The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-12-08
DANIEL WEBSTER'S FIRST CASE.

Ebenezer Webster, father of Daniel, wa
farmer. The vegetables in his garden suf-
fered considerably from the depredations o.
q woodchuck, whose hole and habIalioi
was near the premises. Daniel. some tel
or twelve years old, and his brother Ezekiel
had Set steel trap, and at last succeeded
in capturing the trespasser. Ezekiel pro-
posed TO kill the animal. and end at once al
further trouble with him ; but Daniel looked
with compassion upon tho meek. dumb
captive. and offered to let him go. Tie boys
| could not agree, and each appealed to theiI
father TO decide the case.
"Weil, nv boys" said the old gentle
man, Il will be judge. There is the pits
oner," pointing to the woodchuck. land you
shall be the counsel. and plead the case foi
and against his life and liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with a strong ar
gument. urging the mischievous nature oil
the criminal. the great harm he had already
done-said that much time and labor had
been spent in his capture. and now if he wa
suffered TO live,and go 1t large be would
renew his depredalions. and be cunning
enough not to suffer himself to be caught
again, and that be ought now 10 be put to
death that his skin was of some value. and
would not repay half the damage he had al
ready done: His argument was ready. prac-
teal. and to the point, and of much greater
length than our limits will allow us TO oc.
cupy in relating the story.
The father looked with pride upon his
son. who became distinguished jurist in
his manhood.
Now. Daniel. it's your turn I'll Fear
what you've got to say
i was his first case. Daniel saw that
the plea OF his brother had sensibly affect
ed his father. the Judge, and as his large.
brilliant black eyes looked upon the soft,
timid expression of the animal, and as he
saw it tremble With fear in its narrow pris-
on house, his heart sWehed with pity, and
he appealed with eloquent words that the
captive might again go free. God, he said,
had made the woodchuck; be made him to
live. to enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure
air. the free fields and woods. God has not
made him or any thing in vain the wood
chuck had as much right as any other liy
ing thing; he was not q destructive animal.
as the fox or wolf was; be simply ste few
common vegetables of which they had plen-
ty, and could well spare part be destroyed
nothing. except the little food be needed to
sustain bis humble life +; and that little food
was "a sweet to him, and as necessary TO
bis existence, as Fas to them the food On
their mothers table. God furnished their
food /: be gave them all they possessed /:
and would they not spare little for the
dumb creature, Who really had - much
right to Lis small share of Code bounty a.
they themselves had to their portion. Yea.
more-the animal had never violated the
Jaws of his nature or the lsws of God. ss
man often did. but strictly followed the sim
pie instincts he had received from the hands
of the Creator Of all things. Created by
Gods hands. he had right from God TO
life. to food. to liberty: snd they had no
right to deprive him of either. He alluded
to the mute but earnest pleadings Of the
~ inlaI for that life. as sweet. as dear to him
as their own was TO them and the FIRST
Judgment they might expect. If. in selfish
crlelty and cold beartedness. they took the
life they could not restore again
During ills appeal. tears had started 70
the old mans eyes. and veTs fass running
down his sunburnt cheeks: Every fesling
of fathsr's heart was stirred within BIN
ne saw the future greatness Of bis con De-