Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-02-13
Perseverance.

Mr.. entity AN attorney IN Shaftes-
bury, was leaving his Office for the
day, when he was met at the door by
a respectable woman and chubby
faced boy with bright eye. He
knew the woman slightly-a widow
that kept small stationer's shop in
the town. She opened her business
at once. "Oh, Mr.. Chitty, I have
brought you my Robert; he gives me
no peace, his heart is SO set on being
in a lawyers office. But there I
have not the money to apprentice
him. Only we thought you could
find some place or other for him if it
was ever so small Then she broke
off, and looked appealingly, and the
boys cheeks and eyes were fired with
expectation.
Most country towns at that time
possessed two solicitors that might
be called types; the old established
man, whose firm for generations had
done the pacific and lucrative busi-
ness--wills, settlements, partnerships,
mortgages, etc.-and the sharp prac-
titioner, who was the abler of the two
at litigation, and had to shake the
plum tree instead of sitting under it
and opening his mouth for windfalls.
Mr.. Chitty was No. 2.
But these sharp practitioners are
very apt to be good natured, and so,
looking at the pleading widow and
the beaming boy, he felt disposed to
oblige them, and rather sorry he could
not. He said his was a small office
and he had no clerks place vacant !;
''and indeed if I had, he is too young
why he is a mere childr''
II am twelve next so-and-so," said
the boy, giving the month and the
day.
SsYou don't look it then,'' said Mr..
Chitty incredulously.
Indeed, but he is, sir, said the
widow; she never looked his age,
and writes beautiful hand
''But l tell you have no vacancy"
said Mr., Chitty, turning dogged.
''Well, thank you, sir, all the
same" said the widow, with pa
tience of her sex. Come, Robert,
we mustn t detain the gentleman"
SO they turned away with disap-
pointment marked on their faces, the
boys especially.
Then Mr.. Chitty said, in a hesitat-
ing way, ''To be sure, there is va
cancy, but it is not the sort of thing
for you"
"What is it, sir?"
"Well, we want an office-boy.'
can office-boy What do you
say, Robert? l suppose it is be-
ginning, sir. What will he have to
do?"
"Why, sweep the office, run er-
rands, carry papers; and that is not
what he is after. Look at him-he
has got that eye of his fixed on a
counsellor's wig, you may depend ;
and sweeping country attorneys S
office is not the stepping stone to
that" He added, warily, cat least,
there is no precedent reported"
LA, no, sir" said the widow; she
only wants to turn an honest penny,
and be among law papers"
GAY, ay; to write 'em and sell 'em,
but not to dust EN-.
''For that matter, sir, [ believe
he'd rather be the dust itself in youl
office than bide at home with me-
Here she turned angry with her off
spring for half a moment.
''And so l would" said young
master stoutly, indorsing his mothers
hyperbole very boldly, though his
own mind was not Of that kind which
originates metaphors, SMILES, ant
engines of inaccuracy in general.
"Then I say no more," observed
Mr.. Chitty; only mind: it is half
crown week-that is all
The terms were accepted, an(
Master Robert entered on his humble
duties. He was steady, perseverins
and pushing. In less than two year
he got promoted to be a copying
clerk. From this in due course b.
became a superior clerk. He stud
led pushed and persevered until a
last he became fair practical law
yer, and Mr.. Chitty's head clerk
And so much for perseverance.
He remained some years in this pc
sition, trusted by his employers, an
respected too; for besides his spe
cial gifts as law clerk, he was strio
in morals and religious without pa
: rade.
In those days country attorney
could not fly to the metropolis an
back to dinner. They relied muc
: on London attorneys, their agents
5 Lawyer Chitty's agent was Mr.. Bisf
, op, judges clerk; but in those day
judges clerk had an insufficient st
pend, and was allowed to exc it OF
by private practice. Mr.. Bishop We
: agent to several country attorneys.
Well, Chitty had heavy case con
4 ing ON at the assizes, and asked Bisl
e Cd to come down, for once in wa,
: and help him in person. Bishop d
d so, and in working the case, was d
: lighted with Chitty's managing clerl
y Before leaving he told Mr.. Chitty
e sadly wanted a managing clerk
- could rely on. Would he oblige hin