" Bacon replied with a "Humph" of contentment and
satisfaction, and the matter subsided. As I was walking home
from the court-house with Mr. Bacon afterward I expressed
my regret at the occurrence and told him that General Devens
had the greatest respect for him. Mr. Bacon replied: "He
had no business to say it. Aldrich told me to tell him he
had not read the 'Revised Statutes.' But I would not say such
a thing as that, sir, about any man."
But Brother Bacon had the kindliest of hearts. It was impossible
for him to bear malice or retain resentment against anybody.
When I was a youngster I was once in a case where Bacon was
on the other side. Charles Allen was my associate. It was
a case which excited great public feeling. There were throngs
of witnesses. It was tried in the middle of the terrific
heats of one of the hottest summers ever known in Worcester.
Allen, who had a power of stinging sarcasm which he much delighted
to use, kept Bacon nervous and angry through the whole trial.
At last, one afternoon, Bacon lost his patience. When the
Court adjourned, he stood up on a little flight of steps on
the outside of the Court-house and addressed the crowd, who
were going out.
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