As the summer passed over, and the first and second call for
volunteers had been met, and more than met, by the patriotic men of
the State (how we blessed them!) we began to take courage, and to
feel, that if our new civil position brought us no very tangible
enjoyment, at least it imposed upon us no very irksome duties.
The first practical effect of the new law came to light at the
August term of our County Court. The names of seven women appeared
on the list of jurors, but only three of them answered to their
names. One, the wife of a poor farmer, was excused by the Judge,
as there was no one to look after six small children in her
absence; another was a tailoress, with a quantity of work on hand,
some of which she proposed bringing with her into Court, in order
to save time; but as this could not be allowed, she made so much
trouble that she was also finally let off. Only one, therefore,
remained to serve; fortunately for the credit of our sex, she was
both able and willing to do so; and we afterward made a
subscription, and presented her with a silver fish-knife, on
account of her having tired out eleven jurymen, and brought in a
verdict of $5,000 damages against a young man whom she convicted of
seduction.
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