Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1877 — The Priest and the Lawyers. [ARTICLE]

The Priest and the Lawyers.

The boys up on the Northwestern were telling us about an old Catholic priest, who lived until quite recently out at Boone, and was, in his way, decidedly and characteristically original. It. seems that on a certain occasion, some ’ or many years ago, we don’t remember which, he became a party, or a witness, in some law suits, and, as is the legal custom, was soundly berated and abused by the learned counsel on the other side, for having the temerity to have anything whatever to do with a case at law of any kind. The result, was that a very bitter feeling grew up between the prelate and the two young young lawyers, and time did not appear to soften this feeling at all. But one day the old man fell very ill. He was very old and his sickness sat so heavily upon him that he feared he would never arise from the bed upon which he had lain down. So when he thought his last-hour was approaching, he sent for these two lawyers, and they obeyed the summons, and came into his presence. With great difficulty he accosted them and begged them to stand one on either side of his bed, and remain there until he passed away. Deeply affected, the two lawyers did as he desired, and when they were standing on each side of him, with solemn faces, one of them, in low, earnest tones, told the old man how glad they were that in his dying hour he should forgive them, andTeerqo bitterness toward them for any innocent or even excessive display of professional zeal. The old priest slowly opened his eyes. “ It is not that,” he said, and the two young men bent eagerly forward to listen. “Itisn’t that,” gasped the old priest. “It isn’t that. But I feel that lam a dying man. And I want to die like my dear Master.” - - The words came slowly and very painfully, and the young barristers held their breath while they leaned forward to catch the next sentence. The old man turned his eyes upon them: “ Between—two —thieves.” Two crestfallen young men tiptoed silently toward the chamber door. Two blank-looking faces stared at each other out on the sidewalk, and two rising young barristers'didn’t Know whether to laugh or get angry. But the old priest did not die. There was enough good humor in his old heart to conquer a dozen diseases, and send even Death away smiling, and we believe the old man is still alive and living in Fort Madison.— Burlington Hawk-Eye. In Southern California men outnumber the women ten to one. Women servants there get forty dollars a month.