The judge has
listened to his remarks, objections, and disclaimers, with marked
attention; nevertheless, he is compelled to overrule them, and order
the case to proceed. Upon this it is agreed among the
attorneys-happy fellows, always ready to agree or disagree-that a
decision taken upon one fi fa shall be held as establishing a
decision for all the cases at issue.
The children are now brought into Court, and seated near one of the
attorneys. Marston stands, almost motionless, a few steps back,
gazing upon them as intently and solicitously as if the issue were
life or death. Deacon Rosebrook, his good lady, and Franconia, have
been summoned as witnesses, and sit by the side of each other on a
bench within the bar. We hear a voice here and there among the crowd
of spectators expressing sympathy for the children; others say they
are only "niggers," and can't be aught else, if it be proved that
Marston bought the mother. And there is Mr. Scranton! He is well
seated among the gentlemen of the legal profession, for whom he has
a strong fellow feeling. He sits, unmoved, in his wonted moodiness;
now and then he gives the children a sly look of commiseration, as
if the screws of his feelings were unloosing. They-the little
property-look so interesting, so innocent, so worthy of being
something more than merchandise in a land of liberty, that Mr.
Scranton's heart has become irresistibly softened. It gets a few
degrees above Mr. Scranton's constitutional scruples.
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