A gruelling cross-examination left Rastus unshaken in this story:  The night was dark, and he had waved his lantern frantically, but the driver of the carriage paid no attention to it.

Later, the division superintendent called the flagman to his office to compliment him on the steadfastness with which he stuck to his story.

“You did wonderfully, Rastus,” he said.  “I was afraid at first you might waver in your testimony.”

“Nossir, nossir,” Rastus exclaimed, “but I done feared ev’ry minute that ’ere durn lawyer was gwine ter ask me if mah lantern was lit.”—­Puck.

During a suit to recover damages following an automobile collision in the Adirondacks, the complainant’s attorney, a city lawyer, constantly hectored the defendant’s principal witness, a rough old guide, but was unable to shake his testimony.

During cross-examination the guide mentioned “havin’ come across the trail of a Ford.”  The city lawyer jumped at this chance to discredit the guide’s evidence.

“Do you mean to tell this court,” he demanded, “that you can determine the make of a car by studying its track?  How did you know it was a Ford?”

“Well, sir,” drawled the guide, “I followed its trail about a hundred yards and found a Ford at the end of it.”

The magistrate looked severely at the small, red-faced man who had been summoned before him, and who returned his gaze without flinching.

“So you kicked your landlord downstairs?” queried the magistrate.  “Did you imagine that was within the right of a tenant?”

“I’ll bring my lease in and show it to you,” said the little man, growing redder, “and I’ll wager you’ll agree with me that anything they’ve forgotten to prohibit in that lease I had a right to do the very first chance I got.”

“As a matter of fact,” said the lawyer for the defendant, trying to be sarcastic, “you were scared half to death, and don’t know whether it was a motor-car or something resembling a motor-car that hit you.”

“It resembled one all right,” the plaintiff made answer.  “I was forcibly struck by the resemblance.”

A religious worker was visiting a Southern penitentiary, when one prisoner in some way took his fancy.  This prisoner was a negro, who evinced a religious fervour as deep as it was gratifying to the caller.

“Of what were you accused?” the prisoner was asked.

“Dey says I took a watch,” answered the negro.  “I made a good fight.  I had a dandy lawyer, an’ he done prove an alibi wif ten witnesses.  Den my lawyer he shore made a strong speech to de jury.  But it wa’n’t no use, sah; I gets ten years.”

“I don’t see why you were not acquitted,” said the religious worker.

“Well, sah,” explained the prisoner, “dere was shore one weak spot ’bout my defence—­dey found de watch in my pocket.”

Some time ago an elderly gentleman walking along the street saw a little girl crying bitterly.  Instantly his heart softened and he stopped to soothe her.