The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-26
By J. w. MULLER.


 I tiated) was taken up The individual who came forward was one Uriah Heep, a | lawyer of Canterbury, who had met MT. Mieawber before. and who was struck just at that time with the idea that the habitual victim of unfortunate circum- stances might be willing, under the pres sure of pecuniary obligations. to do cer- tain things for him that person of free | will might scorn. MT. Micawber was far from suspecting the motive.
 | He assumed a suit of legal black for his hours of professional labor, and work ed with immense industry, though he soon had to deplore that to a man possessed of the higher imaginative powers. legal studies involve an objectionable amount of detail and In professional correspond- ence the mind was not allowed to soar to any exalted form of expression.
 Gradually his manner became strange ly constrained toward David Copperfeld It was an uneasy change that sat tight iy on him as if his new duties were a misfit. Copperfield thought that he per ceived the reason for this when Mir Mcawber said one day: My dear Cop perfield, a man who labors under the pressure of pecuniary embarrassment is with the majority of people, at a dis advantage. That disadvantage Is not diminished when that pressure necessi- tates tho drawing of stipendiary ernolu- ments before those stipendiary emolu ments are strictly due and payable. All l can say is that my friend Heep has responded to appeals to which I need rot more particularly refer, in a man. ner calculated to rebound equally to the honor of his head and of his heart"
 Copperfield said no more. He loathed Uriah Heep. who had wormed himself into partnership with MT. wickfield, the old friend and lawyer of David's aunt Betsy Trotwood, and the father of Agnes Wickfield, whom David viewed with worship like dear sister. Both his aunt and he were looking on with con cern, beholding MT. Wickfield falling nore and more into the power of the servile. fawning creature whose every expression had the quality of being odious.
 Copperfeld had little time just then to devote to his friends, the Micawbers, for he was working might and main to support his aunt and benefactor, whose fortune suddenly had been swept away. As she explained 1t, she had taken it out of MT. wickfelds hands and in- vested it unwisely
 Helplessly they watched the heavy shadows of a great trouble that could only be guessed and suspected, gather over the old lawyer and his daughter Uriah Heep let Copperfield see that he held not only the reputation, but the liberty of MT. Wickfeld in his hands; and under protection of this power he made open pretensions for the hand of Agnes till Copperield longed to catch him by the throat and end him.
 All helplessly he looked on, however, till one day he received letter in MT. Micawber's well known ornamental and flowing hand. After an eloquent intro- ductory passage, during which he all luded to himself as a foundered bark. and in which he stated also that his object in writing was not one of a pe- cuniary nature, he declared that on a certain date he would make important disclosures to Miss Trotwood, Copper field and Traddles.
 MT. Micawber Proves His Worth
 Punctually at the time set, MT, Mi- cawber, not in his legal attire, but garbed once more in a brown surtout and black tights, appeared and begged them to submit themselves for the mo- ment to the direction of one, who how ever unworthy to be regarded in any other light but as Waif and Stray upon the shore of human nature, still was fellowman. though crushed out of form by individual errors and the accumulative force of a combination of circumstances. Having obtained assent, he asked them to give him start of five minutes and then to proceed to the office of Wickfield and Heep
 After he had gone MT. Traddles con- fessed that he and MT. Micawber had been in communication for some time, importance in the disclosure about to come.
 They found MT. Micawber at his desk. pretending to write. The large office ruler was stuck in his waistcoat so that a foot or more of it protruded.
 He arose with every appearance of surprise at the visit and ushered them into room where sat Uriah Heep.
 Almost immediately he drew forth from his pocket a document in the form of large letter, which led the some-