The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-06-01

/ The WISDOM OF SOLOMON MopERNIzED-Ir
these dull times, while news items are SO much
like angels visits, q good joke is not to be
sneezed at, although it may be laughed at, and
we have good one, which has never before
| been in print -
A certain Justice of the Peace Of this city,
famous for the shrewdness Of his political man :
| nuvres, the afability Of his manners, and his
anxiety to please every one with whom he
comes in contact, was in the habit of dividing
the business OF his office among the different
constables, with great apparent show of fair
ness and lmpartiality. One of his rules was
that any papers to be served should be given
10 the constable who came in first after the pa
pers were made out-in other words, g first
come first served" This rule generally worked
very well, but one day it was found to be i'm
practicable to put it in operation.
One bright morning, when all nature rejoiced
IN the gladness OF spring, and the buli-frogs in
the cutters croaked melodious songs, two cons
tables OF this iik entered the pleasant office Of
the justice in question at the same moment
They advanced to the table, and there beheld
summons or an execution, Just made out,
with the fee for the service thereof, a bright
hait dollar, paid in advance and lying upon the
paper.
The eyes OF the constables watered The
justice was embarrassed. He was unwilling to
offend either of his friends, the constables, yet
how he could give the fee to one without
sighting the other, was beyond his comprehen.
sion. Ills perplexity was equal to that of the
poet Moore =
. How happy could be with ether
were the other dear charmer away
He explained his perplexity to the two
constables, and the following colloauy en-
sued -
Maurice. Oh, yer honor, divide the fee
give John half and half to me, and I'll serve
the papers.
Justice. That will do admirably.
John. (Slo"iy advancing to the table. ta-s
king up the coin, carefully ascertaining its
genulneness, and holding it and the summons
IN his hand) Your Honor, no doubt, has
heard OF king Solomon. He was reported 10
De a wise man and just judge-leastways
that was his reputation in the epoch in which
he fourished.
Perhaps you will remember that on q certain
occasion two women came before him. each
claiming to be the mother of child whose nos
session they both desired Each swore that
tho child was hers, and Solomon was perplexed
until, like your honor, his wisdom suggested
to him an expedent which could not fail to test
the rival claims Of the two women, He com
manded the executoner to draw his sword and
to sever the babe in half-siving portion 10
s"eu ihosher. AHe bogus mother expressed
her satisfaction with the decision, and awaited
the stroke of the uplifted sword with grim de
light. But the real mother, when she saw the
child OF her love about TO be murdered, shrek.
ed aloud and.said, "Oh, Solomon, great Lord
ana hlng, would rather my babe should live.
even torn from my arms and given to another.
than it should be killed and one half given unto
mel" Then Solomon and all his court, saw that
she was the real mother, for she loved the life
OF her child, and he delivered it to her. and sent
her away rejoicing.
~ Is the same, your honor, with this case.
Here Is this bogus mother, Maurice Flynn. vii
ling to have this half dollar divided. thereby
showing that 1t belongs not to him-while /.
It's real parent, clasp it to my heart, and am
more willing to give it up entire that 10 see its
fair proportion dividedm
The Justice hurriedly pushed the coin and
paper INTO Johns hand; babe him depart, and
turned to his docket while Maurice, with |
more iusnbrious and woe begone counte- |
nance than ever, sat down to wait for the next |
Tribune.