Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-07-12
MISCELLANY.



All the worlds a court,
Where some are lawyers and the rest are lawed;
Aud life's an action to which all are parties
They get discharged ana enter their appearance;
Their acts being seven ages.
First then the infant.
The Joseph Junior of the lecture room,
For whose untutorpd eye is drawn aside
The cumbrous drapory of words obscure,
To show the naked beauty OF the truth;
who constant cons the hornbook of the law,
Smiths Leading Cases, wherein he Is taught
BY the Six Carpenters to nail the facts 49,,
And build with rule and saw knowledge hlgh
OF trcspass ab iuitiO; to learn
From Scott Il Shepard the important art
OF throwing sQuibs to scorch his l. gal brethren,
And blind them in the practice of their trade;
And lastly pick from out the poor sweeps case
Its germ of truth long hidden in the dust
Next. Simon Senior. with his hasty step,
And mind well stuffed with legal provender
OF rules aud usages and state reports;
Who deems his thesis an explosive boom
That. when he's fired it Off will surely shatter
The many forward errors of the law,
A nostrum for the cancer spots that gnaw
The breast of justice meath her mantle Ioldi
Who dreams IN him the soul of Webster dwells,
Though vet inglorious and to fame unknown;
Who pines impatient for the day to come
When he may like an eagle spread his wings
And mount to glory in the legal skies,
And from his sheepskin get golden fleece
Whose moot court case is a momentous thing
Fraught with grave issues and the bays OF tame
There with disputatiOus flood of words
He boards the Judge on points of evidence,
And sweeps with tongue persuasive all before
him,
Unconscious that he uses borrowed Broughman.
Next, Lewis Lawyer, newly dubbed b. L.,
who signs like furnace that is full of coke;
Who woos his coy, capriciuus mistress, Law,
That lightly holds him, playing fast and loose
With his devotion and his awkward suit
Who idly drums upon the window pane,
While clients that were looked for never come.
Then next. Charles Counsellor, adorned with
scars
Won lawfully in midst of woriy wars;
The WHY soldier Of The legal field;
Followed by witnesses that swear strange oaths;
Jea GUS of others ready and quick in quarrel,
Seeking to win a judgement even against
The cannOnS mouth; calling his rival brother,
But oftener cozening him.
Next, Joseph Justice,
Ra Used to the pleasant woolsack's high degree,
In awe inspiring wig and sable gown,
With solemn verdict and eye severe: sr
With a fair round belly and his purse well lined.
Sixth Age-The Judge retired; at his club
Taking comfort in his easy chair;
Mellow with many years and good old port;
Much given to speech and seasoned anecdOte
And wit and repartee of bench and bar,
And graphic scenes of legal days gone by;
on whom prosperity and honor smile;
While time and he together play the rubber
OF hfes long game of many tricks and suits.
Last scene of all. old age and that grim goal
Where Death, the Sheriff, waits to serve the writ
or summons to that higher record court,
Where all our deeds are filed and titles searched
By the impartial eye of the great Judge.
For him who's kept the sword of Justice clean
And helped to make the bulwarks of the law
Fit for the sentinel tread Of peace, for him
mo more oblivion waits, but being dead,
Yet will his voice in after ages speak
In code and valued volume of the law
And monuments Of honor to the mind.
The Green Bag.