Middletown transcript., 1872-02-03
Popular Ylistsilanp.
WILLIAM wiMT.


Po.omac river. was thriving village be-
fore the Revolutionary war. having grca.
trade in exporting tobacco and importing
foreign merchandise. In this village there
was one tavern. kept by Jacob Writ. n ma.
tive Of Switzerland. assisted by Henrietta
his wife. who was a German. William
Writ was the youngest Of their six chill.
drcn, and he was born in 17T2. Besides
shis tavern, Jacob Writ possessed some
other property in the place, aud he was
thus enabled to maintain his family im
plenty. and with some ho,ncly comfort
lilo died when his son William was two
years of age. leaving an estate Of three OF
four thousand dollars to his young family
Among tho frequeniers ot the Bladrns
burg tavern was a lawyer By the name of
Carnes. During the lifetime Of the father
he had become warmly attached to The
family. and particularly to two member. al
1.-THE eldest daughter, twelve years al
age, and this pretty. anssing little vii
liam. aged tyo. When the Landlord died
and the whole care of the haase fell 10 tn,
laudlady, he lent her u helping hand in
many ways. advising her about her prepsr.
~ and the education of her children.
When at last the mother died also. he 10
doubled his attentions That dcst tausli.
ter was then u beautiful aud blooming gr
Of eighteen. aud il is evident that he al
ready locked upon her as his future wife.
He sent tho boy 10 = Latin school and
after seeing bis education well brgun. he
removed TO Georgia, where he had grca,
success At the bar. Soon We find him l.
viting Elisabeth Writ aud her brother to
come to Georgia. aud live with him. The
young lady accepted the invitation. and
becsme bis wife; but the boy had found
other tricnds. and saw an opening 10 an
educatiou nearer home.
And il was al owing to his engaging
qualities. lie describes himself as a pert,
lively. saucy and pretty school-boy, who
saug comic songs very we'll, danced with
great agility, aud made smar, answers.
which. be says. caused him to be thought
- genius" lie does mol appear to have
been = very diligent student. but he was
sxtravagantly fond Of romantic and hum
orous literature.
He we'll remembered the incident which
hrst suggested to his mi6a to try for the
legal profession. His excellent school.
master WAS in the habit Of ,akiug his pu-
pills TO attend the sessions Of the County
Court, four miles distant from the school
Among the advocates was . popular and
brilliant young man Of the ncighborhood.
we'll known TO the boys, and q great IA
vorite with them. who seemed TO them to
surpass bis elders in Wit and eloqacncc
Young Writ admired him extremely, and
70 the whole school he appeared the hero
Of the county.
"Why should we not have 4 cour. Of
our own Y was tho cry as they .rudgcd
,homeward.
Il was agreed to. Writ was appointed
+. 70 draw up the rules. He was tho hero
Of this juvenile forum. and il was there
that he acquired the taste for legal pur-
suits. Tho psrt hc took in that school
boy court led him directly to real courts
and real cascs. One Of his school fellows,
The son Of noted lawyer and politician.
named Benjamin Edwards, happened TO
take homo copy Of the rules which Wir,
had drawn up for the guidance Of the
mock court, to which the author had ap-
pended N elegant cpistle spologixing for
ehsir imperisctions. This production young
Edwards displayed to the family; aud he
.s1tolled 10 uumsasured terms the elo.
aucses and gaysty Of tho author. His
father rad the rules. and was much struck
With their hu,nor and spirit lie wrote
70 Writ, then 6tteen yesrs IT age. telling
him be bad two nepbcws and 4 rou pre-.
pairing for college, snd inviting him 10 b..
oesns. On inmate Of the family. aud direct
Tie studiea Of those three young men while
psoessstise bic own.
He eoald not bat scccpt 40 oppariune
g iavilAtioo. He resided In this family
tWsaty nssthp. winning the cordial o.
- q every nsmbsr o. Il. and rsceivine
Ag0 ~ ss1srjsassd lawyer tho u,oet ues-
H. raaeseel, 4selduess gsidaucs IL bic
tesdIss. Rarty Ssars aksr, 10 and him