Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-05-04
miscellaneous.
4 7 R0F F ESSI0NiL SCAR.
BY AN OLD LAWYER.

~ hLhu AC1'ci- harry. came duly to
hand and you will be surprised to learn
that a careless question of yours will
dfaW forth In answer enough to cover a
sheet hat caused that scar on my
temple?n
1t Is professional scar Harry one
that L have carried ever since nv earliest
practice; and although have now arrived
at to!erable old age, and have MANY.
many intimate friends, it is a most sin
gular fact that you are the first and only
person that ever inquired into its origin
can tell you all about it. but must avoid
names and places, for the parties most in
terested in the incident are now living.
am bound under strong bonds of secre
cy.
In tie year IS, after passing through
a long examination before grave iudges
and shrewd barristers | was pronounced
propcrl y-qualifed person to appear be
fore juries and courts. for others as we'll
as myself and at once proceeded to a
large southern city. where, by a Oldest
iittle sign over the door of a modest little
otflce. l announced my readiness to com
meuce the practice Of law For three
months L waited, but alas no business
came, and sat in my Office on drearv
night, at about eleven o'clock. in this
very comfortable position my money
was gone entirely; my board bill was to
be paid III the morning. and nv rent the
day following: and | absolutely feared to
90 to my boarding house. and waited in
what seemed the forlorn hone that some
thing IN the way of fee might annear.
on my desk. Outside. no stem was heard .
AID as L occasionally glanced through nv
window, the fame of the street LIGHT.
moved by the wind would seemingly
move me homeward but [ would not 80
j t3otStep sounded in my entry; sec
ond, and third, and more. but so light
that my heart beating prevented nv
counting them and then n little delicate
knock | compelled myself to say Come
m with calm voice. I expected to be
instantly rlS-a riS with a young woman ;
the door opened. and I saw-an old one
L had only time to move towards a
chair before she was in the center of the
room and speaking
I have 10 time to sit You are law
yer are you good for ANYTHING 2"
Ny insulted dignity was controlled bv
an effort. and | answered that I fattered
myself that possessed some talent for
my profession, or | should not have cho-
sen it
Well. well. no gas; can you draw a
paper 27
Here again | ventured to remark that
1t depended somewhat on its nature: but
| saw from her impatient manner that
she wanted no trifing Before I finished
! the sentence. she interrupted me with a
tieetncss of manner exceeding her former
roguh one, saying
Il want a will drawn-quick but so
strong that all the powers on earth or be-
low it can't undo it Can you do it ~
and she fairly elared at me with impa-
tlence for an answer.
Now you know, Harry. that my legal
education was obtained entirely in a sur
rogates Office, and you may presume that
on the law and forms Of last wills and
testaments | felt myself sufficiently post
cd up ecordingly assured her that
l could draw viii. which. though [ could
not warrant it to pass the ordeal she men
toned. would. | was sure. be proof against
the efforts Of all the lawyers in ChristcD-
dom
And now her manner changed from the
fierce and bold to the anxious and hur-
ried
Come, then, quick quick young man.
and you shall pocket one thousand dol
lars for your nights work ~ she exclaini
ed
And. amazed and bewildcred as I was
found myself at neighboring corner.
stepping into hack before the startling
but comfortable words "a thousand dollars
. for your nights work ~ had ceased ring
ing in my ears Ny conductrcss followed
me in. and without orders we were ratified
TurIouslv along the street to the -
House, then the largest hotel in the city
Ny vision Of one thousand bright dollars
kept my tongue bridled, aud i was led
in silence up two flights of stairs into a
suit Of rooms comprising a parlor and
two bedrooms The parlor. however, was
occupied by a bed. in which lay an old
and evidently dying man. \ servant
was with him but he left. upon a motion
from the hand of my companion, who ap-
preached the bed and said
L have an attorney here, sir; shall he
proceed ?"
The old mans eyes frightened up and
after glaring on me for moment, be
spoke
If you can draw my will, do it; quick
now. for | must save my breath"
7 I turned to the table, where | found
paper pens, ink and every thing necessa-
~; and BY tie light of two sperm can
dies In heavy silver candles;icks, | was
soon busily engaged at the viii
l Will not trouble you with the details,
nor in fact. do [ remember them; but it
Is enough to say that large amount of
property, real and personal, bonds. mort