Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-30
JUSTICE MARSHALL.


Judge Marshal's simplicity of character
and absent-nindedness have been the
theme of number of anecdotes. The
one best known Is about his puzzle over
the buggy and the sapling. Turning aside
one day to avoid one of those awful mud
holes which abound in Virginia country
roads, the axle of his buggy encountered
stout sapling. The sapling was between
the hub OF the wheel and the body of the
buggy. Too big 10 bend down and too
supple to break, this sapling seemed to
the Judge to be wholly uucOnquerable.
What to do he knew not. He got down
out Of the buggy the better TO apply his
great inlellect TO the kuotiy suffice, ana
TO study il thoroughly up. While pom
derlng yainiy, legio man came along.
"Uncle," said The chief justice, Il
wish you would tell me about this sap
ling. / can't get over it, and can't get
around 1t, and don't want to stay here
all dsy and miss court. What do you
think had better do ~
The pegro could not repress n broad but
silent grin. "Why, ole MASTER" said be,
spec de bes' thing you kin do is to
back yO' buggy till you git clar of dc
sa ,lin', den tu,n dc hade (head) Of yo'
hOss, and den you Lin void de sapln' and
20 tn cote Slick as goOse-greese.'
"Thank you-thank you kindly uncle,
should never have though. of that in the
world. You are man Of superior mind.
There's half dollar Tor you.' And the
judge drove ioJfdlly of
Another aneciOte, illustrating the same
simp iudeiness and easy good nature.
mas, 30 far as AN aware, never been in
print. Il is this; When Judge Marshall
lived in Richmond, his opposite neighbor
was Colonel Pickett, father of the Confed-
crate General George +. Pickett, of Get
tysburg fame. Colouel Pickett was man
Of wealth, lived well, and was not content
unless everything about his household bore
the marks of good living. His horses were
his pride, and were conspicuous every
where for their splendid appearance,
being as sleek, fat and high spirited
as abundant food aud excellent grooming.
Judge Marshall's hOrscs, on the other
hand, were notoriously lean and unkempt.
Everybody but the judge had long ie-
marked this At last he was brought to
bis notice, with the suEg, siion that the
carriage-lIivcr nugl,c,cd The il 'rscs, sold
much OF their food, aud appfopr ated tie
money to his Own use, Il good deal OF il
going, no doubt, for liquor.
The judge called him up without delay;
q" Dick, what is the reason Colonel Pick
ett's horses are in such splendid condition,
while mine are almost skeletons 2" am
sliaid you neglect them, don't half curry
them, and don't f ci them.
Dick, mot expecting the attack, was fairly
posed. lie hGmmcd and haWed awhile TIL
he could gather his negro wits about him,
and then said, "Mars John, look at you -
is yol fat -
No." said The iudge--''dccidcd NOT. -
Wei, look at old miss( Mrs. Marshall)
is she fat ,"
"No."
ben look at me-ls 1 fat -
"No.'
"nen lool. at yo' horfcs--is dcy fat -
"No.'
Now den, ,you jce look at Kunnlrl Pick
cit, he fat ca iige-.lriger lat, his horses
fat, his dogs ftt-all fat. De troot il Mars
John, fat run IN de Picket fum'ly, and il
dUt't run in our'n. OATS ALL"
"Well," said the Judge, after littlc re
llectlon, " there is a good deal in that. II
never occurred TO me before" lie turned
back into his study. AMI Dick was never
troubled any -LWpiHco0's .ndgagine.