The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-08
A Debtor to His Calling.

A penurious man, having hired car
penter, at very low price, to build fence,
was surprised to see him doing much better
work than he, the employer, had right to
expect. Fearing that there might be some
misunderstanding which would result in a
charge for ''extras, the employer reminded
the carpenter that he was doing the work
by the Sob and for a stipulated price.
"I know that, sir, as well as you dc"
answered the mechanic; "but | want you
and every other man to know that l take a
pride in my work, even if [ don't get as
well paid for it as l ought to"
That carpenter acted upon the principle
which governed the Apostle Paul, when he
said Il magnify my Office The princi-
pie, one on which every minded man
will act, is simply this: Do your best, under
all circumstances. "Every man" says
Bacon" ''is debtor to his profession"
We all owe our best efforts to our calling,
if the calling be a useful one.
When Rufus Choate began the practice
of law in Danvers, Mass, he determined
to magnify his office of advocate, on every
occasion, whether his fee was small or
large His cases involved but small sums
of money, but he threw himself into them
with an enthusiasm that could not have
been more intense had they been struggles
for thousands of dollars.
He would plead before country justice,
in his shoemaker's shop, as if he were ad-
dressing the Supreme Court. Crowds
hocked to hear the young lawyer, who so
/ ,~-,,;G 81 ,oIoint;F dafandaDt iustica and
jury of an obscure village as to place be-
fore them classical illusions, fine rhetoric,
legal learning, and sound reasoning.
The illiterate were so influenced by his
method, which honored them as apprecia-
tive hearers, that they gave him their,
hearts, and admired him as the man who
always did his best, no matter how trivial
the occasion.
In one petty case, that of Jefferds, ac
cused of stealing a flock of turkeys, he
defended the prisoner, who paid him
very small fee, on four trials, and each
time secured disagreement Of the jury.
The commonwealth attorney, at last, tired
of being asked, ''When is the turkey case
coming on again p entered a mol. pros, or
discontinuance,
Several years after, when Mr.. Choate
had removed to Boston, Jefferds called to
pay his respects, He was much surprised
at not being recognized, and said, with
some warmth, why, Mr.. Choate, I'm
the man you pleaded so for in the turkey
case, when they couldn't find anything
agin me-
1t is said that Mr.. Choate, in order to be
impartial, seldom came in contact with his
clients who were charged with crime. He
did not consider himself at liberty as a
lawyer to decline serving in criminal cases,
and he always did his best for these clients,
but he would hold no personal intercourse
with them, for such reasons as many law,
yers are accustomed to do.
One of his great cases was his defenee,of
Tirrell, charged with murder. He never
exchanges a word with the man until the
day of the trial, when, walking to the DOCK
in which Tirrell was seated, he said;-
"Well, sir, are you ready to make
strong push for life with me today
ayes, sir, I am.
"Very well, sir, we viii make it, " said
Choate, and proceeded to make the best of
the case.
"I magnify my oficel" The text is a
good thoughtito take into the year.