Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-05-30
STUDYING LAW.


STUDYING LAW.
l felt satisfied with the past, and no
particular hopes or apprehensions for
the future. | thought | was on the
dividing line between this world and the
next, must continue to exist in one or
the other, was willing to take either,
and felt no choice which. In short, dur
ing that four months of severe sickness
| enjoyed more peace and contentment
of mind, more perfect from all care and
trouble, except occasional bodily pain,
and more negative happiness than dur
ing any other similar period of my lie.
That such should have been the state
of my mind under such peculiar and
trying circumstances has ever been to
me the subject of curiosity, wonder and
amazement | can account for it upon
no principle of philosophy or human
nature, and now make this private
record of the same for the purpose of
seeing if future experience and observa-
ton shall solve the mystery.
Upon regainng my strength in the
month of October so far as to be able
to walk paid off all my bills occa-
stoned by my sickness or otherwise and
found | had about $40 left. | then be-
came reckless and adventurous, and
determined to leave the place. Ac
cordingly took passage on canalboat
for Portsmouth on the Ohio River
thence on a steamboat to Cincinnati
thence to Louisville, thence to St
Louis, Mo-, remaining in each place a
few days, without any particular OBJ
ject in view, and ready to embark in
any adventure adapted to my taste and
feeling which should present itself
At St Louis soon found that my
small pittance of money was about eX-
hausted, and that | must Immediately
engage in some employment there, or
go to some place not far distant where
| could do so. My first effort was to
obtain a situation in some law Office in
the city, where could write and per-
form office labor, sufficient to pay my
expenses, and, during the rest of the
time, pursue my law studies.
Here a difficulty presented itself
which had not foreseen and guarded
against. | was more than a thousand
miles from home or from any person l
knew or who knew me, and had no
letters of introduction.
Perceiving this difficulty, felt great
delicacy in offering my services. Stern
and impending necessity staring me in
the face, | resolved at all hazards to
make the effort. | first called on Mr..
Bates, subsequently Attorney Gener-
al, introduced myself, and told him my
business and situation.
He received and treated me kindly
and politely, and informed me that he
had nothing for me to do, but would be
happy to see me at his office, &C., for
all which rendered him my grateful
acknowledgment and retired. After
making a similar effort with like sue
cess with Mr.. Spaulding, ! paid my
tavern bill, and left the city, going to
Jacksonville.
At Jacksonville | formed a few ac-
quaintances and attempted to get into
business of some kind, say teaching
school, clerking, &c, but without sue
cess. When | arrived at Jacksonville
had left S125 in money, and finding
that would not pay my board more than
one day at the tavern, l sold a few
school books had with me for a few
dollars, and took up my lodgings at a
private house, Mr.. HesHp's, whose
family have known and esteemed ever
since.
One of my first acquaintance at
Jacksonville was Murray Mcconnell, a
lawyer of some reputation, who advised
me to go to Pekin on the Illinois River
and open law office. | informed him
that had never practiced law, had not
yet procured my license, nor had | any
library. He informed me that he would
furnish me with few books, such as
| would stand in most need of imme-
diately, and wait for the pay until
was able to pay him, and did so to the
amount of $50 worth, which | received
and subsequently paid him for.
He told me that license was a