The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-12-04
miscellaneous.
The First Client.


Several summers ago happened to spend a
few weeks in Concord, New Hampshire. My
home, for the time being; was in quiet fami-
ly who took into their home several members
of the State Legislature as boarders. Among
these people there was talented young lawyer
and his pretty wife. They were bright, wit
ty, sensible couple, dressed we'll, and looked
upon them as fortunes favorites, and wonder
ed if the passing years would fling any shad-
ows in their pathway, or if they had knswn
care or sorrow. The young wife was sweet
singer, and many an evening passed very
pleasantly in listening to the piano touched by
her practiced fingers, and her songs were like
bird music in the early spring time. Her gay
laugh would ring out upon the air unmingled
with q eiycla ,ot. 49,
bord eaamed devoted to his accomplished wife,
finding his chief happiness in her society, and
as saw them daily was reminded of Whit
tiers beautiful poem, "The Wife," and l fan
cied, too, she was some city's ''fair pale daugh-
| ter" who had found her husband among the
New Hampshire hills. The lines would come
to my mind:
.sWe send the squire to general court,
He takes his young wife thlther;
No happier man, election day,
Rides through the sweet June weather"
Though l became interested in this happy
pair, vet the weeks glided away and learned
nothing definitely of their history during my
soiourn in the city. But another summer came
and the same errand took me again to Concord,
and I occupied the same old quarters. There
were many new faces around the table but the
young lawyer and his wife were in their old
seats, and apparently as happy as ever. We
met an old acquaintance this time, and one
evening we were all out upon the piazza watch
ing the sunset and the clouds of people thai
promenaded at this hour, or rode leisurely pas
in their handsome carriages.
The conversation turned upon the struggle:
of young men of limited means in acquiring ar
education and profession, and then footholc
in this busy grasping world.
"I know all about it, exclaimed Mr.. Weston
my young lawyer friend, al had time OF 1t Il
get started, and if the Lord ever gives me plen
tv of money shall use little of it helpin,
Others"
"Tell me some of your history if you please !?
| asked. 81 have all manner of conjectures il
regard to it, and now my curiosity must be sat
isfied"
"Ycu may not care much for it," he repeate
with a smile, ''but think I will tell you abou
nv first client. To me certainly, it was an in
teresting case"
Here his wife slipped her little hand out {
his and went quickly into the house, and the
I knew that she was in some way concerne
with the story.
"Wel, to begin, was early left an orphan
with only sixpence in my pocket and jacl
, knife to whittle with. believe | had goo
share of energy, or pluck, as they say, for
went through college and studied law, supper
ing myself and owing man dollar. B'
the tug of war came when l went to the lit
town of W., where now live, and hung out
shingle, expecting that business would com
of course. But weeks dragged into months an
. no work came.
Sometimes would get little writing to d
but the other lawyers took all the importal
cases, and l hardly earned enough of money
nav board bills. Every morning I rose vel
early and took long walk, then CAREFUL
swept my office and arranged my books, so tn
if business did come could be ready for it,
But the months glided away and still hs
nothing to do. At length, one day in fit
desperation, I looked over my affairs, took
inventory of my possessions, which consii
ed of few law books and two seedy suits
clothing, and asked myself what had better
done; could endure this waiting no longer.
% airy your luck somewhere else, john" / So
to myself, "these old, staid New England VI
lages went to seed thirty years ago. 70
y Kansas and start afresh ! That is just what
O do if no work comes this week"
But at the close of that very day there car
u low knock at my Office door. | knew 1T
10 not any of the fellows who sometimes came
to chat awhile, and threw down my newsr
D. per and arose and opened the door. The
stood very handsome young lady dressed
Or mourning, and was little frightened a
awkward, but asked her to come in and ia
seat
. "Mr. Weston, believe" she asked.
eyes, at your service"
81 am Minnie Ellery," she said, with a 10
musical voice, "and came to consult you
business"
|, ~ shall be happy to hear your story"
" swered, Gas have little leisure just new"
1t seems that she was an adopted child of
rich Mr.. Ellery, who had recently deceased
The old gentleman had never had legal pap
= of adoption made cut; he had not regarded
ID A.. .b;,d h al bean o;ven tn