able debater, he had made quite an impression on the country during
his first term in Congress; neither he nor his friends had any doubt
as to his early success, provided he was able to keep himself free
from the thraldom of old habits.

A few old friends and political associates made up a purse to enable
him to remove to the city with his family. An office was taken and
three rooms rented in a small house, where, with his wife and two
children, one daughter in her fourteenth year, life was started
anew. There was no room for a servant in this small establishment
even if he had been able to pay the hire of one.

So the new beginning was made. A man of Mr. Ridley's talents and
reputation could not long remain unemployed. In the very first week
he had a client and a retaining fee of twenty-five dollars. The case
was an important one, involving some nice questions of mercantile
law. It came up for argument in the course of a few weeks, and gave
the opportunity he wanted. His management of the case was so
superior to that of the opposing counsel, and his citations of law
and precedent so cumulative and explicit, that he gained not only an
easy victory, but made for himself a very favorable impression.

After that business began gradually to flow in upon him, and he was
able to gather in sufficient to keep his family, though for some
time only in a very humble way. Having no old acquaintances in the
city, Mr. Ridley was comparatively free from temptation. He was
promptly at his office in the morning, never leaving it, except to
go into court or some of the public offices on business, until the
hour arrived for returning home.