The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03


 Mir Pickwick swore that he would com menee action against Captain Boldwig at once; but when MT. Wardlea made a sy reference to cold punch. he burst out laughing and they all stopped at the first roadside tavern to keep up theirs good humor.
 Even Mr. Pickwiclz's ever springing good hulnor, however. was shaken rudely one day when to Dingley Dell there came q letter from the attorneys firm of Dod- son x Fogg to inform him that Mrs. Bardell. his London landlady, had brought suit against him in the sum of 9l5o0 for breach of promise.
 In the first blaze of his righteous anger he prepared to start instantly for Lon don, to punch the heads of the two at- torneys; but gradually there came to him the depressing recollection of an uncom- fortable scene. When he engaged Sam Weller as his servant, MT. PickwlclS was q little dubious as to how Mrs. Bar dell might view this competitor, and he tried to convey the information delicate ly. Unfortunately, he was so extremely delicate about 1t that the optimistic lady mistock his remarks for d declaration of love and hurled herself into his arms. Mir Tupman, Mr. Wrinkle and MT. Snod- grass arrived just Yin time to see their respected chief in an undeniably roman tic position.
 Under the circumstances, he reconsid- cred his determination about punching Dodson & Fogg's heads, but he remained determined not to compromise, and he did give himself the satisfaction of tell ing them that they were rascals and swindlers, two great truthS which moved them merely to call witnesses and invite bim to assault them in addition. There is little doubt that he would have acted on the invitation if Sam Weller had not dragged him away forcibly and recalled him to his better mind, which was, first, to drown the unsavory memory of the lawyers firm in some warm water and brandy, and, secondly, to consult his own attorney, MT. Perker.
 MT. Perker retained as pleader in court that famous barrister, Serjeant Snubbn, concerning whom he uttered tu6 great pidlSt ludl ilit pIOltSSiJii generally admitted that he led the court by the nose. Dodson and Fogg re- tained that other great pleader, Ser jeant Buzfuz, who was particularly eel ebrated for his talent for effect.
 He justified this fame on the morning of trial, for Mrs Bardell and two fe- male friends were ushered into the court room weeping, and Mrs. Bardell, in hysterical imbecility, was heard to ask, In broken tones bu. perfectly audi be to the jury, where she was. There upon, Serjeant Buzfuz rubbed his own eyes very hard with a very large hand kerchief and looked pathetically at the little fat judge.
 In soft and melancholy voice Ser jeant Buzfuz told the jury that the plaintiff was widow, whose husband, after enjoying for many years the es- teem and regard of his sovereign as one of the guardians of his royal rev. enues, glided imperceptibly from the world to seek elsewhere for that re- pose and peace which custom house can never afford.
 The jury was impressed visibly by this beautiful picture, which was much more poetical than would have been the mere bald statement that MT. Bar dell had been knocked on the head with quart pot in public house eel lar.
 Tue case went against MT. Picllwick from that moment. When Sarjeant Buz- fuz reached the point where the be- reaved lady had put out the sign: Apartments furnished for a single gen. tleman," some of the jurymen took notes of this touching inscription and were observed to look, sterniy at the defendant.
 Although Mrs. Bardel had no docu- mentary evidence, the serjeant did very well with a note that Mir. Pickwicll once had written to her ordering chops and tomato sauce for dinner. This letter, he told the jury with trembling voice, too well portrayed the character of the man. It was no open, fervent, eloquent