Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-11-06

hill whistle to the swinging OF his cradle
and the stacks of oat straw which we've
piled so symmetrically along the line of
the old ploughed ground attesied to the
constancy of his brawny arms. Three
weeks later there was a summons from
lawyer Milliken had not calculated
the amount due him. Milliken had car
ried away one more bundle of the straw
than was his due. There had evidently
been mistake, and this same oatcutter
of the mountain told me week or two
ago that, even at that time, he knew
there was a Misunderstanding, yet he
was not the kind Of man to let Vermont's
prerogative lapse into obscurity for any
negligence of his, and so he at once de-
cided to contest the case with the best
lawyer to be had. To be sure the value
of the straw wass only fifty cents, but
Democrat as he had ways been, he had
not forgotten the oie%eopper coin upon
which, III raised letters, could be read:
Millions for Defence. Not one cont
for Tribute
Mffliken was persistent man. He
endeaEore8 10 secure the services of the
late we'll lown lawyer Stoughton, but
tAat gentleman having an important case
conaeeted with the Vermont Central
road, IN which many of Miliken's friends
and @eighBors owned original issues of
stock and fourth and tenth mortgage
bonds, he was consequently forced to ac-
cept the services the next best man.
The court, which haGAthe Milliken bun
of straw before it, met and sat down at
| Wflder's Hotel. The trial, justice looked
grave,end hsQpposing attorneys looked
daggers at each other, while the counte-
nance of MillikeuNand the original pos
sessor of the straw ere as placid and
smooth as any Of the waters above the
many dams of Saxtons River. Milliken
had paid mis- retaining fee of s15, and al.
though he had slight hopes of a success
full result, he was bound, as matter Of
honor, to put the thing through. The
lawyers produced their witnesses, and
cross. Questioned and argued, the judge
ruled and looked serious, while the spec.
tators listened, and at spare moments
amused themselves in gazing upon the
series of pictures known as The Rake;
Progress" which adorn the ladies' room
of the Saxton's River Hotel, where the
court was held. The rulings of the
judge, and principally the decision, were
pronounced with excesdinggravity, and
in favor of the plaintiff. 1t was what
might be termed decisive The judgt
was solemn chap, and let MillikeI
down easy, although the defendant in
formed me his witnesses didn't meet hi
expectations by any means. The court
} ordered Milliken to pay for the straw
and the costs of the impressive ceremon,
J which had been performed in the sam,
, room in which the counterfeit PRESENT.
ment of the prodigal son was a promi
} nent feature, and perhaps an attraction
|. Milliken is somewhat of an adept at fig
ures. He puts in his labor while cut
ting the oats. his loss of time at the an
, vii, and the amounts he paid as retaine
, and costs, and offsets the same by cred
it of experience in the matter of law
, His accounts are thus as easily balanced
and in as original way as those Of th,
! shingle man, whose books are open 20
inspection from Bafin's Bay TO th
Blight of Benin.