Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-05
Naked Justice on a Gate.POst.

Our old friend, Judge Tom Farrar, of
Lake Providence, who is known through
out the stite. us a lawyer and jnrist of en-
inent abilities, and Il gentleman of most
lovable character. tells at his own ex
pense and with the keenest gusto, Il story
which we think too good to lose. 1t APP
pears that some years ago, while riding
through one of the prettiest districts OF
Louisiana, he came, about sundown, to Il
creek that was SO deep rs to necesstste "a
swimming feat. The Judge being man
of vigorous mind and invincible dctermin-
alton, no sooner realized this emergency
than he promptly dismountet, undreSsed
himself with great dispatch. and attired
only in his high plug hat, and a pair of
spectacles. bestrode his gallant cob and
urged him to the venture.
After a desperate struggle the other
side was gained, and the judge again
dismounting, this time with a profound
sigh OF relief, Was about to resume his in
teguments, when his horse. prompted by
II di,bolical spirit, started from his side
and trotted slowly down the road
OF course the judge had no recourse
but to trot after him; and thereupon there
ensued one of the most picturesque chases
ever known in history or tradition. The
horse appeared to have no motive save of
keeping a certain distance ahead of the
judge, and of finding some comfortable
barn yard where he might refresh him.
self after such gigantic efforts. The
Judge, whatever may have been his ambi-
tions, confined himself to the effort of
keeping the truanl beast in sight. 1t
must have been a cheerful and invigora-
ting experience to see the judge trotting
briskly along that smooth and sandy road
his venerable plug hat pulled over his
eyes and his spectacles bobbing up and
down on his nose. The chase was long
and the moisture of great exertion would
gather on his brow. and when he reached
around for his handkerchief, alas! it
was not there. All of which had the eff
feet of impressing the judge with his very
peculiar and unfortunate situation, i'm
parting renewed play and lightness to
his legs.
So the two bowled pleasantly along.
preserving a steady relative distance, until
just as the setting sun was reddening the
distant hills and touching the judges
manly form with gold, the horse whisked
suddenly into gate and bolted with eager
haste toward a stable dimly visible in the
distance.
The ftrm house sat in a grove of trees
whose shadows made Il great darkness
around it, and from this grove, as the
Judge was scampering furiously after his
horse and wardrobe, there issued sundry
yellow dogs, su ly of mien and shaggy oil
appearance. The judge felt that it would
be utterly impossible, under these circum-
stances, to assume the majesty of aspect
and fearleSsness of gaze which is current
ly believed to be the correct thing with
dogs, and so, seeing a friendly gate post
near at hand, he gave one wild bound and
reached its summit just rs the leanest and
tierrest of the dogs snapped viciously at
his legs.
When the uproar had subsided and the
indge, realizing the absurdity of his situa-
ton, had reglined his customary frame of
mind, female voice was heard calling
from the house:
who's there?''
"A fellow creature in distress, mad
am"
Where are you?"
g On the gate post" said the judge, be-
ginning to enjoy the joke.
What can l do for you?''
1t was too much. The judges old hu-
NOR and quizzcal love of merriment came
over him:
{" Call off these dogs, and bring me all
the Jig teares on the place"