Now, it so happened that a certain Poor Man decided to go to Law. And when they became aware of this his Friends gathered around him and gave him Good Advice, beseeching him to secure the services of a Prominent Practitioner. The Poor Man hesitated for a space, then, after counting his Scanty Savings, he went out and engaged the Prominent Practitioner. But, although the Poor Man was compelled to do piecework on his own Job, the Prominent Practitioner insisted upon being paid by the Hour.

The Case was in full swing, and the Poor Man was sitting in the body of the Court with a Stop Watch. The Prominent Practitioner, in a leisurely Manner, befitting his Rank, arose to examine a Witness for the Other Side. First he adjusted his Eyeglasses. "Five bob," muttered the Poor Man, with his eyes on the Stop Watch. Then the Prominent Practitioner consulted various books of Law. "Another Ten bob," whsipered the Poor Man, with a stifled Sigh. The Prominent Practitioner gazed long and loviongly at his brief. "Ten bob more," sighed the Client. The Practitioner cleared his throat. "A bob," muttered the man with the Stop Watch. The Prominent Practitioner was about to question the witness when suddenly Something occurred to him and he beckoned to one of his Clerks. The two conversed for a Considerable Period. "Three quid," wailed the Man with Stop Watch. The Prominent Practitioner turned to speak to the Opposing Counsel, while the Poor Man began hastily to cast up a long column of figures.

For the second time the Prominent Practitioner turned to the Waiting Witness. Again he cleared his throat. "Me last shillin'," moaned the Unhappy Client. The Prominent Practitioner was about to speak, and the bench had become almost Wide Awake, when a noise was heard in the Body of the Court. The Bench let its Severe Expression off the chain, but the Poor Man was desparate. "I ask your pardon, your Honor," he said, "but might I ask that this Case be adjourned till I go out and pawn my Stop Watch?" "I commit you, Sir, for Contempt of Court," replied the Bench. "You shall go to Gaol for Fourteen Days." "You Honor," said the Prominent Practitioner, "I beg to withdraw from this Case. I have been led to take it up under False Pretences."

After fourteen days the Poor Man came out of Gaol, and his Friends, who had given him Good Advice, jeered at him and said, "You have lost your case, and you have lost your Scanty Savings. You are a Perfect Fool." But the Poor Man said, "No, not quite: I've still got my Stop Watch." Moral: Be thankful for Small Blessings.

"C. James"
The Gadfly, 23 May 1906, p22