Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-01-12
BARZILLA BUNKER AND THE
THIEF

member Of the Society Of Friends, rs.
siding near New Concord 10 the back
settlements Of New jersey. He was
OF wonderful slald demeaOor, and Of
such IntlsxibIs features, hat you might
have doubted II he could smile -assur.
edly laugh was beyond the power Of
his muscles, yet BarzlIla had a spice Of
bumor in his composition, and 10 a quiet
way enjoyed a joke as much as aOy
man.
BarzilIa was farmer, and had a
small location a short distance from The
settlement OF New Concord. twas IN
January, or as Friends call II. First
Month, and near BarziIa's abode lived
one Jones Famllyman, a lazy good for
nothing fellow, who had taken a small
tract OF land, which he managed as the
sluggard must have managed bis gar
den. IN the days Of good King Solomon 1
Ins cattle OF Jones, as may Be imagined
were not over we'll supplied with win
Ter fodder; and, as he was TOO mprovi
dent 10 have the wherewilha 10 barter,
and money was out Of the question, a(-
ter the wolves had dsvoured his three
sheep, there seemed no other way TO
him oI keeping lie in the bodies OF his
three cows, than by making free with
the rich hay stack of his fourishing
neighbor, Barzila Bunker. BarziIa,
who would have missed9a straw, hsdliI
been Ia ken, soon saw that other Than
his own people cut the rick nigh, ssfer
night But BarzlIIa, if he was quicker
sighted than most men, was also less
communicative, and not aOnei word. did
b say OF his suspicion.
All this time, however, ihe was think
ing TO hlmsefwhat 10 DO. and according,
ly having made up his mind on Sixth
day,!or as it is commonly called, Friday
night, he look dark ,lanlern in h is hand
and seated himself under one OF b,s
rlcks Here he had not long been STA
toned, before he perceived his neigh
Dor Jones quietly steal up, seat himself
n partly cut rick, aud apply'th e'cut
ling kniIe with ten fold the agility he
used it, on'elther ordinary
or extraordinary ccasioDs BsrziIls
vas glad 10 see his neIghbor had the
prop er use Of his ar ms, and could make
hem'movs when it suited his purpose.
In short time: Jones had reIe a,ed a
handsome truss from the slack and
having put it upon his shoulder, oui etlv
and securely, as he thought, marched off
with bis PIunder, little thinking. poor
man, that BarziIIa, was tracking his
heels all the time. A merry thought
meanwhile, wasiln Bar zIIa's head, and
he advanced upon him until they came
o lonesome piece of unreclaimed
swamp, which Jones had TO pass. Bar.
ziIla was concealed from slghl BY the
burden which poor Jones carried, ard
just as they we're al the entrance n( the
.rozen swamp, he took the candle from
The lantern, and set fire TO the hsy on
Either SIDE and then exuinguished his
light, slipped aside 10 see what wou d
come Of ii,
On Jones went few PAGES. uncon-
'clous CT the growing cOuhagrarlon at his
1ack, ill il suddenly burst forth into q
''eze, and seemed to eUveIop him in
ire. Down in moment went the bIa-
zlng mass, and Ihe poor thief stood re-
'eaIed by tho clear flame through the
darkness. Ia agony of sudden horror,
his hands were extended wildly forward,
his hair lifted his fragment OF hat from
MS head; and then, after q cry between
scream and a groan, he dsred for
ward like maniac, not daring TO look
behind, ill he was losi 10 the b ackness
of the night
After Witnessing this spectacle, Bar
zllIa wentqueIly home to his bed The
place was so lonesome. and Inhabitants
50 few, that there was no possibility of
the circumstance having been witnessed
and he said not a word to any OF his
household about what he had done, or
what he bad discovered.
The next morning, poor Jones, pale,
and with bis melancholy figure looking
yet more wo begone, came 10 the house
Of BarzilIa.
"Ob!" be exclaimed, when he found
himself alone 10 his comfortable parlor
u have been wicked thief; good Mr..
Bunker, forgive mel and saying that
he fell upon his knees before him
'What is II thou hast done, friendi
what is it thou WouIdst have ofmei' as
ked Bsrzllla with great serenity.
oh. worthy, good Mr. Bunker cried
Jones, rbe vengeance Of The Almighty