Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-12-25
TWICE SENTENCED.
One Judge Who Praeticed What
He Preached.

One Judge Who Practiced What
He Preached.
'Do you need q man TO work about
your place, sirP"
Judge Parker looked up from his
law books and papers to the question
er, stalwart man about thirty years
Of age, poor, but genteel in appear
ance, and respectful in manner and
speech.
Take chair" said tho Judge, po-
litely, motioning to one near him.
mo, thank you, sir; prefer to
stand, II you please. The door was
open and l made bold to walk in. l
knocked several times on the door
frame, but you didn't hear me. l came
in just TO ask II you need man to do
any sort of work about your placer II
you do not, I'll not take up any more
OF your time, as l see you're busy. But
hope you do, sir; I need work,
badly"
"You are stranger in Pixley, are
you notP" asked the Judge, leaning
back in his chair.
Partly so. lived bore years ago."
"Your namep"
John"
"Your surnamep"
II would like you to call me just
John, sir, if you please"
Don't you know, my man, that
withholding your name is not a good
recommendation, and. very likely TO
make an unfavorable impressionp"
Il know it sir, but if you'll. only try
me, think you'll find that my faith
fulness and desire to do every thing
right will make up for the rest of my
name"
Something about the mans bearing
and appearance strongly impressed
Judge Parker. inspiring desire to
know more of him, and he said:
"Well, I'll tell you candidly, that
like your appearance and manner, but
when q man refuses to give his name
there's always something wrong"
There is something wrong, sir. I'll
be honest with you, there is something
wrong with the name, but not with me
not now. i could easily give you a
false name. Amt the fact that don't
give one some sign of honesty, and
won't you please look at that as a
recommendation, sirp"
ut is an indication, certainly" re-
Sponded the Judge. "Now, it Just hap
pens that l do need man about my
country place here; need one badly.
Summer is upon US, bringing q great
deal of work to be done about the
grounds. have q man for the stable
and horses, so the new hand would
have to do the rough work, moving
the lawn, raking, wedding, saving
wood, keeping the grounds in good
order, running errands and so on.
Would you be willing to do thatp"
Certainly, SIR" John hopefully re-
sponded. "I'll be only too glad If
you'll try me-"
But you are an able-bodied young
fellow, who could make at some trade
much more than 1 could give you for
the work mentioned, and IL l mistake
not your appearance. you have had
higher aims than this sort of work"
THAT is all true, sir. l could make
more at other work, and / have had
higher aims, but you've seen how mis-
fortune steps in sometimes on our
nims. But I'd be glad to do such work
as you said for the summer, If you'll
only give me q trial"
What are your termsP"
That is not important, sir"
mot Important Why, my man. 1t is
becoming plain to me that you have
some object other than this work;
some plan which such a position is to
subserve. Haven't youp"
Not exactly plan, but have a rea-
son for coming to you that I'd rather
not tell, II you please. It's not a
wrong purpose, and hope you won't
refuse me the work on its account"
at gives rise to unfavorable suspi-
cions, though. An unusual number of
things are against you. You refuse to
give your name, you seek work plain
ly beneath your abilities, wages are
unimportant. and, lastly, the work is
not your chief object. You must cer-
tainly be aware that these would be
good grounds for turning you away"
IL am aware Of that, sir, and was
afraid that when came to you that
would appear In bad light, but con-
cluded to be honest about 1t, anyhow.
Try me, though, sir; you'll not regret
It, want the place sorely; more than
dare tell. I'm in distress. I have
nothing else to say. My appearance Is
my only recommendation. II that
won't do, must CO."
He looked pleadingly at the Judge,
who, rising, came from behind his
desk, and standing close TO the appli.
cant said:
well, John, let me tell you that your
candor and evident truthfulness have
impressed me very strongly in your ia.
vor, despite the appearance against
you. I'll try you for month, but you
must not complain II you are denied
certain privileges that would be &C
corded TO man who has proven him
self trustworthy, or II your actions are
more closely watched"
I've seen those consequences, sir
and It's all right. They are TO be ex
pected under the circumstances, and
won't complain. Do as you pleas
with mo I'LL vsu !sel l car be trusted