Returning to Somerville, Mass., the long journey ended, he found the editorial chair of the “Boston Traveller” awaiting him.  He plunged into work with his characteristic energy.  The law, journalism, writing, lecturing, all claimed his attention.  It is almost incredible how much he crowded into a day.  Five o’clock in the morning found him at work, and midnight struck before he laid aside pen or book.  Yet with all this rush of business, he did not forget those resolves he had made to lend a helping hand wherever he could to those needing it.  And his own bitter experiences in the hard school of poverty taught him how sorely at times help is needed.  He made his work for others as much a part of his daily life as his work for himself.  It was an integral part of it.  Watching him work, one could hardly have distinguished when he was occupied with his own affairs, when with those of the poor.  He did not separate the two, label one “charity” and attend to it in spare moments.  One was as important to him as the other.  He kept his law office open at night for those who could not come during the day and gave counsel and legal advice free to the poor.  Often of an evening he had as many as a half hundred of these clients, too poor to pay for legal aid, yet sadly needing help to right their wrongs.  So desirous was he of reaching and assisting those suffering from injustice, yet without money to pay for the help they needed, that he inserted the following notice in the Boston papers: 

“Any deserving poor person wishing legal advice or assistance will be given the same free of charge any evening except Sunday, at No. 10 Rialto Building, Devonshire Street.  None of these cases will be taken into the courts for pay.”

These cases he prepared as attentively and took into court with as eager determination to win, as those for which he received large fees.  Of course such a proceeding laid him open to much envious criticism.  Lawyers who had no such humanitarian view of life, no such earnest, sincere desire to lighten the load of poverty resting so heavily on the shoulders of many, said it was unprofessional, sensational, a “bid for popularity.”  Those whom he helped knew these insinuations to be untrue.  His sympathy was too sincere, the assistance too gladly given.  But misunderstood or not, he persevered.  The wrongs of many an ignorant working man suffering through the greed of those over him, were righted.  Those who robbed the poor under various guises were made to feel the hand of the law.  And for none of these cases did he ever take a cent of pay.

Another class of clients who brought him much work but no profit were the widows and orphans of soldiers seeking aid to get pensions.  To such he never turned a deaf ear, no matter the multitude of duties that pressed.  He charged no fee, even when to win the case, he was compelled to go to Washington.  Nor would he give it up, no matter what work it entailed until the final verdict was given.  His partners say he never lost a pension case, nor ever made a cent by one.