ds, as
they left the bar apparently with perfect indifference.

An unfortunate man was next brought forward, and accused of having
stolen from an auction room a couple of wine glasses. He was of
respectable demeanor, and evidently had seen better days. When asked
what he had to allege in his defence, the victim of misery preluding
his story with a torrent of tears, told the following piteous tale of
distress:

He had been in business, and sustained an unimpeachable integrity of
character for many years. Independence seemed within his reach, when
misfortune, equally unforeseen as inevitable, at all points assailed
him! In the course of one disastrous year, death deprived him of his
family, and adversity of his property. He had unsuccessfully speculated,
and the insolvency of several who were considerably indebted to him, had
completed his ruin! At the time he committed the act for which he stood
convicted at that bar, he had not tasted food for three days, neither
had he in the world a friend or relative to whom he could apply for
relief. The Jury found him Guilty, but strongly recommended him to
mercy. The Judge humanely observed, that the least possible punishment
should be inflicted on the prisoner. He was then sentenced to a fine
of one shilling, and to be discharged. A sum of money, the spontaneous
bounty of the spectators, was immediately collected for him, while one
of the Jury promised him employment, on his calling at his house on
the following day. The gratitude of the poor man was inexpressible:
the sudden transition from the abyss of despair to the zenith of hope,
seemed to overwhelm his faculties. He ejaculated a blessing on his
benefactors, and departed.

~179~~ Dashall and his friend were much affected by this incident.
Another, however, presently occurred, of a more lively description.
In the course of the next trial, the counsellor, on cross-examining
a witness, found occasion to address him with, "Well, my old buck,
I suppose you are one of those people who do not often go to
church?"--"Perhaps," said the other, "if the truth were known, I am as
often there as you are." The promptness of the reply produced a laugh,
in which the witness very cordially joined. "What makes you laugh?" said
the lawyer. "Is not every body laughing?" replied the other. "True,"
said the man of law; "but do you know what they are laughing at?"--"Why,
I think in my heart," rejoined the fellow, "that they take either me or
yo