Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-10
sFANBERRY.
The Struggle of "A Young Lawyer In
His First Case.

character of the late Thomas Ewing. A {
of that eloquent address brings
20 mind an incident regarding Mr.. Stan
berry himself, and the struggle he had
during the first part of his professional {
career with gaunt poverty. The story
was communicated to me last spring in
Chicago by one who possessed means to
enable him to speak authoratively.
AS Mr.. Stanberry states in that adj
dress, he concluded, at the suggestion
of Mr.. Ewing TO make trial at Ian
caster to succeed in the profession he
had chosen. He was poor, sensitive,
had a natural dread of debt-and, ex-
cept Mr.. Ewing, then a newly-formed
friend and acquaintance, he was q
stranger in the town and county. lie
frankly represented his pecuniary cir
cumstances and aims to a landlord of
the place, and concluded his statement
by proposing a lien, or ''first mortgage"
upon the fruits of his professional labor,
to pay for board and lodging, The pro-
prietor of the village inn, rather cap
tivated by the address and Ingenious
ness OF the young man, accepted his
proposition; and, of course, he became
personally interested in the business
success of his new guest. A "silver
moon" or two "rolled on" without
bringing the much .hoped-for clients, or
any substantial evidence that they
might speedily be expected. Atlength,
however, a happy day dawned upon
Stanberry and his host. A hardy yeo-
man, clad in the buck-skin brecches
and moccasins of "the period" made
his appearance in the town, and pro-
claimed that his "voice was still for"
law, and he was in search of an attor-
ney. The landlords quick ear and "eye
to business caught the musical words,
and he made haste to "interview" the
new conner and introduce him into the
presence of young Stanberry.
Matters were soon adjusted, and at
an early hour on the following morning,
"a solitary horseman" left Lancaster
plodding his way through mud, mire
and swamps; and finally reached the
Justices court, situated about dozen
miles from town. The young and un-
known lawyer, after hard struggle,
won his first case. No subsequent tri-
umph in his brilliant professional life,
probably, was more highly valued by
himself, than this, his first, before that
rustic court. Regarding it, also, from a
more vulgar or business standpoint, the
work of the busy day involved grave
matter OF arrears for board.
The day being nearly spent after the
case was disposed OF, Stanberry, to avoid
a hideous night i'll struggling over the
wretched road in an effort to reach Lam
caster, if he left at that hour, accepted
the offer OF hospitality made by his
client, and returned home with him.
AT, and after supper, conversation was
had upon variety of subjects, and the
good farmer and his household were de-
lighted with the instructive sayings of
their guest. But Stanberry's thoughts
were far away from the matters being
discussed. His utterances were alto,
. gether mechanical-his heart was rest.
ing upon his first cnGc-the glare of his
, triumph-his landlords bill, and the
amount which justice and expediency
would designate as proper to be charged
for his first fee. The latter was deli
cate point and one that he was eager tc
have his host speedily introduce as a
topic OF conversation. BY ingenious
devices, and various diplomatic witch
cry, he sought to turn the conversation
into this important channel of business
; He probably labored to this end as hard
and as diligently as he had to win the
law suit of the day. Butall his strategy
was unavailing; and the household
finally retired to their several places fol
sleep without the great point having
been reached.
Stanberry passed q restless night be.
twiXt wakefulness and dreams Within
twenty-fOur hours he had tried two
suits-conqueredb before the Justice, de.
feated before his client. On his couch
he fought over the days great battles
He dreamed about his andlord-arrears
for board-unpaid washer-woman's bill
perchance-first-born fee; and finally he
again became perpleXed and tormented
regarding the amount he would charge
his client. This latter was the rub. u
His mind vascillated between $40 and
So. Considering the roads, the dis
tance, the labor, the first named amount
would not be unjust; but his unsophis-
ticated client and the neighbors might
regard it otherwise, and this would
have tendency to frighten away eli
ents. After he had gorged his brain
with might thoughts" like these, day
light mercifully appeared, and the
young attorney rapidly arranged his
toilet, and descended from his attic to
the family room," the furniture of
which consisted of sundry beds distrib-
uted over the floor, cupboard, rude
dining table and sundry benches-the
latter not altogether fashioned after
those used by the Chief Justice and his
Associates of the Supreme Court OF the
| United States.
Stanberry re-opened the morning cam
paign by offering, successively, sundry
things that he hoped might be sugges-
tive to his clients mind, touching the
matter OF fee for the preceding days Ia
bor; but the man seemed Incompetent
| sible-stolid. Breakfast came and pas
sed, and poor Stanberry, again bafiled
and defeated, observed that pressing
business" demanded that he take his
leave. His client made for the stable
to place the saddle and bride upon the
horse, and the attorney followed his
footsteps, almost doggedly, and desper-
ately and silently. The farmer was do
ing enough talking for two men, but the
IOplCS llG Woulu ClluOSe ana the manner
OF their discussion had lost all charms
for Stanberry. Finally, abruptly facing
his client, he gave him searching, APP
pealing look, which the latter finally
comprehended, for he at once said:
ooh, Squire, I'd almost forgotten.
What might be your tax for attending
to my soot?" The shock was so great,
that Stanberry was for the moment un.
nerved His mind halted between the
$40 and the S., and in the half-delirious
condition of that supreme moment of
his life, he answered: give dollars,
STRIP
The farmer admitted the reasonable
ness of the charge; but suggested that,
as his circumstances were somewhat |
Strengthened 'just them" he would be |
under obligation if "the Squire would |
wait until after harvest" to which ar
rangement Stanberry assented, adding
that they would re-enter the house and
close the transaction for the nresapt