own fac
: and quick dropping of the left eye-ld, by whit
y they all understood that the Tombs lawyer hs
= brought down his game handsomely that NOR
y ing.
: Mrs Gray was certainly somewhat disa]
lie pointed in the style of the lawyers Office in
which she was ushered with so much ceremon
lie A rusty old leather chair, q table with Il
green baize half worn off, with bundle or IL
g Of dusty papers upon it. o standish full of d
- ink, and steel pen rusted down to the nib,
: veiled thickly with dust, did not entirely me
lie her ideas of the prosperous business she h
anticipated. The lawyer saw this, and hasten
g to sweep away all unfayorable impressions fre
me- her mind.
Ill 'sThis is my workshop, you see, madam, t
tread-mill in which / grind out my huml
= bread and my blessed charities; no foppery,
IS, carpets, nothing but the barest necessities
:. the profession. | leave easy chairs, etc +
IS, those who have the conscience to wiring the
from needy clients. You comprehend, de
!, lady. Oh it is pleasant to feel that now a
IL then, in this cold world, good life meets wi
Nv Nv appreciation. John, bring me another chair
ne my young man." whom the lawyer h
NO mentioned so ostentatiously, came forward
the shape Of lank Irish lad. taller than !
. master by three inches, which might be {
is, curately measured by the space visible betwe
:. the knee of his neither garments aud the top
= his gaiter boots. The closet door from which
for issued, revealed lurking eneampment of dus
=. bottles a broken washstapd, and two euormo
for demijohns, the wickerwork suspiciously moi
~ and with stopper Of blue glass chained to t
0O neck.