The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-11-09
A POSTUM RIDGE COURT.
Sine Sparks and His He'd Ok Got the YER
diet for Value Delivered.

}
Western Missouri. He has a limited
knowledge of law, not being able to
read; but he has strong sense OF
! gratitude and evidently he considers
1t his duty. even as court, to stand
by his friends.
Recently a case was before the
Squire for a hearing 1t was a civil
suit for damages, brought by Jonas
Hudson against Sine Sparks. Hud-
son set forth the claim that one red
steer belonging to the defendant had
broken into a corniield belonging to
| the plaintlff. and had destroyed grain
To the value of 81, thereby causing the
said plaintiff great damages. for which
he prayed for redress.
A young lawyer from the county seat
represented the plaintiff. while Sparks
appeared for himself 1t was clearly
established by six witnesses that the
plaintiffs statement was true, and that
he had been damaged to the amount
claimed by Sparks red steer Slime
offered no evidence in rebuttal so 1t
looked like a plain case for Hudson
and the lawyer asked the Squire so to
decide Then ii WIS that Sparks arose
and took hand in the proceedings.
Squire. he said Il reckon. accord
In TO the evidence. them other felers
has got the bulge on ME In this yere
ease"
. Pears So to mo. Slime" the Squire
replied.
An reckon" Slime went on. that
you sorter feel like you ort to slap
them damages onto me-"
Kind q pears like | ort, Slime"
"uh huh! kind o lowed it did.
But before you give IL decision | want
to AZ YOU few questions :"
All right. Sine; are away"
"Fust, want To know who Ii wuz
come Ia yo' house last winter, when
yo' wuz down with pneumony fever, an
cut an hauled wood fer you to keep up
iires2 Wu2 1t JONAS Hudson or wuz
1t me2"
1T wuz you Sims
"llh. huh! An who WIZ 1t. when
yo, house burned down. turned out an
wrastled around an got another'n built
| for YOU Wuz it Jonas Hudson or
me-"
1T WIZ you. Sine
"uh. huh! Who WIZ 1t turned out
an hauled sawloBs to the mill for you
the time You cut yo foot an Wuz laid
up for II month? Wuz that man named
Ianos lIudson2"
1T want"
"Wuz his name Sine Sparks"
1T war"
"llh huh Who WIZ 1t come over
an helped you haul yo' wheat in when
The rain wuz bout To rot it? Did the
name o that man sound anything like
Jonas hudson p
No. II didn't, Slime"
"Dd it sound sortor like Slime
Sparks?"
III did 3"
"Uh. huh, An what oxen wuz Il,
squire. that helped TO do all that haul
IN? WuZ il an cid white OK belOngin
10 Hudson? ?"
1T want"
"Wuz II red OK belongln' TO me?"
IT war"
IN. hull once In while you've
had to borrow a team to haul fodder,
Squire, | want to AK you whar you
got it. Wuz it from Hudson"
No"
'Wuz II from mei"
Yes
.Wuz thar white OK Ia that team ?"
There want"
"Wuz thar red ox2"
There wuZ"
"Uh. huh, You see Jest how 1t IL.
| squire When you've been in tight
place an needed help me an that red
steer has been ready to lend you hand
an boost you along I'll you wuz able
| 10 git On yp feet a8'in. But Hudson
an his old white OK amt never lifted
finger in yo' behalf Amt them
rue words. Squire"
II reckon they be, Slime.
"Thah | want to AK you II you CON
slider 1t yo duty. under the law an
constitution o this land, to strike
down the hand that has befriended
you? want to know II you think it
Is right FOR you to go agin me when /
nave always helped you In the hour OF
need. an in favor OF 4 man who ANT
ueyer done nothin' for you? | want
10 know, too, II you think you ort to
! turn yo' back on all that red steer has
done for you. an, IN spite o his past
kindnesses, go an slap a two-dollar
/ Rps a fnr In "a IL. bnt
he didn't know he had no right to eat?
Jest think O these things. Squire. be-
fore you decide thiA ease,
The Squire rubbed his nose thought
| fully for a moment, then said:
Slime, you've made my duty plain to
me in this yere case. The verdick's
gour'n.'
What" thf lawyer cried spriggipg
to mis- feet il astonishment. Decide
against my client. when every parti-
ale of law and evidence Is in his ia
yor?"
young man." the Squire said, grave.
Iy, Jaw an evidence air all right
enough, but they amt the only things
that cut figger In the decisions o.
lhis yere court Gratitude has right
to have her finger in the pie. Slime
Sparks an' his red OK have done me
many fayors in the past, while Jonas
Hudson has held aloof Consequently
It is my duty to stay by Sing. Il
wGpla By bass ingfaliipde on my part
| II done otherwise. An, besides. 1
don't know how soon | may a,an' in
need o. Sims an his OK again
"De wust ting bout bad weather =
said Uncle Eben, Is Dc man DAT pun
rists In eomia' 'roun' an not lettin yer
ohgit IT,"