The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-04-16
DISADVANTAGES OF IGNORANCE.

" Who is your committee, sir ~
4" CAPTAIN Bill Bunkers."
" Is he Il man capable of ascertaining fol
himself the qualifications of a teacher ?'
ooh yes at least had as lief have
Bill Bunkers judgement of man who
applied for the school, as any other in the
district; and yet he is the only man in
the whole district, l believe, but what
can read and write"
Your school committee not able tc
read and write ?"
" Not word sand still lie does more
business than any man in this neighbor-
hood. Why you see he keeps sort OF
store, sells to A., b., and c., and char
ges in book after the fashion of his
own; and | would as soon trust his book
keeping as anybody's; though, to be sure
he has got into a juhble, here, about
some charges to nelghbor at the other
end Of the town, and they are having Il
court about it to-day, at Bunkers store
| understand"
Reader, allow me to usher you a. once
into Captain Bill Bunkcr's store. The
only chair and table i'll the room were oc-
cupicd by the justice; the rest of the COM
pany sat around on what they could find
On the left of the justice sat the defend
ant whose composed looks and occasional
knowing smile seemed to indicate conf
dence in the strength of his defence, and
the possession of some secret advantage.
On the other hand sat Bunker the
plaintiff. He was remarkably stout, hard
ly looking man, and although his features
were extremely rough and swarthy, yet,
he had an open, honest and very in
telligent face. The parties were now
.7anaa= ~ l-sr-a-sl-.,sslse "a --iui,,zar,-
like lawyer, proceeded at once to the
merits of his case. lie produced and
spread open his account book, and then
went to show his manner of charging,
which was wholly by pictur cs, drawing
his debtor at the top Of the page with
some particulars Of his person or calling.
In the present case, the debtor, who was
a cooper, was designed by the rude pie
ture of a man in the act of hopping bar
rel, and the article charged, there being but
one item, was represented by a shaded
circular figure, which the plaintiff said
was intended for cheese that had been
sold the defendant some years before.
Now Mr. Justice. said Bunker, " now
the article here charged the man had
| will and do swear to it; for here it is
in black and white. And / having de
manded my pay, and having not only re-
fused it but denied ever buying the article
in question, have brought this suit 20
secure my just due. And now / wish to
see if he will get up here in court and
deny the charge under oath. II he will
let him, but the Lord have mercy on his
soul -
"Well, sir" replied the defendant
promptly, here under oath swear that
| never bought or had a cheese of you in
my life"
"Undcr oath of God do you declare it,
do you sharply asked Bunker
q do sir, firmly answered the other.
Dwell, well | would not have believ-
ed man in all the town would have dared
TO do that.
Here the justice .integfered, declaring
the plaintiff accoun Look entitled to cred
it, unless the defendant could produce re-
butting testimony.
Whercupon two of,dcfendant's 8 neghbors
testified that he had not only made
sufficient supply of cheese for his family
but during the year of the alleged pur-
chase, actually sold considerable quanti-
ty Of the article.
This evidence, seemed to settle the
question in the mind of the justice, and
he now soon announced that he felt bound
to give judgement in favor of the defend
ant for his costs.
Judged and sworn out of the whole /
Of it as am sinner Yes, fairly sworn
out of it and saddled with a bill of cost
to boot But | can pay it, so reckon it
up Mr. Justice and he will have it all
squared on the spot. And on the whole,
am not sure but dollar or two is well !
spent in finding out fellow to be
who has been passing himself off
for an honest man."
Now, Bill Bunker" said the defend |
ant, "you have | flung out good deal of
stuff here, and have bore it all without
getting riled hair, but now it's all fixed
and settled | am going just to convince
you that | am not quite the one as has
sworn to perjury in this ere business"
" Well, we will see" reioined Bunker I
Yes, we will see" replied the defend I
ant rcsolutely; "wc will see if we cant !
make you eat your own words But /
want first to tell you, whore you. missed
It. When you dunned me Bunker, for