Year: 1871

| splendid and successful effort. He is %
young lawyer belonging to the Buffalo bar,
a graduate of Union College, and was for
some time a student in the office of Alonzo
G. Paige, Esq. of Scenectady. He was
admitted to the bar, we believe, in the
class of October, 1880. He undertook tho
defence of Ames, prompted alone by the
sympathy which he felt for the young man,
whom he-believed to be innocent" Many
of the jurors were present when he made
his generous offer to defend the prisoner,
and they were conscious he acted from SYM.
pathy and generosity. They therefore be-
lieved him sincere and honest in his efforts
for his client. Those who knew Mr.. Barker
can well understand the character and
nature Of his address, and its effect upon tho
jury.


Mr.. Livingstone's reply was all that
could be expected from a lawyer so dstin-
gushed but the defense of his opponent
took him by surprise; and he saw that it
had made a deep impression upon the ju-
rors. After very able charge from tho
judge they retired. After an absence Of
one hour they returned into court with o
verdict of not guilty. The great, the rich
reward of Barker was the almost frantic
joy with which the verdict was received by
the mother and boy.


The God of the widow and the orphan
has sent you to us, sir, in our distress, and
his blessing will descend upon you through
all your days. We have no money to re-
ward you with, but my prayers, my bles-
sings shall follow you. have seen better
days, but now can only thank you from
my heart of hearts," said Mrs. Ames, as
she was taking leave of her sons defender.


"Some time shall reward you, Mr. Bar
ker, for what you have done for me. You
have given me liberty, life, reputation, every
thing. 1t will be the happiest day of my life
when can do something more than thank
you, said young Ames, and tle gittering
drops which stood in his eyes cvinced tho
depth of his gratitude and thus he took
his leave of his benefactor.


Years passed away, and this event was
nearly forgotten by Barker, in the vicissi-
tudes of his professional and political life.
One morning, in the winter of 1880, while
representing the county of Erie in the Leg
islature of the State, well dressed, gentle
manly appearing young man called at his
room in Albany.


"Do you remember me, Mr.. Barker P''
said he


81 do not.'


"My name is Ames-George Ames,
whom you once defended against a serious
charge in this city,"


Another glance at his visitor convinced
Mr.. Barker that the prisoner whom he vol.
unteered to defend for burglary was before
him, "I am delighted to see you, Ames,"
said he extending his hand to him. "How
is your mother? trust she is well and
happy"


"She is sir, and has not forgotten your
kindness and generosity me. Learning
that you were in the city this winter, have
taken this opportunity to call upon you.
know you are engrossed with business, but
l will not detain you long" said the young
man. In few words he informed Barker
that by the death of an uncle his mother
had inherited considerable property, that
he himself through her assistance and his
own industry had become well to do farm
er. AS he was about to take his leave, he
said


"Here is q small package which my
mother, my wife, and myself have made
up for you it is slight token of our graf
itude to you. Do not open it until am
gone. / trust it win convince you that my
words to you, spoken when you restored
me to liberty, have not been forgotten by
me-"


He took his leave, and Barker opened
the package to his surprise he found that
it contained bank notes to tho amount of
two hundred and fifty dollars. Ames and
his defender have both passed beyond the
trials Of earth; but son Of tho former
still survives, who treasures the name of
George p. Barker with sort Of poetic rev.
erence.


The trial which has been described, re-
suited in a lifelong friendship between
Livingstone and Barker In after years,
circumstances frequently brought them to-
gether, often they met at the bar, but new
er again under circumstances so interesting
as those which characterized their first
meeting.


fTg- Why are books your best friendaq