Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-09-07

ehulitions Of feeling were not noted
by the world. Six years before this, !
had turned from my mothers new
made grave, cheerless, and care-worn.
and my sympathies until recently, had
been locked up within the rccesses of
my own imcomprchensible nature, and
when they found q lodgmont, whether
by accident or design, | know not, i.
was upon my noble horse Knight.
arrived in Trenton few minutes
before the time for taking depositions
Not many minutes however elapsed,
before the examing court, opened its
session, and proceeded to business.
The aforesaid court, was large portly
man, and instructed his subordinate to
go to the door, and call John Doe, and
Richard Roc, and he further instruct
ed him to notify said gentlemen, that
If they did not Immediately put in an
appearance, Judgment would be taken
:" by default against one at least, or
may be both The constable went to
the door and in clear ringing voice
called the aforesaid litigants into
court, he then returned before
the court, and informed his Honor
that he did not see either of the afore-
said gentlemen. The court then in
structed him to go out into the streets,
highways, and alleys and see if they
could be found, for, said his Honor,
this court is very Jealous in the
dispensation of justice" During the
absence of the constable, | (being a
young Tennessee lawyer with great
deal of difhdence) remarked to his
Honor that | thought the proceedings
were somewhat irregular, that the de-
sign of the court is, or ought to be, to
procure testimony and not that of def
mite trial; whether the Honorable
court had up to this time Intentional
ly ignored my presence or not, is some
what more than | can assert; never
theless at the sound of my voice, he
raised his spectacles and eyed me for
about five minutes in apparent sur
prise; finally when the silence became
extremely oppressive, at least so to me,
he asked me what had to do with the
case of John Doe VS.. Richard Roe
now pending in his Honorable court.
informed him that l appeard be-
| fore his august person to look after
the interest of my client, Richard Roe
the defendant; at this announcement
he seemed as much amazed as though
stunned by clap of thunder from a
cloudless sky. He then asked me if
were a lawyer, | told him | was, so
called, from his surprise and indig-
nation | really thought that an. attor-
ney in his court would fare badly.
Said he well you are the first live
lawyer that ever | seen, | have hearn
tell of stch fellows aJore but this is the
first time these eyes ever beheld EN-,
and you are here" continued he "to
look after the interest of Richard Roe
the defendant; | caninform you young
man, or Mr.. Lawyer as | should have
said, that the plaintiff in this case
claims more than interest; he claims rel
nigh onto .fue Thousand dollars and you
are here trying to collect the interest
for Richard Roe" l informed his
Honor, that if he would allow me a
short speech, | thought | could ex-
plain my true position to his entire
satisfaction; as there evidently was a
misconception some where. In due
course of time through many difficult
ties and dangers that beset me, | had
the satisfaction of seeing the deposi-
tions endorsed properly, and duly de-
livered to faithful courier. Wheth-
er the constable ever found either the
aforesaid John Doe, or Richard Roe
this deponent saith not. And it may
be proper to remark here, that | did
not get to Clarksville court in the next
day, for causes which will duly appear
in this paper. | learned few days
afterwards, that the plaintiff appeared
by counsel, asked for a continuance,
which was granted, upon the payment
of costs, and filing the necessary aff1
davit.
now mounted Knight with the in
tention of going 10 my fathers, who
lived at that time on the Russcllvillc
and Clarksville turnpike, and four
miles from the latter city. ! glanced
at my watch and noted the time, il
wanted fifteen minutes to seven o clock;
consequently, the sun was about three
quarters of an hour high, and | had
about fifteen miles yet to ride In rid
ing down what is usually known as the
| Trenton Road, felt weary, languid,
I and oppressed, and | really did not
know to what cause, or combination
Of causes, to attribute such very great
lassitude. AS stated in the introduc-
: tion Of this paper, it was warm, yea very
warm, yes, hot, exceedingly hot, and |
had several noted examples of dis
tinguished individuals passing through
fiery ordeals unscathed; and | really
thought that if | passed through this
critical test of gloom and blight, an
unseen power must afford me the same
\ protection it guaranteed to the He
brew boys in the fiery furnace, or the
man of God, when thrust into the boil
ing cauldron. About sun set | crossed
Spring creek, and ascen1 n1ed the southern
hill over looking this busy, bubbling
little stream; when fairly mounted on
the summit reined in my horse, and
viewed the grand panorama of heaven
and of earth spread out in gorgeous
beauty, and solemn grandeur. The
general outlines of that scene, are now
pictured AS bright and vivid as the
rainbow pencilines upon the passing
cloud. Twenty-tour years, like a
shoreless sea, spand the chasm, yet the
thought emblazoned with recollection,
will probably fall on me in the great
hereafter Away in the Northwest
just veerng above the horison, | saw
the definite outlines of a dark and
ominous looking oloGd. Lightnings
played with dazzling beauty from the
base TO the zenith Of this cloud, while
ever and anon, its fiery forked flames
would shoot high up into the murky
gloom. A long, loud and prolonged
roll of thunder now reached the ear,
which reminded me of the dire CON
: fusion supposed TO reign in Milton 5