National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-06-21
THE FORTUNE OF LAW.

was chatting one day with an old
schooIcllow Of mine, who, though young.
was bafTster OF some emiuence, when
the conversation turned upon his own
career.
"Peeple,' he said, "gye me credit for
much moro than deserve. They COM
piment me on having attained my position
10y talent, and sagacity, and all that; but
the TACT Is, have been an extremely lucky
mani mean as regards opportunities.
Tue only thing for which can really con
slder myself entitled to any credit is, |
have always been prompt to take adyan.
tage Of them.
But" | observed, you have A high
reputation for legal knowledge and acumen
| have heard several persons speak in
terms OF great praise OF the manner in
which you have conducted some Of your
last case.
"Ah yes" he returned. "when n
man IS fortunate, the world soon find, fine
things in lin. There Is nothing like Gid
Ing To hide mpertectious and bring ont
exceJlencies. But | will give you one in-
stance Of what ! call my luck. 1t hap
pened year or two ago, and before | was
quite as well known as am now it was
Arrival thing IN itself, but very import
ant IN its consequences to me, aud has ever
succ been very fresh IN my memory. !
had been retained on behalf OF gentleman
who wa, defendant in an action for debt
brought against him by bricklayer, to re-
cover the amount Of a bill. stated to be
due Tor building work done on the gentle
mans premises. The owner refused pay
ment on the ground that verbal contract
had been made for TIE execution of the
work, at price less by one-third than the
an cunt claimed. Unfortunately he had
no witnesses TO the fact. The man denied
the contract, alleged that no specification
lad been made, and pleaded, finally. that
II such contract had been entered into it
was vitiated by alterations, to all Of which |
he vas prepared 70 swear. and had his As
slsl ant also ready 20 certify the amount of |
labor and material expended. | gave my
opinion that IL was a hopeless case, and |
that the defendant had better agree to
comprcmi>c ! than Iincur any further ex
pense. However, he would not. and was |
lam to trust to the chapter OF accidents for
any chance of success.
-'N"l wv t+'hl " LNit tIiC tlIdl W uN W |
take place lived an old friend of mine, who, |
alter the first days assize, carried me of |
IN his carriage to dine and slcer 1T bis
house, engaging 10 drive mt ~ next
morning in time for this case, which stood
next on the list. Mr.. Trtten. the gentle
man IN question, was there also. and we
mad another discussion as to the prospects
OF his defence. | know the fellow, said
he, to be thorough rascal, and it is be-
cause feel SO confident that something
VIII come out TO prove it, that | am de
'eImlned to persist | SAID | hoped 1t
might be so, and we retired to rest.
After breakfast, the next morning, my
host drove over in his dog cart to the as
SIZE town. We We're just entering the
outskirts when, tlom a turning down by
the old inn and posting house, where the
loIse was usually put up, there came run
nmg towards us lad pursued by man,
who was threatening hlm in a savage man
neH Finding himself overtaken, the lad,
alter the custom of small boys in such cir
cumstances, lay down, curling himself up,
and holding hls hands clasped over his
head. The man approached, and after
beating him roughly with his fist, and try |
Ing to pull him up without success, took
aod ol the collar of the boys coat, and I
knocked his head several times on the {
ground. We were Just opposite at the (
a moment, and my friend baoe him let the a
iad alone, and not to be such a brute c
lae leliow scowled, and telling us, with an V
: a'l, to mind our own business, for the c
ooy was his jwn, and he had right to |
peat HIM if he pleased, walked off, and v
sis IL victim scamped away in the opposite j
direction. !
lhe dog-cart was put up, and we pres o
entity went on to the court. The case was a
opened in an oll-hand style by the opposite
council, who characterised the plea of
:, .Vhtract as a shallow evasion, and called {
yWree plaintiff as his principal witness. o
- - nat was my surprise to sec get INTO &
IpT Oox the very man whom we had be- 5
aid a'id hammering the boys head on the f
.l .uIo-stone an hour beiore An idea oc p
.uied to me at the moment, and half b
s'elted my face from him; though. in h
-, 1t was hardly likely he would recog
- ,..'' me under my forensic wig. lie gave g
- evidence in positive. definsnt sort Of S
bSay, out very clearly and decisively. He q
.as .sS evidently got his story well by heart, O
- : was determined to stick TO it. / rose y
n inane show of cross-examining him, =
"A saw that he was getting irritated .
uerying things in a wholesale style. 70
J, ,9 nla 1een drinking, too, thought. just n
(. Oueh to make him insolent and restless. d
Il, a., ahsr q lew moro unimportant ques K
asked him in a casual tone G
keu are MARI al NJ Mvsrs 2 e