The good old man replied, “We have indeed one lawyer among us, but I have pretty well spoiled his trade. Had I taken only sixpence every time I have been consulted, in order to settle disputes, I should at this time have been a very rich man. In all places there frequently will happen disputes of one kind or other, and principally when the ground of any deceased person is to be parcelled out among his successors.
“On these occasions, they generally come to me for my advice; and if there be children to be married, I soon settle the affair. If there be any ground in dispute, and the parties cannot agree about it, they take me in their little cart, and being on the spot, I have the ground surveyed. I then weigh the good and bad qualities of it in my mind, and endeavour, if I can, to satisfy the different parties.
“When I find the parties are not inclined to agree, the next day I get them all together here, and I always keep a barrel of good ale on the run, such as will soften the most obdurate and flinty heart. I give them a glass or two of it, and in the mean time I tell them, that a lawsuit would cost ten times more than the ground is worth; that if they proceed in it, they will lose a great deal of time as well as money, and ever be enemies to each other. These arguments and a few glasses of ale, never fail to make up the matter, and bring about a perfect reconciliation. It is true, I lose my ale by such a practice, but then I am amply repaid by the reflection of having done good.”
Here the cottager called to his wife, and told her to bring a jug of their ale. Mr. Jackson drank some of it, and confessed that it was admirably calculated to make peace among his neighbours, in the village, especially when administered by so able an hand, who knew how to extract friendship from the very means that often produced strife and disaffection.
By this time the storm was entirely abated, Nature had put off her gloomy aspect, and the returning sun began to enliven every thing. Mr. Jackson took a friendly leave, and promised to see them again in a few days. On his return home, “Who would not (said he to himself) prefer the healthful age of this good cottager, happy in his own esteem and the love of others, to the vanity of those great men, who make no other use of their abundance, than to set examples of luxury and dissipation, who make light of public scorn and hatred, and whom the very grave will not protect from infamy and execration!”
Transcriber's Notes: The inconsistent usage: childrens' v. children's is original. In one case a hyphen has been added in grand-daughter. One comma has been changed to a period. The final closing quotation mark has been added.