But no suggestions could ever have induced Daniel to chuse for him the profession of the Law. The very name of Lawyer was to him a word of evil acceptation. Montaigne has a pleasant story of a little boy who when his mother had lost a lawsuit which he had always heard her speak of as a perpetual cause of trouble, ran up to him in great glee to tell him of the loss as a matter for congratulation and joy; the poor child thought it was like losing a cough, or any other bodily ailment. Daniel entertained the same sort of opinion concerning all legal proceedings. He knew that laws were necessary evils; but he thought they were much greater evils than there was any necessity that they should be; and believing this to be occasioned by those who were engaged in the trade of administering them, he looked upon lawyers as the greatest pests in the country— Because, their end being merely avarice, Winds up their wits to such a nimble strain As helps to blind the Judge, not give him eyes.[1] He had once been in the Courts at Lancaster, having been called upon as witness in a civil suit, and the manner in which he was cross examined there by one of those “young spruce Lawyers,” whom Donne has so happily characterized as being ———“all impudence and tongue” had confirmed him in this prejudice. What he saw of the proceedings that day induced him to agree with Beaumont and Fletcher, that Justice was a Cheese-monger, a mere cheese-monger, Weighed nothing to the world but mites and maggots And a main stink; Law, like a horse-courser, Her rules and precepts hung with gauds and ribbands, And pampered up to cozen him that bought her, When she herself was hackney, lame and founder'd.[2] His was too simple and sincere an understanding to admire in any other sense than that of wondering at them Men of that large profession that can speak To every cause, and things mere contraries, Till they are hoarse again, yet all be law! That with most quick agility can turn And re-return; can make knots and undo them, Give forked counsel, take provoking gold On either hand, and put it up. These men He knew would thrive;—[3] but far was he from wishing that a son of his should thrive by such a perversion of his intellectual powers, and such a corruption of his moral nature. [Footnote 1: LORD BROOKE.] [Footnote 2: WOMAN PLEASED.] [Footnote 3: BEN JONSON.] On the other hand he felt a degree of respect amounting almost to reverence for the healing art, which is connected with so many mysteries of art and nature. And therefore when an opportunity offered of placing his son with a respectable practitioner, who he had every reason for believing would behave toward him with careful and prudent kindness, his entire approbation was given to the youth's own choice. CHAPTER XXVIII. PETER HOPKINS. EFFECTS OF TIME AND CHANGE. DESCRIPTION OF HIS DWELLING-HOUSE.