The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-10-31
DANIEL wEBsTER's FIRST CASE.

EbeneZer Webster, father OF Daniel, was
farmer. The vegetables in his garden SUI,
fered considerably from the deprcdatons 81
D wood chuck, whose hole and habitatlon 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 trespasser. Ezekiel proposed
TO Hill the animal, aud end at once all fur.
ther trouble with min but Daniel looked
with compassion upon the meek dumb cap
tive, and offered to let him 60, The bows
could not agree. and each appealed 70 their
father to decide the case.
swell, nv boys said the old gentleman,
81 win be Judge. There is the prisoner"
pointing to the woodchuck "and You shall
be the counsel, aud plead the case for and
against his life and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with strong ar
gumeIt, 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 il he was saf-
fered to live and 20 at large he would renew
his depredatiuns, 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 be 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.
The father looked with pride on his son.
who became distinguished iurlst in hsman-
hood.
"Now, Daniel, it's FOUR turn Ill 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, and as his large, brilliant,
black eyes looked upon the soft, timid ex-
precision Of the animal, and as he saw il trem.
Bile with fear in its narrow house, his heart
sweIled with pity, and he appealed with elo-
quent words that the captive might again 60
free. God, he said, had made the soodchuck;
he made him to live, 10 enjoy the bright sun
shine, the pure air, the free fields and woods.
God has not made him or anything in vain
the woodchuck has as much right as any 9TH
er living thing /; be was not destructive an.
imal, as the fox or wolf was he simply ate q
few common vegetables, Of which they had
plenty, and could well spare part; he des-
froyed nothing, except the little food he
needed to sustain his humble life and that
little food was as sweet TO him, and as ne.
cessary TO his existence. as was TO them the
food on their mothers table.
God furnighed 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
H. ansnnal haH
violated the laws Of his nature, or the laws
Of God, as man often did, but strictly follow
lowed the simple 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 eiNer. He al
luded to the mute but earnest pleadings Of
the animal for that life, as sweet, az dear 70
him as their own was 10 them ; and the first
judgment they might expect. il in selfish cru,
city and cold -heartedness, they took the life
they could not restore again.
During this appeal tears had started to the
old mans eyes, and were fast running down
his sunburnt cheeks. Every feeling Of a
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 beyond the lot Of common
men. His pity and sympathy were awaken
ed by the eloquent words Of compassion, and
the strong appeal foe mercy aud, forgetting
the judge in the man and father. he sprang
from bis chair (while Daniel was 10 the midst
Of his argument. without thinking that he had
already won the case.l and turning 70 his o.
der son, dashins ths tears from his eyes. be
exclaimed
"Zeke, Zeke, You lei that woodchuck go!'
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