Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-11-28
GRADE I'll LESSON IL.

GRADE III IsEs7oc-N II.
DANIEL WEBSTER'S FIRST CASE.
Won have all heard OF Daniel Webster,
tho greatest lawyer that ever lived in our
country; and when you read some OF the
speeches which he made, you VIII see no"
we'll he could speak before judge and
Jury, or in any place where he might be.
am going to tell you about Webster's
first case. which was W hen he was only ten
years old.
Daniel and his older brother Ezekiel
were a farmers sons, and they both used
TO hclp in the work on the farm. One
day Ezekiel set a trap to catch wood
chuck which had for long time been
stealing his dinners from the garden of
the Websters, and to the delight Of the
boys the woodchuck was caught in it.
"Now," cried Ezekiel, "well kill the
thief You've done harm enough to die,
Mr.. Woodchuck; and die you shall!'
Daniel, who had kind heart, begged
his brother not to kill the poor thing,
but to take him to the woods and let him
90. Ezekiel would not do this; and SO,
as they could not agree, the two boys
went to their father, and asked him what
should be done.
.'Well," said Mr.. Webster, there IS the
prisoner: let us try him for his life.
Ezekiel shall be the states attorney ana
speak against him; and you, Daniel, snail
be lawyer for him, and will be Judge.
Ezekiel began. He spoke about the
harm the woodchuck had done in the
garden. He told how much time and
trouble it took to catch him. He asked
if the prisoner would not surely go back
to his bad habit again if they should let
him go. and he ended with these words
.sThe prisoner must die; and to pay for
the harm he has done, We will sell his
skin'
Ezekiel had spoken Well, and his father
seemed to think he vas right. However,
he turned to his younger son and said
"I'll hear nov y hat you have to say,
Daniel"
Daniel was very much afraid that his
brother had Won the case. But, seeing
the poor Woodchuck trembling i'll his
prison, the boys breast swelled with pity
Looking the judge full in the face with
his deep black eyes, Daniel began;
ezekiel has spoken we'll, but he for
gets some things. l say the woodchuck
has right to life, TO food, and to free
dom. God made him to live in the bright
sunshine, i'll the free fields and woods.
..He is not like the cruel fox, for he
kills nothing. He only eats little OF
our corn, and am sure we have plenty
Has he taken anything but the little food
he needed to keep him alive? And is not
that food as sweet to him as the food on
mothers table is to us?
"You can't say that he has broken the
laws, as men often do; he has only done
what it is his nature to do. How, then,
can YOU blame him? Look at the poor,
dumb, trembling creature, and answer
me this: How dare you take away that
life which you can never give back
again?"
Daniel paused There were tears in his
fathers eyes; the plea for mercy had
touched the old mans heart, and for
getting his dignity as Judge, he started
up, and cried in loud voice; 'Zeke,
Zeke, you let that uoodchuck go!"
Boys and girls, il ever you are tempted
to tease or hurt a dumb creature, think
of Daniel Webster's first case. Remem-
Der his words of mercy, and "iet the
woodchuck GO