Four Great Americans: Washington, Franklin, Webster, Lincoln - A Book for Young Americans by James Baldwin
page 117 of 176 (66%)
page 117 of 176 (66%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
was admitted to the practice of law in the Court of Common Pleas in
Boston. It was at some time during this same winter that Daniel was offered the position of clerk in the County Court at home. His father, as you will remember, was one of the judges in this court, and he was very much delighted at the thought that his son would be with him. The salary would be about fifteen hundred dollars a year--and that was a great sum to Daniel as well as to his father. The mortgage on the farm could be paid off; Ezekiel could finish his course in college; and life would be made easier for them all. At first Daniel was as highly pleased as his father. But after he had talked with Mr. Gore, he decided not to accept the offered position. "Your prospects as a lawyer," said Mr. Gore, "are good enough to encourage you to go on. Go on, and finish your studies. You are poor enough, but there are greater evils than poverty. Live on no man's favor. Pursue your profession; make yourself useful to your friends and a little formidable to your enemies, and you have nothing to fear." A few days after that, Daniel paid a visit to his father. The judge received him very kindly, but he was greatly disappointed when the young man told him that he had made up his mind not to take the place. With his deep-set, flashing eyes, he looked at his son for a moment as though in anger. Then he said, very slowly: "Well, my son, your mother has always said that you would come to |
|