Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-06-23
Tried BY JURY.


TRIED BY JURY.
kindly Uncle Hiram and His Little Johe,
Uncle John has n portfolio full ~
stories, and, by the way, the portfolio
Is his mind and the stories are all true
ones This is one from the pathetic leaf
of the book:
When | was lad used to 40 into tho
country every summer To wslt the fam,
lily OF my great-uncle, old Judge Day,
Now the farm was delightful, but the
old judge himself had way OF filling
me with terror, whatever he said or did
His eyes were piercing and his voice
gruff, and when | heard how many
wicked people he had sentenced 10 pun
ishment, my knees shook beneath me-
and resolved that no misdeed OF mine
should ever bring me into his relentless
clutches
Still, did not dislike him, but there
was one living creature about the place
which reused not only my fear but my
hatred also. This was the old gander,
lie was SO proud, SO quarrelsome and so
snaky about the neck that privately
wished him dead or transported.
One day in fit of idle spite took up
stone and threw it at him, with nc
purpose whatever except that OF show.
ing my unfavorablc opinion. BY some
strange chance, it hit him in the side of
the head, and, to my horror, he sank
limp and helpless to the ground. NV
enemy was dead, and had killed him!
There was, of course, nothing to do
but to tell the old Judge, and feeling
myself to be almost at the point of
death, approached the piazza where
he sat
Uncle Hiram" ! stammered, weak
ly, live killed your gander."
you have, have your said he gruf-
fly, bending his terrible black eyes on
me. Eyes, saw you. Now, do you
know what happens to people who dc
such thing as that?'
"No, sir"
They're tried in court. We won'tsay
anything about it now, but tonight,
after milking, you'll have your trial here
on the piazza. Shall have the sheriff
put handouts on you, or will you give
bonds to be here?"
"l-Fll be here, SIR" quavered l. al
most fainting, and then / skunk away
into the barn, to wonder if it would be
convenient to hang myself there or if it
might prove easier to drown.
That was terrible day. It did pass.
however, and at twilight crawled up
to the piazza; where Uncle Hiram sat,
with Bessy, the hired girl, and the dog
Ponto. He opened court in solemn
and official way that drove me almost
wild. He called on Bessy for her testi-
mony, and then on Ponto. The latter
refusing to speak, was fined one bone
for contempt of court" severity
which increased my fears to the utmost.
Then the two hired men, no doubt
thinking itall an excellent joke, brought
in verdict of guilty" Uncle Hiram
saying that the other jurymen were
drawn from the crowd of mosquitoes
which had begun to swarm on the pi-
azza.
Prisoner at the bar" said the Judge,
''stand up"
But the prisoner at the bar had no
longer the use of hislegs. He fell in an
ignominious heap on the floor, to be
picked up and cnddled on the Judges
capacious breast.
That night it was Uncle Hiram who
put me to bed with as much tenderness
as If l had not passed the age when such
putting" was necessary. He stroked
my hair and kissed me. His black eyes
were softened by tears.
why, boy" said he, in broken
voice. 'fWhy, my lad, wouldn't have
frightened you SO for the world. I
meant it for very little punishment,
and very big joke. Do you think you
= can forget it? Do you ever think you
can like me?"
The result was that in less than an
hour the old judge and were fast and
warm friends. had found out that he
could love, and my fear was gone. All
that summer we were as good play
mates as two loving children, and every
after until, alas! the dear old man fell
sick and died. Then only did realize
what he had been to me and how blank
my days could be without his constant,
tender care, SO unfailing that it often
seemed meant to atone for the terrible
fright he had given me.-Youth's Com
panion.