Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-04
Daniel Webster,s First Case.

:
Daniel Webster's First Case.
Ebenezer Webster, father of Daniel, was q
farmer. The vegetables in his garden suffered
considerably from the depradations of wood
chuck, whose hole and habitation was near the
premises. Daniel, some ten or twelve years old,
and his brother Ezekiel, had set steel trap, and
at last succeeded in capturing the tresspasser.-
Ezekiel proposed to kill the animal, and end at
once all further trouble with him; but Daniel
looked with compassion upon the meek, dumb
captive, and offered to let him go. The boys
could not agree, aud each appealed to their fa-
ther to decide the case. q-.s eses
"Well, my boys" said the old gentleman, 81
will be judge. There is the prisoner" pointing
to the woodchuck, sand you shall be the coun-
sci, and plead the case for and against his lite
and liberty" HI, .s,.-
Ezekiel opened the case with q strong argu-
ment, urging the mischievous nature of the GRIM
nal, the great harm he had already done-said
that much time and labor had been spent in his
capture, and now if he was suffered to live and
60 at large, he would renew his depredations,
and be cunning enough not to suffer himself to
be caught again, and that he ought now to be
put to death; that his skin was Of some value !;
and that, make the most of him they could, it
would not repay half the damage he had already
done. His argument was ready, practical, and
to the point, and of much greater length than
our limits will allow US to occupy in relating the
story. G
The father looked with pride upon his. son,
who became distinguished jurist in his man
hood. aA
Nov, Daniel, its your turn; I'll hear what
you have got to say" @ 4sW a4sH
1t was his first case: Daniel saw that the plea
of his brother had sensibly affected his father,
the judge, and as his large, brilliant black eyes
looked upon the soft, timid expression of the an
imal, and as he saw it treinble with fear in his
narrow prison-house, his heart swelled with pi-
ty, and he appealed with eloquent words that
the captive might again 60 free. God he said
had made the woodchuck he made him to live,
to enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure air, the
free fields and woods. God has not made him
or anything in vain; the woodchuck had as
much right as any other living thing; he was
not destructive animal, as the fox or wolf was !;
be simply ate few common vegetables, of
which they had plenty, and could we'll spare q
part he destroyed nothing, except the little food
he needed to sustain his humble life; and that
little food was as sweet to him, and as necessary
to his existence as was to them the food on their
mothers table. God furnished their own food :;
He gave them all they possessed; and would they
not spare little for the dumb creature who re-
ally had as much right to his small share of
Gods bounty, as they themselves had to their
portion. Yea, more, the animal had never vio-
lated the laws OF his nature or the laws of God
as 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, and they had no right to deprive him
OF either. He alluded to the mute but earnest
pleadings of the animal for that lite, as sweet, as
dear to him as their own was to them; and the
first judgment they might expect, il, in selfish
cruelty and cold-heartedness, they took the life
they could pot restore again.
During this appeal, tears had started to the
old mans eyes, and Were fast running down bis
sunburnt cheeks. Every feeling OF fathers
heart was stirred within him he saw the future
greatness of his son before his eyes, and he felt
that God had blessed him and his children be-.
yond the lot of common men. His pity aud
sympathy were awakened by the eloquent words
OF compassion, and the strong appeal for mercy !;
and, forgetting the judge in the man and the ia
ther, he sprang from his chair (while Daniel was
in the midst of bis argument, without thinking
that he had already won his case,) and turning
to his elder son. dashing the tears from his eyes,
he exclaimed
"'ZeSe, 'Zeke, you let that sooodchucE go!" +.
How DRUNKARD FEELs.-Am Lncident.-A
graduate OF one of the Universities of Great
Britain came to me shaking and trembling
he said he had come to me as be would go to
physician. said, You must stop drinking"-
u can't" "You will die" Il am afraid shall
if give it mp; can't" My wife and two gen.
tlemen Il were present Isaid, "what good does
the drink do youa" mo good" ssWhy do Won
drink W SI rnuSt hovo IL Tb;cl;r~
ing an educated man, he might give me some j.
deas, asked him: "Will you tell me how YOU
felt before you began to drink, and afterwards 9'
shall never forget! He stood up and said:-
"All can say ISL must have it." "Why2"-
" feel as if there were insects IN my veins -
Oh ! it is horrible, horrible! I touch nv coat
touch my hands, and jump! Oh! shall 90
mad-mad-nad! If could not get it with
out having sound tooth torn out of nv law.
bring the instrument and wrench it out II must
have the drink, you see-so get it. And then
stand still, that may not disturb its effect.-
That's what want--I want relief, and ] feel it..
Quick, quick, now, it sends the blood through
my veins; the insects are gone, and l begin to
perSpire. Yes, | am better, betterl It's what
want-lt's coming-it's coming-it has come
and it has gone, and get another" "Thep,n /
said, "you will die'' 81 am afraid I shall, can
you save me9" mot unless you stop drinking. !"
Il can't die; / haven't offered prayer to God
for sixteen years." 'You must give it up.'-
Il can't "God will help you," said 1. .No
he won't" 81 WILL" said /, tiny wife and will
take care of you for four days, if you viii. I
have just four days to spare for you.n We took
him, though we could get no promise from him.
We nursed him night and day. The third after
noon he sat with Inc, his hand in mine. and /
spoke to him of God and Christ and eterrity. =
He said, II am man of some common sense. I
believe; and am very well aware that / can
never be happy in another world" He then
went out and cut his throat from ear to ear
On, my friends, shall we not try to save our
fellow-men from such fate2-From a SpeecA
0fJohn B. Cough
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