Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-25
q boIre giteratute.
A PROFESSIONAL SCAR.
BY AN OLD LAWYER.

Your kind letter, Henry, came duly tc
hand and you will be surprised to learn
that careless question of yours will draw
forth enough to cover sheet "What
coused that scar on nay temple p
1t IS professional scar, Harry; one
that have carried ever since my earliest
practice; and although have now arrived
at tolerable old age, and have many init
mate friends, 1t is a most singular fact that
you are the first and only person that in
CURED into It's origin. can tell YOU all
about it, but must avoid names and places,
for the parties most interested in the Incl
dent are yet living and | am under strong
bonds of secresy.
In the year, after passing through
long examination before grave judges and
shfeMed ban RS = Was pronounced a
properly qualified. person to appear before
juries and courts for others as we'll as nv
self, and at once proceeded to large south
ern city, where, by modest little sign
over the door of modest little office, I
announced my readiness to commence the
practice of the law. For three months I
waited, but alas no business came, and I
sat in my Office on dreary night, at about
eleven o'clock, in this very comfortable DO.
sltlon : my money was gone entirely: my
board bill was to be paid in the morning
and my rent the day following; and ab.
solutely feared to go to my boarding house
and waited in what seemed the forlorn hope
that something in the way of fee might
appear, either dropping from the skies, OF
suddenly appearing on my desk. Outside
no step Was heard; and [ occasionally
glanced through nay window the flame Of
the strcet-Iight, moved by the wind, would
seemingly move me homeward; but would
not 60. A footstep sounded in my entry
a second, third, and more, but so light
that my heart-beating prevented my count
Ing them and then little delicate knock
compelled myself to say Come In" with
a calm voice, although L expected to be
VlS-a-VlS with youhg woman; the door
opened, AMI s1w-an old one.
l had only to move forward a chair be-
fore she was in the centre of the room and
Speaking:
Il have no time to sit Young man
you are lawyer; are you good for any
thing ?"
My insulted dignity was controlled BY
an effort, and | answered that [ hatterea
myself that [ possessed some talent for nv
profession, or | should not have chosen it
"Well, we'll, no gas; can you draw g
paper?"
Here again, | ventured to remark, that
1T depended somewhat on its nature, but
saw from her impatient manner that she
wanted no trifing. Before [ finished the
sentence, she interrupted me with fierce
Less of manner exceeding her formor rough
one, saying
Il want will drawn, quick hurriedly!
but SO strong that all the furies in HI
can't undo it! Can you do it ?' and she
fairly glared at me with impatience for nv
answer.
Now you know, Harry, that nv legal
education was obtained entirely in a surTo-
gates Office, and you may presume that on
the law and forms of last wills and testa.
ments | felt myself sufficiently posted up.
| therefore assured her that [ could draw
will which, although l could not warrant
it to pass the ordeal she mentioned, would
| was sure, be proof against tie efforts Of
all the lawyers in Cristendom.
And now her manner changed from the
fierce and bold to the anxious and hurried
"Come, then quick quick young man
and you shall pocket one thousand dollars
for your nights work !" she exclaimed.
And amazed and bewildared as | was
found myself at the neighboring corner
stepping into hack, before the startling
but comfortable words, "One thousanG
dollars for your nights work :" had ceased
ringing in my ears. My conductress fol
lowed me, and without orders we we.
ratified furiously along the streets to th,
House, then the largest hotel in th,
city. Ny visions of one thousand brigh
dollars kept my tongue bridled, and wa
led in silence up two flights of stairs int