Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-03-21
A TRUE STORY.
A REMINIsCENCE OF THE BAR.

In oil and each of the pursuits of human life
there are at various points along our pathway,
obstacles which oppose our progress and which
call for strength of will and steadinesS of pur-
pose to overcome many salient points that pro.
ject in sharp angles across our way, to turn us
from our purpose or to conceal the objects that
lie before us in our future course. Every man,
unless he is more than usually fortunate or
possesses more than the usual amount of pru-
dence and foresight, must expect to meet with
reverses and disappointments Young profess
ional men have perhaps more TO meet in the
way of opposition and Encouragement than any
other class in community. No man of common
prudence desires to risk his life or fortune in
ihe hands of an unskillful or dishonest man /;
and hence, frequently, the modest and retiring,
though really competent and deserving young
attorney or physician, has often to wait for en-
ployment until he is tempted to abandon his
profession in despair.
| have in my mind at this moment case in
point. Counsellor NJ, late of the Massachusetts
bar, for long time enjoyed an enyiable repu-
tation and lucrative practice was honored by
his constituents with many important trusts,
and has often been cited as an example of rap
id progress and quick success. Nothing how
ever, is really wider from the truth than that
Counsellor NJ. rose rapidly in his profession ;
little do they suspect that he was a sound prac.
lical lawyer, and had been ten years in the pro-
fession. before the circumstance occurred that
called him into public notice, gave him an ex-
tensive reputation, and introduced him into a
| higher and more lucrative sphere of Practice
| His Office at the time was located in the great
manufacturing city of New England, some twen-
,y-fye miles from Boston. lie was seated one
day in his Office examining recent volume OF
Reports, and comparing the cases it contained
with the principles of the English common law,
when young man entered whom he remcm-
bered TO have seen in some way connected with
one ofthe manufacturing corporations. lie was
an intelligent, good-looking man, apparentl,
of about twenty five years. and dressed in the
garb of the better class of operatives in the mills
) lie was possessed OF that independent and selC
reliant air that distinguishes the American me-
I chanic from the laboring classes of all the res
OF the world, and indicates degree of intellec
tual cultivation which is at the same time Tho
pride of our citizens and the safety of the re-
public. An expression of deep anxiety was up
on his countenance, and he proceeded at once
to say
IL wish to consult with you upon matter o
1 deep importance, involving the integrity ant
happiness of poor but vrtuous and honorabl,
family. A young woman by the name of Luc,
Kendall, who is engaged as weaver in the mill
and indeed in the very room in which am ov
ersecr, is accused of grand larceny under cir
cumSlances of the most grave suspicion. Pub
r lie opinion is very much against her, but an
t satisfied she is innocent of any crime. The ne
of circumstances seems ineXtricable, but sh
y must be saved in some way and at any hazard.
The Counsellor suggested that perhaps sh
was really guilty Of the charge.
"No, no." he answered, "it is impossible
- have known her from, IA chilli ktp warn sphonl
mates togeher in one of the little villages anon
the granite hills of New Hampshire. Her faith
er was man of considerable property then, an
T. was poor mans son; but we we're in III
same classes in the village school. She wa
two or three years younger than !, hut locke
!. upon her, even then, as the personifcalion c
}, virtue and goodness and the bright exampl
she set us then, and the admiration had 10
her character in those school boy days, has ney
/, er since been lost. At the age Of eighteen | lei
my native village, and came here as an opera