Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

“That would be a great thing to do for so little, don't you think so?”

“Well,” said she, “they ought to pay me, and I will have my pay.”

“Well,” I said, “you come back here in the course of an hour, and I will see what I can do for you.”

Meanwhile the boy had returned with information of the amount that was due her, and that they would reserve it for me. Then, when my black-eyed friend came in, I said: “Well, I have got your money and made a receipt for it, and here it is.”

She said: “I knew you would if you would attach the great wheel. How much am I to pay you?”

“Oh,” I said, “nothing. I will look for my pay to the other side. You can go to Vermont to-morrow morning, if you wish to.”

She did go, and frequently told the story that I did attach the great wheel, which was a thing that could not be done by any legal legerdemain whatever, because the great wheel is a part of the real estate, and real estate can only be attached in Massachusetts by filing a paper in the county clerk's office. But the story has been going the rounds ever since.

I purposely omit all professional matters at present pending or lately decided, because I think it my duty not to use this means of dealing with professional subjects to the annoyance of living men or to the prejudice of matters now in the course of decision. It will be time enough to deal with such subjects when they are in a condition to be a matter of history.

Decorative Motif.