We were present in A.D. 1848, when these two friends met and recited many of the interesting and humorous events that occurred in their early practice.  In those days, they often had for a veteran client a man who then resided in West Boscawen, now Webster, by the name of Corser.  He was represented as one who loved the law, not for its pecuniary profits, but for its exciting, stimulating effects.  It was said of him, that at the end of a term of the Court, once held at Hopkinton, he was found near the Court House by a friend, shedding tears.  The friend inquired the cause of his great sorrow.  His answer was, “I have no longer a case in court.” The same Corser had been a Revolutionary soldier, and belonged to the army when discharged by Washington at Newburg, at the termination of the war.  He had but little money to bear his expenses home.  When he reached Springfield, Massachusetts, his money was exhausted, and he was obliged to resort to his talent at begging.  Accordingly he called at a farm house, and requested the good loyal lady of the establishment to give him a pie, adding at the same time, that he wanted another for his Brother Jonathan.  The lady well supposing that his Brother Jonathan was then his companion in arms, and in the street suffering with hunger, readily granted his request, when in truth and in fact Jonathan was then at home cultivating his farm in Boscawen.

Brother Jonathan, upon learning the conduct of his brother, rebuked him for useing his name, instead of his own, thereby deceiving the good woman.  In justification of his conduct, the brother answered, “My hunger was great.  I contrived to satisfy it.  The kind woman had my thanks; you was not injured.  At most, by strict morals, I committed only a pious fraud in getting two pies, instead of one.”  Mr. Webster remarked, that he was once present when this case was stated, and argued by the two brothers, and was much interested in the discussion of the celebrated pie case.

* * * * *

THE DARK DAY.

BY ELBIDGE H. GOSS.

The Spragues of Melrose, formerly North Malden, were one of the old families.  They descended from Ralph Sprague, who settled in Charlestown in 1629.  The first one, who came to Melrose about the year 1700, was named Phineas.  His grandson, also named Phineas, served during the Revolutionary War, and a number of interesting anecdotes are told about him.  He was a slaveholder, and Artemas Barrett, Esq., a native of Melrose, owns an original bill of sale of “a negro woman named Pidge, with one negro boy;” also other documents, among which is Mr. Sprague’s diary, wherein he gives the following account of the wonderfully dark day in 1780, a good reminder of which we experienced September 6, 1881, a century later: 

     FRIDA May the 19th 1780.