The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-31

| II might lave been a most stupid mis-
take; but this is what takes my fancy 50;
the firmness of purpose, a far higher
quality of mind than mere cleverness,
! that could make the poor fellow face
everything he did for the sake of the
sister he loved. There must be some
thing in one who could run the gauntlet
like that, when his heart was once fairly
unlocked; and think j have the key.
II always thought 40, cried Mrs.
Frere. greatly delighted.
Well. let me try. I'll run away
with Sam. and make lawyer Of him.
What do you say.
The grinning was epidemic around
the table when il became known that
Sam was TO be lawyer. His brothers
and sisters could hardly look at first
without smiling; it did seem SO droll,
80 absurdly contrary TO every notion
they entertained of him. Had he sat
before them in full naval costume as
Admiral Of the Channel Fleet, 1t would
hardly have struck them as being more
unlooked-for and preposterous. Uncle
Johns presence saved Sam from col
lective bsntering, though the old law
yer was 10 wise To make any fuss about
the matter; but when Sam was alone
with his brothers and sisters, he had
hard time of it, though all was, as
usual, in perfect good humor.
At first Sam had, of course. to g
through the usual drudgery OF law
yer's Office, in which, if il be possible
for anyone 90 shine, he certainly did
not His blunders were awful, and
provoked the wrath of ridicule. as the
case may be, of his fellow clerks. who
were all well-seasoned and somewhat
ancient men. But his uncle never
found fault with him. The most he
said wheh some frantic bungle was
brought 10 his notice, was, "Sam, do
this over again; you know you can do
il great deal better than that" Aud
sure enough, it was done better the
second time. In short, his uncle be
gan with, and, IN spite of every dis
enlargement, preserved IN the plan OF
trusting him. Aud by de2rees he found
that the more he trusted him the better
he did, and the more he treated him as
if there was something in him the more
he got out Of him. Had Sam nothing
in him TO begin with, the plan could
not have answered; but this was just
what his uncle believed, namely that
there was something in him, but that
IL had been systematically laughed
down and sat upon from superficial
considerations, and that it could only
be brought out by a total change Of ex-
ternal influence aud treatment. And
now his powers began TO show them
selves and TO expand, Just as a churb
that has been stunted and blackened
from want of room aud unconjenial
soil begins TO throw out vigorous
shoots when transplanted TO ground
that suits IT, and where it has space TO
grow.
Sam, said Mr.. Quicksett, one day.
"we shall all OF US be away the whole
afternoon, and must leave you in
| charge of the Office. IL that fellow
Choker should come, mind, you're not
to let him see anything.
As the fates would have it, Choker
did come. Perhaps Mr.. Qnicksett
knew he was coming. Possibly Mr..
Choker, vino was a sharp and not very
scrupulous professional opponent OF
! bis, had made himself aware of the
unprotected state of the office in Gray's
Inn, and be brought with him a man
that looked every inch prize fighter.
'Is Mr. Quicksett in-No? Well, it's
/ of no consequence. / merely called TO
see as a matter of form one or two doc
/ uments in Smith vs. Jones"
"Then l must trouble you to call
again when Mr. Quicksett is In. d"
"Quite right, young man. said
Choker, approvingly; that's the right
/ thing to say in ordinary cases; but, yon
/ see, this is not an ordinary case. We've
/ qot an order of the Court to inspect
! these documents.
Where is it?" said Sam, bluntly.
You've got it with you. haven't
you?" said Choker, carlessly, turning
/ 10 his companion. The young athlete
fumbled in his pockets aud declared
/ with great apparent vexation, that he
must have forgotten to bring IT,
II don't believe you've got 1t 10
/ bring" said Sam.
We'll have no nonsense, sir, cried
/ Choker, in passion; "at your peril re-
/ fuse 20 show us what we want 30 see,
and the two men advanced on Sam in
a threatening way. But, little as he
was. he never budged an inch Il tell
Won what IL is" he said with all the
coolness imaginable, IF you two don't
leave the office this minute, I'll send
for Constable.
There was no need TO attempt that
difficult operation. They were only
trying it on, and with an affection of
| Injured innocence Mr.. Choker and his
satellite withdrew.
On another occasion, after Sam had
been some months IN the office, his
uncle came out Of his room Que day.
aud bade him 60 down at once 10
Judges Chambers and look after some
case that was 70 come on there. IL is a
thing that requires you 10 have your
wits about you. 90 do that. for You
come face 90 face with a shrewd Judge,
who cannot tolerate fool. The old
clerks in Mr.. Qucksett's office appear
ed paralyzed with astonishmeut at such
an order: and one of them ventured.
when partially recovered, TO suggest
mistake on Mr.. Quicksett's part. 1T
rather difiicult case. sir, If you remem-
ber. he urged.
"All right, Mustay," was the CHEEKY
reply; II know what / am about The
best way to learn to swim is to be
pitched neck -and-heels into deep wa
ter"
The supense was great among the aG-
clients while sam was away; but he
came back in due time, aud reported
that the case bad come on before the
Judge, and that his Lordship had made
an order IN their clients favor. Did
he ask you any questiunsl' inquired
Mustay. "Oh, yesl and | answered
them" said Sam; but he did not men
tion, for he did not know il, nor will II
be mentioned in the memoir OF the
learned Judge when il comes ont, that,
accustomed as his Lordship was 10
ready answers, il had actually crossed
his mind for a moment that the funny
little lawyers clerk would make a cap
ital wituess-he was so ready and said
neither more nor less than was wanted.
Whether a good witness would al
WAYS make a good lawyer we need not
decide: but ID is certain that, ia course
Of time. Sam made a verv good one in
deed His was one Of those not uncOm.
mon cases where supposed deficiency"
is superficial only, and where far more
grave deficiency is 10 he found in those
who, by constantly laughing nt IL, run
the risk Of making il n real lifelong
imbecilty. Sans relatives never
laughed at him again after the first
visit he paid them, though they often
laughed with him, for his drollery was
inexhaustible. He never married, but
~. .sot.r Nrarv kot,t kouaa TO- hsr,