The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-09-23


garden suffered considerably from nj.
denreiaiinns m woodchnek. Whose
hole and hebi'ation was ncar ne prem
Uses. Daniel some Ten wears old. and
his brother. had scf trap. aud al las
-ucceedcd In catching tic trc-Iasser
Ezekiel proposed 10 Kill ti.c animal ans
end q oncc all further trouble with him
but Daniel looked with COMMISSION j,
This meek. dumb captive. and offered /,
lct him 20. The hovs could not agree
and appealed 10 their father 10 decide
,lhe case.
! We'll. my boys said The old gentle.
man. will be the Judge and you hal
be the counsel 10 mead rhe case for and
against his life and liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with strong
argument urging Tie mischicyious na'
iIure Of the animal, the great harm he
|had already done. said iiat much tim,
'snd labor had bccn spent IN lis capture
laid now. IL suffered 10 60 M larre. NJ
would renew his dcDrclations. and be
cunning enough not to Be caught again
and that he ought now 10 hc pnt u
death; that his skin was 81 some value
and that make the most or him they
could, il would nct repay half The dam.
'age he had already done. His argument
was ready, practical. and 10 tle point,
ana Of much greater length than our
iiniif VIII allow Us to occupy in relating
lse story.
The father looked with pride upon
hiS son. who became distinguished
jurist ia his manhood.
Now, Daniel. it's yonr turn: I'll hear
what You We got 10 say.r
Y was his first case; Daniel saw that
the Plea Of his brother had sensibly
Affected his father, the Judge: ana his
large. brilliant black ewes rested upon
the soft timid expression Or the animal.
and he saw II trcmblc with fear in ~
narrow prison house. His heart swcllcd
with pity, and he appealed in eloquent
words that the captive might 70 free
Iod' he said. had made The woodchuck: !:
iie made him 20 live and enjov The
bright sunshine and pure air, tile fields.
and woods. God had not made him or
anything in vain. The woodchuck has
= much right 70 live as any other living
hing; he was not destructive animal
ike the wolf; he simply ate few COM
mon vegetables. Of which they had
plenty, aud could we'll spare part lie
destroyed nothing except tile little food
lc ate - sustain biz humble lie: and
that food was Is ~ Get to him ana "
necessary 80 his existence a. was fbc
food q their mothers table. God fur
nishcd their own food He gave them
All they possessed, and would they not
sparc little for dumb creature who
really had rs much right TO biz small
hare of Coils bounty - they themselves
Q their portion: Yes. more. the
lnimal had never violated tl,c laws or his
nature. or The laws Of God. a. man often
lid. but strictly followed Tie instincts hel
had received from tile Creator IL all|
hlngs. Created hy Gods own hands.
lc had right from God 10 food. IL lib
'rty, aud they had no right ID deprive
linn or either lie alluded ID The inute !.
Dut earnest pleading of the animal for|
hat life as dear % him as were their
'wn, aud 70 the just Judgment they
night expect II, III selfish cruelty and
old-hcartedncss. they took tic life TIE,
'ould not restore again.
During the appeal the tears had start
q in the old mans eyes. and were fast|
uEl.ing down his sunburnt checks.
very feeling Of fathers heart was
TIRED within him. and he felt that God
lad blessed him beyond the lot or COM
non men. His pity was awakened bv|
he eloquent words of compassion andI
he strong appeal for mercy: and, forget
lng the man and the father, he sprangI
49, ..I I..S.. 1. - I"