A celebrated Scottish preacher and pastor was visiting the house of a solicitor who was one of his flock, but had a reputation of indulging in sharp practice. The minister was surprised to meet there two other members of his flock whose relations with the solicitor were not at the time known to be friendly or otherwise. In course of conversation the solicitor, alluding to some disputed point, appealed to the minister: "Doctor, these are members of your flock; may I ask whether you look on them as black or as white sheep?"—"I don't know," answered the minister, "whether they are black or white sheep; but this I know, that if they are long here they are pretty sure to be fleeced."
Apropos of this story is the one of a Scottish countrywoman who applied to a respectable solicitor for advice. After detailing all the circumstances of the case, she was asked if she had stated the facts exactly as they had occurred. "Ou ay, sir," rejoined the applicant; "I thought it best to tell you the plain truth; you can put the lees till't yoursel'."
The Lawyer's Toast
At a dinner of a Scots Law Society, the president called upon an old solicitor present to give as a toast the person whom he considered the best friend of the profession. "Then," said the gentleman very slyly, "I'll give you 'The Man who makes his own will.'"
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE AMERICAN BENCH & BAR
"Going tew law is like skinning a new milch cow for the hide and giving the meat tew the lawyers."