The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-12-31
MISCELLANY.
Sold at a High Price.

John Uamlincs Fault was that he was
extremely b. shfu. Not among his own
sex. you understand. Before a jury, for
/ instance, John was ms bold ne lion, and
there was no lawyer in Hrickton who had
grown INTO so wide aud profitable - prac-
ticc in so shor, time He deserved his
success, for he was Industrious. energetic.
talented, and - what many successful
lawyers are nOt-Cunscienious lie re-
fused TO conduct cause in whose justice
ne did not thoroughly believe. This was
drawback, in the earlier part of his
career hut in the 'long run he found
himself leading the race among his com
petitor-. lie was greatly respected 10y
that portion of the community whose rec
hpcct was most To be priz ID.
But his bashfnlncss among ladies was
so profound that to John il was absolute
ly painful. lie had a good, loving heart,
and u great admiration for the sex before
whose members hc was 81 i'll at ease 1t
is generally 50 with bashlul men, be-
l;evc.
Here was John, full thirty years of
age, and a bachelor. Unhappy state of
affairs, indeed Bat how 10 mend it =?
John had not the laintest Idea how to
mend it, Ettye nous, think lie had
very nearly given up all hope of ever
mending it. Yet he often sighed as he
thought of tho future-of long, dreary
bachelor-lif life-no dear wife 10 share his
joys and sorrows-no happy homo-circle
to make his h arr dad when he shoil1
come from his lahor- at the close cf the
day Hcigho! The FAtes seemed 10
have shut him out from Paradise
Among those who had sought John
lInmine's valuable aid in the law, was Il
gay young fellow about tom, who had
the reputation Of being practical joker.
One of lis practical jokes having got him
into a bad ~crapc. which was ~ joke, he
found that llamlinc would not help him
out OF it,
dts your own fault, IIawes, and you
dc-crvc TO be punished" said John, in
his blunt way. your love of those
silly practical jokes will get you into more
serious trouble than this, some day, if
voure not careful Take my advice and
drop all that nonsense. 1t sound advice
and don't charge vou any thing for 1t.
| hope This affair will teach you Il good
lesson
Young Hawes thought this was very
hard Of Hrmline. And as Tor taking his
advice--this is the way he took it
"Tll get even with him some day"
he said to one of his crunie-. "ConIound
him anil his preaching. He's smart, but
I'll get him on the hip before hes year
older. or I'm a minisier!'
Bringing his capacious intellect to bear
upon this great purpose, llawes finally
saw lis opportunity.
"Ill lilI two birds with one stonc," ho
chocklrd.
Mrs. Rich-a wealthy widow in Brick
tor--had also won the anmo-iiy OF this
Joker. Mrs. Rich had benuiilul dau.h-
ter. whom IIawcs wanted to mariy-
partly for herself, bat more pnrilrulaIly
on account of Lcr pr. spoctive wealth.
Huy Helen rel 'ctei Mr. llawcs ore iine
day, AM Mr. llqwes ~ hus' faith in
bis own irrr,i-ihility was entirely tnu
>lrone TO be -Iakn--couid account for
thr rel elton in na other way than 10y
con"udiu. that the mother had opposed
lis suit Aud - she had, thongh it WAS
unnecessary, Is Helen had coriial con-
tempt for the Young man.
Mrs. Rich, therefore. was the other
bird that Mr.. IInwrs contemplated LAY
lug with ,he anne stone that should de-
ma!ish john Iiamlne.
And this was the way he st about it :
With the aid Of his crony already al
luded to, lie prepared certain paper,
running rs follows, and written in deli
cate lady-like hand;
"Mrs Rich respcciflllv request, hat NJ. Ham.
line will C. II upon her at hl- carlies cnnveurn-.
To consult upon matter iuvolvin he interests
Of her daughter Ms Helen Rich. Thursday
evening j. preirrre.l.'
This WAS dispatched TO IIamline's adj
dress through the village post office ~
the same time another note was prepared
and dispatched, reading thus:
HT dohh Ilamtne hclsS leave to inform Mrs,
Ken that hc will call upon hea on THURSDAY even
ing, to consult her upon certain mlttrrS that hay.
come TO his knowledss intimately concerning the
interests Of Miss Helen Rich"
''It'll be a PIadd sell ~ the cronv
declared, and the jokers were in high
gee.
So the letter went through the post
Office.
John llamline scratched his head re
fiectively for a moment, as he read the
mlssive addressed to him, AMI then tnrned
TO other business with the remark
81 wonder what its about. wish
these women would do business as men
do, when they want a lawyer but it's
ldle 10 expect that, | suppose"
Mrs. Rich read the note she received
with some surprise, and natural feeling
of feminine curiosity; AMI knowing Mr..
llamine's high standing rs lawyer.
which was "A guaranty of the Importance
OF the matter, waited with some impa-
hence for Thursday evening to come
Thursday evening came, aud brought
Johr liamline to the lady's door. lie
rnnS the bell, WAS shown into the palior,
and sat with his heart humping in =
most annoying way, awaiting the entrance
of the lady.