The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-12-19
Daniel WcbstcrS First Case.

11oeneRef webster, ia,her OF Daniel was
farmer. The vegetables in his garden
suffered considerably from the deprecalcns
of a woodchuck, whose hole and habiiation
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 pro-
posed to kill the animal, but Daniel looked
with compassion upon the meek, dumb
captive, and offered TO let it 90. The
boys could not egree, and each appealed 10
their father to decide the case.
''Well, my boys" said the old gentleman,
"l will be Judge. There is the prisoner"
pointing 10 the woodohuck, sand you shall
be the counsel, and plead The case for and
against his life and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with strong
argument, urging the mischicrous nature
Of the criminal, the great harm he had
done, that much time and labor had been
spent in his capture, ard now, if he was
suffered 10 live. ard go at large, he would
renew his depreda,ions, aud be cunning
enough not TO suffer himself TO be caught
again, and :ha, he ought now 10 be put 10
death tha, his skin was of some value,
and that make the most of him they could
it won!d net 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.
l., .,.,I.~ 4.
who became distinguished iurist ia his
manhood.
"Now, Daniel, it's your turn; III hear
what you've got to say"
II was his first case. Daniel saw that the
plea OF his brother had sensibly affected
his father, the Judge. AS his large, bril-
liant black eyes looked upoE the soft, tmid
expression of the animal, and as he saw it
tremble with fear in It's narrow prisonhouse
his heart swelled with pity, and he appeal
ed, with eloquent words, that the captive
might again 60 free. God, he said, had
air, the free fields ard woods. God has
not made him for anything in vain the
wootchuck has as much right as any other
I iihiu3 AuluS bC " Do iOA u NCSttuNNiNS
imaI, as the fox or wolf was; he simply
ale few common vegetables, of which
they had plenty, and could well spare a
part; he destroyed nothing except the little
food he needed 20 sustain his hamble life
and that little food was as sweet to him,
and as necessary 10 his existence, as was
10 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 really had as much right 10 his small
share OF Gods bounty as they themselves
had 10 their portion? Yea, more; The ami
mai had never violated the laws OF his ma
lure, or the laws of God, as man ohen did,
but simply followed the simple instincts he
/ had received from The hands OF the Creator
of all things. Created by Gods hands, he
/ had right from God 10 life, 10 food, TO lib.
erly and they had no right TO deprive him
OF either. He alluded 10 the mute but earn
est pleadings OF the animal for that life, a:
sweet, as dear 10 him as their own was &c
them and The first judgment they nigh
expect, if in selfish cruelty and coidheart
edness, they took the life ,hey could not re-
store again.
l. During This appeal, tears had started Il
the old mans eyes, and wero fast running
down his sun burnt cheeks. Every feeling
OF fathers heart was stirred within him
he saw the luture greatness of his son be
fore his eyes, and he ieli that God haC
blessed him and his children beyond tn,
lot OF common men. Has pity aud sympa
thy were awakened by the eloquent word
OF compassion and the slrong appeal 70
mercy; and, forgetting the Judge III th'
man aud the father, he sprang from Iii
chair, (Whle Daniel was in The midst OF hi
argument, without thinking he had won ,ht
case;l and turning 10 his older son, dashin:
tie tears from his eyes, he exclaimed:
"Zeke, Zeke, you let that woodchuck so.'
C0,frins Strawberries.