The Placer herald., 1872-01-27

WE3STER'S F.RSC PLEA.


was farmer. The vegetables in bis garden
suffered considerably from the depredations
of woodchuck, whose hole and habitation
was near the premises. Daniel, some ten
or twelve years old, and bis brother Ezekiel
had set trap, and ut last succeeded in
catching the trespasser. Ezekiel proposed
to kill the animal and end at once all further
trouble with him; but Daniel looked with
compassion on his meek, dumb captive, and
offered to let him go. The boys could not
agree, and each appealed to his father to de-
eide the case
"Well my boys" said the old gentleman
81 will be judge There is the prisoner, -
pointing to the woodchuck, "and you shall
be counsel and plead the case for and against
life and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with a strong
argument, urging the mischievous nature Of
the criminal, the great harm he had already
done, said that much time and labor had
been spent in his capture, and now if suffered
to go at large he would renew bis depreda-
tons and be cunning enough not TO be caught
again, and that he ought Dow to be put to
death; that his skin was Of some value, and
that, make the most Of them they could, il
would not repay half the damage he had al
ready done. His argument was ready, prac-
tcal and to the point, and Of much greater
length than our limits will allow us to occupy
in relating the story.
The father looked with pride upon his son,
who became a distinguished jurist in his
manhood.
"Now, Daniel, it's Your turn; I'll hear
what you've got to say
1t was his first case. Daniel saw that the
plea of his brother had sensibly affected his
father, the judge, and his large brilliant
black cys rested upon the soft, timid ex-
preston of the animal, and he saw it trem-
bic with fear in Its narrow prison house, his
heart swelled with pity, and he appealed
with eloquent words that the captive might
go free. God, he said, had made the wood
chuch; He made him to live, to enjoy The
bright sunshine, the pure air, the free fields
and woods. God has not made him or any
thing in vain; the woodchuck had as much
| right TO live as any other lying thing; he
was not'a destructive animal, like the fox or
wolf; he simply ate a few common vegetables
OF which they had plenty, and could well
spare part; he destroyed nothing, except
the little food he needed TO sustain his hum
bic life; and that little food was as sweet TO
him and as necessary to his existence, as was
to them the food ON their mothers table.
God furnished their own food; He gave them
all they possessed, and would they not spare
a little for the dumb creature who really had
as much right to his small share of Gods
bounty as they themselves had TO their por-
ton Yea, more the animal had never
violated the laws of his nature or the laws Of
God, as man often did, but strictly followed
the simple instincts he had received from the
hands OF the Creator Of all things. Created
by Gods hands, he had a right from God to
life, to food to liberty, and they had no
right to deprive them of either. He alluded
to the mute but earnest pleadings of the ami
NAL for that life, as dear TO him as were
their own to them, and the just judgment
they might expect if in selfish cruelty and
cold heartcdness they took that If, they
could not restore again.
During the appeal, tears had started 70
the old mans eyes, and were fast running
down his sunburnt checks, Every feeling
of a fathers heart was stirred within him,
and Re felt that God had blessed him beyond
The lot of common men. His pity was
awaked by the eloquent words of compass
sion and TIE strong appeal for mercy; and
forgetting the judge in the man and the
father, he sprang from his chair(while Daniel
was in the midst of his argument, without
thinking he had already won his case,) and
turning to his eldest son, dashng the tears
from his eyes, he exclaimed: /" Zeke, Zeke,
you let that woodchuck go!