Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/864

 In re J. S.

8оз

IN RE J. S. (A Christmas Greeting to a Learned Colleague.) By E. W. A Judge there was—I wish there had been mo,— And unto lawë had he long y-go. Wide was his law, and wide his common sense— For learning could not make that sound head dense. Wide was his taste for men and eke for reading— Old heads and young, old books and new, all leading Unto the wisdom of the perfect man, And all him keeping young as he began, Till you 'gan wonder, all that you were able, How one so young could be so venerable. And, best of all, his charity was kind— In all the world no enemy could find. From Hampshire came he, where they breed great men. Old Chaucer died too soon, alas, or then This had been better writ, though not, I ween, With truer words than you have just now seen.

THE EVOLUTION OF AARON BURR BIRD, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. By JOHN JORDAN DOUGLASS. HE was a red-headed, freckle-faced little stray tom-cat in a swift streak of yellow ter ror, "jist look how he likes ter git er critter fellow of thirteen, with an inquisitive nose, and eyes bright as new-minted pen up er tree. That's er lawyer up 'n down—I mean down 'n up—allus er gittin' er poor nies. He lived on his father's farm near the divil in trouble up er tree. Whar, ef he cums drowsy village of Breakerton, spending his time principally in instigating sparring down, he gits the hide tore off 'n him; er ef he jumps out he breaks his neck; er ef he matches between turkey-cocks and game stays up thar he'll starve. Thet boy's er born roosters, with occasional persecution of a lawyer, I sez, an' when thet sort uv er hu bob-tailed cur clog by way of refreshment. mor's (an' I declare ter grashus them law The neighbors at first agreed that the boy would develop into a prize-fighter, but a yers does sometimes tickle er body half ter death) in the blood you caint fairly git it out." shrewd J. P., who had spent many years of his judicial life in watching the wily ways of Aaron Burr turned his attention from the tom-cat a moment to gaze quizically into the the country lawyers, declared that Aaron Burr Bird had in him the mettle and making visitor's face, and as he did so the cat slid down the tree. Aaron Burr, however, had of a lawyer. caught a glimpse of him out of the tail of his "Jist look at thet thar boy," the J. P. ob served to the elder Bird one morning as eye, and wheeling suddenly, gave him a re Aaron Burr Bird triumphantly paused at the sounding slap with a shingle. foot of a cherry tree, up which he had sent a "See thet!" chuckled the J. P., "you cain't