New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1864-01-08
Law and Romance.

Act as my representative in all re.
spects, l delegate you full and entire
authority!
That was what Jack Clermont had
! said, as he leaned out of the carriage
window to light his cigar from the tip
Of mine. OF course, I understood the
responsibilities very good humoredly;
for, though I had never been in los "a
myself, still J. had sort Of general
idea that it was my duty to afford every
possible facility to a young man who
was going to see his sweetheart, and
fix the wedding day.
So turned with sigh Of resigna-
ton away from the fresh, exhilarating
air, the vivid March sunshine, into the
close little den, lined with law books
and strongly perfumed with the
order of Russia leather: which Jack
denominated his ,ofice!' On the whole.
1 felt rather as if | were an amiable
sacrifice on the altar of disinterested
friendship. Damon and Pythias were
great cronies, no doubt, if we were to
put faith in the records of history; but
1 mover heard that Damon stayed at
home to keep office for Pythias, when
he would great deal rather have been
out in the breezy March woods, tramp
ling down the first blue yiolets under
the drifts Of dry leaves, with a gun over
his shoulder!
Then l began to consider seriously
what lazy fellow was to spend my
days in this Robin Hood kind of life,
while my old college mate, Jack, was
working away at tho law, and pocket
ing snug little fees, and getting to be
a justice of the peace and delegate to
conventions, and school trustee, and
everything else that he could possibly
think Of; ,some day. resolved 1, wheel
ing lazily round on Jacks faded old
leather chair, I'LL 60 to work too"
All day long 1 sat there, enacting
Jack to my own unbounded admiration
and considerably to the astonishment Of
the sober old farmers. whose preconceiv
ed idea Of Squire CIcrmont' was widely
different from the splendid moustached
young fellow who occupied his seat Of
judgement, and pronounced solemn e.
diets with all the dignity of Chief JUS
tice Tancy himself What was the
use of telling 'em all that I was not
Jack, and that 1 never had graduated
from any law school, and that my whole
knowledge of that sublime science wa:
confined to single perusal Of Black
stone1 Jack had given me explicit in
structions to act as his representative
and was not 1 doing it to the best o.
my ability
Well, on the whole, 1 didn't succeed
badly at first whenever there was any
mistiness about the the transaction:
took the broad ground that law was jus
nothing moro nor less than common
sense, IA mistake that experience ha
since rectifed for me.) l nipped thre
promising lawsuits in the bud by tn
conscientious equity of my opinions
persuaded several honest fellows to pu
their grievances in their pockets, no
in mine; and, speaking in round mum
bcrs, must have done poor Jack out c
nearly fifty dollars in retaining fees.
Squire Clermont in!' demanded
shockheadod rustic, in a swsllow-taile
blue coat, decorated with platter-lik
brass buttons, who made his appearanc
. about noon. .
,Yes-what's wanting?'
We'll, SIR answered the rustic, ratl
er awkwardly twirling his hat roun(
and round; Wed like to have you com
up to Shineville next week and delive
lectur' for our Young Mems Associa
, tion, and-s
twenty-five dollars and expense
paid, remarked l, at = venture, with a
air of such exquisite assurance that tt
!, negetiator was completely at my nero,
), Very we'll, sir. The Secretary