The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-07-01
Mrs. SHIELDS nENEEACr1ON.


When rccounting the incidents OF
the year he taught, he would relate
many anecdotes of the people with
whom he became acquainted. have
only space for one. nI devoted my
sclf,'' he was wont to say, ''to the boys
(thcy were glorious boys and they arc
glorious men.) How could they be
otherwise and be the children Of such 4
mother? / had a tolerable wardrobe,
Iaids no board and required no
money. 1t was on Saturday morning,
Immediately after breakfast. l was
alone in the parlor when Mrs.
Shields came in and said: "NIr.
prentiss, 1 know nothing OF the
state of your finances. / understand
you propose to visit Natchcz to-day
and you may want some money"
Finances! the word tickled me.
Finances Of a man who never had at
one time in his life two hundred dol
lars. l smiled, and With more lcvity
than 1nouesty l remarked HNadam,
I have not seen Il dollar in SO long a
time that if l was 10 1iud one in the
road hardly think ] should know
it. 1t certainly could not claim fami-
liar acquaintance with me-" How
swcctly did she smile rs she said,
handing it to me. "Thcrc is a fifty
dollar bill," and left the parlor. was
alone, and l looked at every letter and
figure upon it. 1t was tho first dollar
l had ever earned. 1t was tho reward
OF labor, my labor, and 1 said to my
self: s'Shc called you bill l shall call
you sweet William," and this fifty dol
lar bill WAS more priced than any five
hundred over after earned in my pro
fcSSiOn.
>,,1 q
had entered the Office of Walker that
Walker said in my presence: "This
young Prcntiss is the most wonderful
creature 1 ever met in mortal torm,"
and very soon every ono had some.
thing to report respecting Prentis5 that
war startling,
HIS REPLY 10 \ COTTON FACTOR.
There was a cotton factor whose
Office was Immediately adjoining that
of Walkers. This man had accom-
panied Aaron Burr in his famous ex-
petlition down the Mississippi whom it
was supposed he was contemplating
treason against the government. He
resided Il mile or so from the city and
had a fine saddle horse which some
times got among the cucklc burrs in
his pasture field. Upon one occasion
when the members of the bar were
awaiting the hour for the opening of
court, before the Office Of Walker, the
factor rode up, dismountcd and throw
ing the bride over tho post near by
and walking around his horse discoV-
cred the hair of his horses tail was
covered with hurrs. Prentiss was
standing in the open doorway of the
Office with his book in his hand, when
the factor, observing the general smile
his horses tail had caused, he remark
cd with some dignity. "Gcntlemcn,
what does that rnscmhle:' :' prcntiss
quietly remarked: GA Burr con
spiracy.D Tho shot went home and
told. With Il quick, scowlinG look he
walked into his Office, and surprise
was on every face, for the man was not
only rich but influential, and his
frown and scowl were ominous.
Twenty years after PrcntisS told me
he was never forgiven and had more
than once felt tho weight Of his dis
pleasure.
1t was no: 4 year after frcntis- was
admitted to tho bar before he WAS un-
riva!cd before a jury and equal 10 the
best in legal learning. Nickeburs Wa