The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-08
miscellaneous.
IRE BAG or WHEAT.

ny of ladies who were assembled around
quilt, each busiy plying her needle.
81 should hope not" said Mrs Gray, 81
have never heard of a theft being committed
in this ncighborhood, and we are all excess
sively careless, leaving our doors unfastened
day and night and our wash out for days to-
gether, and never once dreaming that any
ching could be stolen"
"That's true," replied Mrs. Green. "We
have never had lock or bolt upon our door;
but It becomes us to be little cautious now"
NWhat has happened, Mrs. Green? inquir-
ed Mrs Lacey, think you should tell us
what you mean"
"Well them" said Mrs. Green, though they
talk of keeping quiet as the surest method of
detecting the thief, see no harm in telling
it for there can be no doubt us to who the
wretch isl
"You must know that Mr. Frost put up six
bags full of wheat, to take to- the mill, last
Saturday morning, but something prevented
his going; and when he went to the barn yes
terday TO take il away, one bag was missing.
SO you see il must have been stolen between
Saturday and yesterday,whch was Monday"
"But who is suspected of the theft?" said
one.
"Oh, as to that you know, as Mrs. Gray
says. we have never had any dishonest peo-
pie amongst us; so it must be the poor family
vi
month. Mary called on them soon after they
moved in, and she says they looked miscrably
having little or no furniture, and that little
ont of order-that the man sat writing, while
wife lay on the bed, and n growing girl
I.lIed out in city finery, was nursing an in
..n, and hearing two little ragged fellows
yead. And Mary noticed that when the boys
Ind done reading, the youngest whispered to
his sister, SNOW, Alice, am good boy, will
you give me piece of bread?" And the girl
whispered, swat while, Charley" and she
kissed him, Mary said, to hide the tears that
gushed from her eyes. Now if they are so
very poor,you know that they might be tempt
ed to steal; for it must be very hard to hear
children cry for bread, and have none to give
Them"
eyes," put in Mrs Lacey,"and my husband
has often said he wondered if they had any
thing to eat, and we would willingly have
given them something, only they seemed so
proud and stuck up like. we were afraid to
offer them any thing for fear that they would
take it as an insult"
theIn," remarked Mrs Gray, sand if they
would have come among us, and told us they
were in want we should not have let them
suffer. But so it is. The pride that will not
let a man work, or ask reliefOf his neighbor,
drives him to dishonest and criminal practic-
es."
SWELL" resumed Mrs. Green, 81 hope this
affair will drive such people from our neigh
borhood, for MIR Frost intends to find out the
truth of the matter, and then tell them to
make themselves scarce, or abide the decis-
ion of the law"
There was in the company of quilters, a
maiden lady of near fifty years of age. who
during the colloquy, uttered not Il word; but
now she turned her head aside, took of her
spoctacles, wiped first her eyes and some
what faded cheeks. and then her glasses;
heaved deep sigh, and murmured, ~ fear
that we have sinned against these strangers.
We have permitted them to suffer in our
amidst, and now impute crime to them mere
Iy because we suppose them TO be destitute.
Let us at least be charitable in this last case:
they may be worthy people and there may
be some mistake about the bag of wheat,and,
even if they have been driven to take what
was not theirs, / fear the sin lies at our own
door. We should have visited them, not
.withstanding their gentry airs and city usag-
,es."
As Aunt Sarah was regarded an oracle the
whole circle assented 10 her verdict, and it
was settled that Mr. Frost should he persuad
ed TO let this one offence rest for the present,
md Aunt Sarah and Mrs. Lacey were deput-
Led as kind ofcommittee to call OH the
strange family the next day, and reconnoi-
tre Now call in the country, means to
drop in little while in the after noon, lay
offyour bonnet & shawl, take out your work
and sit like one ofthe family, working and
chatting till evening or bed time, partaking
.ofsuch fair as the house affords.
And who were these poor people concern
ing whom such suspicious were afoat?
will give you sketch of their history
Mr. Howard was son of an independent far
mer, who was owner ola superior tract of
land, an elegant and comfortable house. fine
stock of cattle, and large family of hand.
some and intelligent children. These were
ALL from childhood, accustomed to healthy
labor, plentiful board, comfortable lodging
and substantial raiment; besides many little
elegancies ofdress and furniture. As they
arrived at proper ages they were all educated
and provided with situations, in which it was
reasonable to suppose that they might il
time make themselves fortunes One stud
led medicine, two read law, one being pious
became minister, and this one, william
Howard, served his seven years as clerk in {
dry goods store. About the time he attained
his majority. his father died, and the proper
ty that had been riches in one mans posses
sion, was but small portions when divided
.mongst ten children. However, William.
share enabled him to enter as junior partner
into respectable mercantile firm. He now
thought himself authorized TO marry, as hi
had long been sincere lover ofAlice Carroll
daughter to the merchant with whom h,
served his cierkship, and of whom he wal
now partner. The girl loved him, and a
he was honest, industrious, handsome, and
zeal gentleman in his department., her pa
tents cheerfllly consented to their pnion.