 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
MRS. PARTINGTON IN COURT.
“I took my knitting-work and went up into the
gallery,” said Mrs. Partington, the day after visiting
one of the city courts; “I went up into the gallery,
and, after I had digested my specs, I looked down
into the room, but I could n't see any courting going on.
An old gentleman seemed to be asking a good many
impertinent questions, — just like some old folks, — and
people were setting round making minuets of the
conversation. I don't see how they made out what was
said, for they all told different stories. How much
easier it would be to get along if they were all made to
tell the same story! What a sight of trouble it would
save the lawyers! The case, as they called it, was
given to the jury, but I could n't see it, and a gentleman
with a long pole was made to swear that he 'd
keep an eye on 'em, and see that they did n't run away
with it. Bimeby in they come agin, and then they said
somebody was guilty of something, who had just said he
was innocent, and did n't know nothing about it no more
than the little baby that never had subsistence. I come
away soon afterwards; but I could n't help thinking how
blessed air!”
This experience is a beautiful exhibit of judicial
life. True enough, Mrs. Partington; how easy might
be the determining of cases, were but one side of the
story told! But, alas for perplexed jurymen! there are
unfortunately two sides, and the brain is racked to judge
between them — Conscience holding the light tremblingly,
lest Honor be compromised, and Mercy pointing with
raised finger to its fountain, as if endeavoring to draw
attention from Justice, who stands, sword in hand, to
urge her claim. “To well and truly try” is the solemn
duty fastened by an oath, and the Commonwealth reposes
in blessed security upon the broad responsibility of twelve
honest men. God save the Commonwealth!
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |