The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-01-12
For the Register.
Coat and Character.

A few months since, l left home on n
Geld winters day expecting to be engaged
in handling lumber, and accordingly was
clad in a coarse half-twiled drab oyercoat
of the ready made,-well worn, four
years, which was literally robe of rags,
and patchwork. At mile and a half
from home met the Sheriff, who sum.
moned me as a special juror in peculiar
ELSEWHERE the regularly draughted jurors
and large portion of the community were
too much interested to be suitable Judges
to act. l plead for the privilege to return
and change portion Of my apparel and
clip my beard but all in vain forthyith
was the word SO stepped into the sleigh
and III few moments we dashed up to
the tavern, where he left, saying; will
call in few moments, and escort you to
the Court room. 1t being cold day l
was right glad unceremoniously to walk in
aud soat myself beside q hot ntovo. was
but fairly seated when 1 noticed two dan.
dy looking young men winking and litter.
ing evidently preparing to make me the
butt of ridicule. However, in this case
was of the know-nothing order and sat
very gravely Peter like, warming before
the fire. when one Of the young men spoke
up loud enough to be heard through the
room Landlord what will you give for
that bundle paper-rags," pointing at me.
The Landlords reply was laundering
stamp of the foot accompanied by stern
voice saying, Bays! Bcys = leave. They
dropped their heads and did leave. In
few moments after I stepped across the
street of an errand, and on entering, the
first individuals l saw were the two young
men, with the same peculiar lear upon
their countenances. One of them com.
menced; saying One of Shakespere's
witches"-at which juncture well known
gentleman accosted me Mr.. H
think you are one of the Directors Of"
Yes sir" Il was wishing to inquire
what the prospect is of dividend to the
Stockholders" Ireplied; ''at the last meet.
ing of the board we found the state of the
Treasury to be such as to warrant diyi.
dend Of ten per cent, on amount paid,
which will be announced in the public
prints this week. You will find your di.
vidend eady Esq, at the treasurer's Of.
f0e." With thank you, and good.day,
he left AS turned around l saw the
young men hurrying out before him.
Shortly after, l was ushered into the court
room. The old overcoat laid aside, I ap-
peared in a black broad-cloth, with velvet
collar, but still the same thick cowhides
covered my feet, and the same black hair
adorned my head with here and there
silvery sprinkling; yet not enough to COM
mand respect from reckless 6ravado~, or
lawless renegadcs. The jurors duly em-
paneed to my surprise the two young men
that had that day twice met were put on
trial. A plea, long and candid investi-
gation-the jurors unanimously agreed,
and immersed them in five hundred dollars
each, and costs, and l was appointed FORE
man to announce the verdict. The cul-
prits quailed at every glance of my eye.
Several weeks after l was returning from
an adjacent town, on foot, when a gallant
grey hitched to highly vanished buggy
containing single person past with
great velocity. They were but fairly past
when the driver hauled up so suddenly as
almost to bring the horse upon his haunch-
es at the same Zine giving me po.
lite invitation to take a seat in his bug.
gy. thankfully stepped aboard
After moment silence he commenced BY
saying Mr.. H-you do not recognize
mef" looked and beheld countenanct
that | had before seen, but when or wher,
| could not tell. He resumed II was on,
of those abandoned young men, who Sc
grossly insulted you because you were
clad in tattered coat, learned in tha
transaction that Coat was not Character
for your character covered tattered oyel