The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-26
THE FARM-YARD CLUB OF LOTHIAN.
BY DR.. George B. Loring.

LANDS.
Squire Wright had returned to lothian.
1t was his modest and unadorned little
office, standing beneath a towering elm on
one side of the village green, which had
been the resort of all those desiring and
needing legal advice for nearly forty years.
"Henry Wright, Attorney at Law" over
the front door, and 81. Wright's Office"
round the corner, were the two signs which
had been familiar to more than one genera
ton of the people of the village, and had
been read with interest by many succeed
ing crowds of wrathiul litigants.. The
legal lore necessary Tor That neignDofnoou;
the overloaded and chaotic table was
piled with the written documentary history
of every variety of legal controversy; the
worn and Clipped and dilapidated wooden
arm-chairs with well-shaped bottoms, and
backs at just the height and angle, invited
to long and lazy sittings; the old Franklin
stove, with lis cast-iron fire-dogs and I'M
disturbed bed of ashes and polished and
well-worn corners, told of many tale OF
quiet aud drowsy conference. with chairs
a-tilt and feet aloft; and the dusty and I'M
even floor, swept only by the Squire him
self babe all incomers remember that no
domestic tidiness was ever allowed to in
teriere with the official prophecies of that
sacred room. In winter, when the door
was shut and the smoke was pouring from
the chimney, all the uninitiated passers-by
were filled with a bewitchng idea of the
| comfort of that one. ideaed edifice and in
the warm summer days when the door was
open they peered in upon the judicial
presence of that great legal authority seated
within. and enrolled with a loose and
flowing summer gown of calico, with
a feeling of awe and vencration. The
place was ut all times such charming
temple of easy law and genteel loafing
that even lawsuits had their bright side,
and ideness was made respectable. The
SQUIRE was not great jury lawyer, nor
was he ingenious in the work OF getting
his clients into scrapes and then getting
them ont; but he was great referee u
powerful pacificator. lie was not very
busy man about the court house, but the
registry of deeds was full of titles accurate
" adjusted by him. and the registry OF
probate was full of wills which he had
drawn up so that the testators were pre-
vented from the sin and injustice OF graft
fying either ambition or passion or preJu-
dice in the final disposition of their estates,
and went TO Heaven hand III mana win
Justice and fairness, at any rate, ana SO
that the heirs understood each his eXac,
right and proportion. Many a divorce
case he heard sitting there I'm chambers;
and many a ''uniied and happy family
went out from the hearings. Many dis
puted account was adjusted there, and
many n domestic broil was hushed TO break
out no more. 1t was withpecular respect
and regard that Squire Wright was looked
upon by the people. They sad he nae
, great sagacity-because he always avoided
controversy. They sent him to the gener
nj court, year after year, because he wa
HJerM and cool-headed, and respected bott
parties, and never went to caucuses. The,
made him county commissioner, he
cause his honest purpose gave weight Il
his decisions and secured acquiescenc
even from the Disappointed they sent hin
to the state senate, because he knew al
about the wants of Ills district, they place.
him ON the executive council, because h
was very much like the governor. III
belonged TO an era of good feeling, an
was a useful magistrate in every sense o
= the word. And he always rejoced tina
when violent and revolutionary question
arose, he could urge upon his people tina
they love their country and live tegethe
like brethren, confident that the gres
social and evil problems would settle them
selves without his aid. He was evidentl
impressed with the idea that some kinds {
people were born to rule and other kind
were born to obey, although he never sal
SO. and he was somewhat In the habit {
claiming for the former all the wickedne'
of society. But he did not care to discus
this question. To hun woman was
woman, and criminal was a criminal, al
ar William Jones was William Jones; the'
was no door opening into his heart throue
which rogue could pass-no amount ,
sentiment sufficient to make mista'
toerable. lie liked the Rev. Mr.. How
IS. tor his faiths and he wondered at his gent
weaknesses. He admired DIR. Parker i
: his knowledge, but he was vexed by ,
th eccentric and self.indulgent habits. l
sss fancied the school master, because he W
v. bright and industrious, and intended
"a be a lawyer. lie respected MIR. Hopkir
81 because he was courlly and rich and hone
&c. Squire Wright had been absent fro
Nv lothian Tor many months. 1t so happen