SCARED HIM

New Zealand Tablet, 18 October 1906, Page 37

SCARED HIM

A -excellent but loud-voiced member of the Bar was addressing a jury. Finally, iri^ ricane of sound, he closed his argument:! at*d :. sat down. The jury was impressed, and the other side" was in danger. 'The barrister opposite \ had ■< a sad, watery eye and a hatchet-like rf ace. ' He/ f sat patiently through the tumultuous 'gusts of' his friend and Matter the reverberations of the closing crash <b;e .rose quietly from his seat. 'As I -listened to the ttijmdeiousiappeals of my learned friend,' he said, addressing • the jury, in a drawling tone, ' I recalled an old fable. You will remember, gentlemen,:; how. the lion and the ass agreed to slay the-»beasts 'of the field and divide the spoil.. The ass was-^ go;, into the thicket and bray and frighten the animals out, .while the lion^was to lie in wait and kill the • fugitives -as/ fast as vthey appeared. The ass sought the darkest Dart of the jungle ami lifting up his awful voice brayed and brayed! The ass was quite intoxicated with his - \uproar, an-d thought he'd turn and see what "the -"lion thought of it. With a light heart he • wentback and found the lion looking doubtfully about him. " Wli*te«do you think of that ? " said the exultant ass. " Don't you think I scared 'em ? " " Scared 'em ? " repeated the lion in an agitated tone. " Why; you'd a' scared me if I didn't know you were a jackass." ' "The jury laughed, -tbe~effect of the -lawyer's 'sonorous eloquence was visibly weakened, and he lost the case*.