The Shasta courier., 1861-02-02
Autobiography Of . Lawyer.

ming away and although she sent me innumer-
able messages when she discovered my where
abouts, to return to her, and be sent to school
and fitted for college, undutifully refused ever
to go near her again.
had hired outi' with small farmer to do
his chores" for my board and clothes, and
staid three years, at the end of which time my
moving propensities moved me to run off from
him. had made my arrangements and was
even mounted on the top of the Reading stage,
when who should come into the tavern yard but
the farmer.
"Where are you going, boy ?" he called out
in a hard and severe tone.
To Boston, sir"
"To Bostonl"
] cannot describe the manner in which he
said this but it woke up all the memories of a
fogging which left scars, yet have not time to
tell you how many more than the immortal
Fusbos had. He was a coarse, profane man.
and he launched out into strain of abuse
which would have made my blood chill if had
been afraid of him, and bade me instantly 60
home.
"Thank you, sir" said, ~ am engaged to
somebody else.
At this moment the stage started. He or
dered the driver to stop and let me down but
he drove on, and am almost ashamed to record
that made a significant gesture with my thumb
and finger upon my very decent Roman nose,
and calling out
"Good bye, sir-you shall hear from me some
day." went off in the exultant triumph of free
dom.
was delighted with the fine prospect which
! enjoyed in my elevated seat. The driver was
very kind to me, refusing to take any money
for the whole journey, and offering to find me a
stopping place in the city.
At that time there was a very old house in
Howard street, now demolished, in which Nr.
Jones kept boarders for a number of years.
Here he stopped the stage for me to get down.
"What shall do, driver?" said.
'Just ring that bell, my lad" he answered,
"and somebody will come and let you in"
looked up at the top of the door.
81 don't see any bell, sir" l said, timidly.
The man burst into loud laugh.
"Pull that knob, greeny p he said and
straightway pulled it again and again, until
Mr.. Jones, queer looking fellow, with one leg
and a dilapidated eye, came to the door, and
looked daggers out of his remaining orb of
vision, upon the luckless wight who had broken
his bell wire.
" Let that youngster stay with you and man.
ma Jones till come to supper" said the still
laughing driver and stayed.
Mamma Jones was lady that would have
made a fine companion for Daniel Lambert
Sheltered beneath her capacious wings, ! could
bid defiance to little Mr.. Jones, who dared not
attack anything that his wife might take fam
cy for petting. This knowledge together with
the daily sight ofmy old friend, the driver, kept
me happy through the winter. Iscoured knives,
and performed quite series of similar dgnifed
labors every morning; but when boys of my own
age were around, | sometimes thought, while
looking at their good and respectable clothing,
that it would not have been a bad plan for me
TO have accepted Aunt Deborah's offer of send
ing me to college.
An opportunity offering of going to sea, 7 pre-
pared to go, despite the tears and entreaties of
the fat lady. When she saw | was determined,
she provided me with everything needful for
voyage, hugged me to her capacious heart, and
bads me God speed. Jones, who was so angry
because stayed there. was still more so when
Invent away-and in his wifas absence taunted
her of my new clothes, which be more than half
suspected came from her, although they passed
as the gift of the stage-driver.
The servants were assembled to see me 60
away, and their hearty "good bye, Sam Ia
safe return to you, old fellow p was probably
more sincere than nine-tenths of the good
wishes that have been expressed for me since
that time.
shall say but little about my sea life 1t did
not answer my expectations at all. / never
passed day without intolerable sea-sickness,
and being light, delicate boy, the captain ad-
vised me as friend to stay in future upon land.
Going on shore, the mate stepped forward and
shook my hand, saying:
"Well, Sam, you have killed a sailor, after
allp
did not then know the meaning of this
phrase, but when got back TO the old house in
Howard street, my friend, the driver, repeated
it, and from him got an explanation of the
term.
| could not get back to the kitchen to work
again after my voyage, so | looked diligently
for some employment. An advertisement in
the paper for printers boy caught my eye, and
l applied and was received. Here was quite
happy made myself favorite in the office,
and fortunately succeeded in learning the busi-
ness so that my services would command tair
rsmur Grafton.
AT twenty one married Susan Russell, the
daughter Of my employer. l am thus brief in
recording this, because by no alchemy whatever
could convert the old fashioned matter of fact
liking for each other and subsequent union into
anything like romance. The whole might be
compressed into single sentence. ] liked her
and married her when found she liked me-
My descriptions Of my new home will be quite
as brief. We took two rooms, furnished them
comfortably, and Susan kept them shining like
silver the whole year round. II ever ! enjoyed
true real, unremitted happiness, without care
or anxiety or fear for the future it was in those
days What peace We enjoyed Our two eld-
est children were born here; and then our lim-
its seemed too small; but it was real pain to
both of US to move from the long abode which
had been the scene of so many calm and peace
full hours.
We removed to cottage in the suburbs of
Boston; not those miniature cities which now
rise up beside the veritabe Trimountain, but
small and obscure village, since risen to the
size and Importance it deserves. About the
time we removed and were quietly settled,
very important law case was on the docket, and
when it came on were very busy printing
the reports of the trial as it progressed. be-
came immensely absorbed in it, not so much
from sympathy with the parties concerned, as
from feeling that, were | acquainted with the
technicaltics OF the law, could seize upon very
many points of Importance which believed the
attorneys overlooked altogether. This idea
grew stronger and stronger upon my mind. l
had.access to law books which were in my en-
ploysr's sanctum, and porsd over them some
times all night long.
Mr.. Russell had been bred to the law but
had relinquished his profession for that of an
editor, some years before the birth of my wife.
l frankly stated to him my wishes in regard to
fitting mysslffor the bar
He first laughed at me, then seriously tried to
dissuade me from attempting it. Opposition
ouly strengthened my purpose, and entered the
ofire of an eminent LAWYER who overlooked my