“Will counsel keep us from bein foreclosed?” says I. The judge said the case would be decided on the law and evidence. “Then,” says I, “what do we need of counsel? You have the law, and we will give you the evidence, and if the court please, if our side needs any pleadin, Ile do it myself.” I hadent them words out of my mouth till up jumped Mr. Richer’s lawyer and says: “I ’bject.” The court said that I could not do the pleadin, as I was not a party to the case, nor had I a license to practice before the court. I riz up agin. “Mistur Judge,” says I, “what difference does it make who I am or what I am, so long as I treat the court with respect, and know as much, or nearly as much, about this case as any lawyer we could hire? “If the case, Mistur Judge, is to be decided on the law and evidence, and not on the pleadin, why cant I do what pleadin we need, as well as some lawyer?” I sot down. The judge looked at me a minit over his specks. “Well, Mrs. Gaskins,” says he, “if we allowed anybody and everybody to come into our courts and represent a neighbor or friend, half our lawyers would have nothin to do. The law prohibiting this privilege is made so as to afford our attorneys a livelihood. While it sometimes proves a hardship to litigants, it would be a greater hardship on our lawyers if they dident have sich a law in their favor. However, Mrs. Gaskins, as this is a case of small importance, if the bar is willing I will permit you to say what you desire in behalf of the defendant.” Turnin to the lot of high-toned cattle over the fence from us, says he: “What do you say, gentlemen?” [Illustration: “‘I ’bject.’”] They kind a hemmed and hawed and whispered together, and looked disgusted and disappinted and contemptible, and finally one of them says: “We shant ’bject.” And four or five of em got up and left, lookin like as if they had lost somethin. Well, the judge invited us over into the field. We went in, and I sot down by a table. The lawyer for Mr. Richer got up and stated his case. He said that he would prove that a number of years ago one Jobe Gaskins purchased from the Honorable D. M. J. Richer certain lands and tenements to the value of $3,800; that there has been but $1,700 paid on the amount; that there remains due and unpaid some $2,100, which is secured by mortgage. And he was there to pray for the foreclosure of said mortgage and sale of the premises to satisfy said claim. He sot down. I got up.