The Nevada journal., 1861-01-25
Daniel xyerster,. First


farmer The vegetables il his garden sufiere
considerably f. -om the deprcdations OF WOOD
chuck. whose h,,le and habitation was near tn
,,rem;.es. Daniel, then about Twelve years oi0
,ndb his older brother Exekiel hal set a DO
-, and of last sue,e,eded in capturing the tres
passcr Ezekiel propcsed to kill the amman
but Daniel looked with compassion on the /
dumb captive, and offered to let 1T 60. Inc ~
could not agree, and each appealSd TO their Il
ther TO decide the case"
"Hell, my boys" said the old gentleman, l
will be the Judge. There is the prisoner, point
5ng to the woodchuck, "and you shall be 'he
counsel, and plead the case for and against MS
life and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with a strong argn-
aent, urging tic mischeyious nature of the Grim
;noI the great harm he had done-that much
.;o,o on,, labor had been spent in his capture,
and now. if he was suffered to live, and go at
s.rsa he wopl6 renew his depredations, and pc
cum ing enough not % allow himSeH 70 pe
causkt asaiu, and he ought to be 9"' ~
that his skin was of some value, ana Iha 't-'''N'
,bo most Of him they could, it would not repay
half the damage he had already done. His ar
e-ument was ready, practical and to the pomt'
and of much greater length than our limits VIII
allow us to occupy in relating the story
The father looked with pride upon his son,
who became distinguished jurist IN his man
hood.
aNov. Daniel. its your turn-I'H hear whai
YOU have got to say
IT was his first case Daniel saw that thcplea
of his brother had sensibly affected his father
the Judge. As his large, brilliant black eyes
looked upon the soft, tinid expression OF the
animal, and he saw it tremblc with fear in It's
marrow prison-house, his heart swelled VIII
pity, and he appealed with eloquent words tna'
the captive might again go free. God, he sald
brd mace the woodchuck he made him to i've
TO enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure ar tho
field. and the woods. God has not made hlm oi
ANYTHING in vain; the woodehuck has as mucL
RIGHT to live as any othe- living thing; he was
not destructive animal, as the fox or wolf was
he simply ate few common vegetables, otwhfch
they had plenty, and could well spare part; ne
DESTROYED nothing, except the little food he need
ed to sustain his humble life, and as ssary
toex;stence. as was the food to them on tLei'
mother table.
God furnished their own food; he gave then
all they possessed and would they not spare
little for the dumb creature, who really had a
mueh right to his small share Of Gods bounty
rs tbev themselves had to their portion ga
- tod he law
of his nature. or the laws of God, as man otte.
did, but simply followed the simple instinct
he had received from the hands of the Create
of all things. Created by Gods hands, ne ha'
n right from God to life, to food, liberty an'
they have no right to deprive him of either IL
alluded to the mute but earnest plead'nss oi IN
animal fer that life, as sweet, as dear to ann a
their own life was to them and the selfish cru
eltv and cold heartedness, of taking life the,
could not restore again.
During this appeal, tears had started TO tn
old mans ewes, and were fast running down HI
suu-burnt cheeks Every feeling of father
heart was stirred within him; he saw the futnr
grestness Of his son before his eyes, and he fel
chat God had blessed him in his children beyon'
the lot of common men. His pity and sympa
,hy were awakened by the eloquent words o
compassion and the strong appeal for mercy
and, forgetting the judge in the man and III
father, he sprang from his chair, while Dame
was in the midst of his argument, without think
ing that he had already won the ease, )and turn
ing to his older son, dashing the tears from hi
yes, he exclaimed;
"Zeke. Zeke. YOU let that woodchuek 60"