Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-22
The Bag Of Wheat.
BY MRS. LYDIA JANE PIEpsoS.

al
of ladies who are assembled around quilt
each busy plying her needle.
: | should hope not, said Mrs. Gray, Il
have never heard of theft being committed in
this ncighhdrhood aud we are al excessively
careless, leaving our doors uhfasicncd day and
night. and our wash out for days together, and
never once dreaming that any ihlng could be-
stolen
That is true, replied Mrs. Green. We
have never lr-d loclt or bolt upon our door bit
1t becomes us to be little more cautious now.
What has happened, Mrs. Grccn. inquir-
cd Mrs. Lacey think you should tell Is
what you mean
We'll then, said Mrs. Green. thong thew
talk of keeping quiet as the surcst method ot
detecting the 'hicF, see no harm in telling. II
for there can be no doubt a - -tlo the wretch,
is
3 You must know that Mr.. Frost put up SIX
bags foil of wheat, to take To mill, last Satur-
day morning, but something prevented his GO
ing and when he went Ia the barn Yesterday
To take II away, one bag was missing. 30
you see ii must have been stolen between
Saturday and Yesterday, which was Monday
But who Is suspected OF the tlWt! asked
one
Oh, as To that you know. as Mrs. Grey
amongst US 81 II must be- the poor family that
moved into Mr. Fros,'S old house, last mouth
Mary called on them soon after they moved IT.
and she says they looked nscrably- having
little or no urnlurc, aud iha, little out OF order
that the man sat wrnlng, while his wife lay
on a bed, aud growing girl tucked out IN
city fuery, was nursing an infant, and hearing
two little ragged fellows read. And Mary
noticed that when the boys had done reading
the youngest whispered to his sister, Now,
\ lice, | am a good boy, will YOU give me
piece of brcadr And the girl whispered,
= W sit awhile, Charley and she kissed hln',
Mary said, To hide the tears that gushed from
her eyes. Sow II they are so very poor, you
know, they might be tempted to steal for ii
must be very hard 10 hear children cry ;Gr
bread and have none 10 give them.
Yes, 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, ouly :hcy seemed 2@
proud and stuck up like, We were afraid to
otter them anything for fear that they would
take II rs an insult.
That's just the way we have felt about
them, remarked Mrs. Grey, and ifthcy would
have come ;unoug as, and told rs that they
were in want, We should not have let them
suffer but 50 ii is. Thc pride that will not
let a man work. or ask rcllci of his ncigllbor,
often drives him to dishonest and criminal
practices
WELL resumed Mrs Grccn,' hope this
affair viii drive such people from our neigh
borhuod for Mr.. Frost intends to find out the
truth of the business, and then tell them 10
make themselves scarce, or abide the decision
of the law
There was in the company of qulltcrs, "A
maiden lady ofncar fifty years of age, who,
during the colloquy, uttered not a word hut
now She turned her head aside, took of her
spcctaclcs, wiped first her eyes and somewhat
faded cheeks; and then her glasses hcaved "A
deep sigh, aud murmurcd, ! fear we have
snncd against these strangers. We have
permitted Them To suffer ~ our midst, and now
inputc crime TO tlr,m merely because we sup
pose them To be destitute. Let us al least be
charitable in this last case, they may be worthy
people and there may be some mistake about
the bag ufwhcat aud, even il they have been
driven to take what was not ihcirs, ] fear the
sin lies at our door We should have visited
them, Notwithstanding their gentry aiis aud
city usagcs.
IS AUNT Sarah was regarded an oracle, the
whole circle assen,cd to her verdict, and it was
settled that Mr.. Frost should he persuaded 10
let this one offence rest for the present, and
Aunt Sarah and Mrs. Lacey were doputcd asa
kind oi committee to call on the strange family
the next day, aud rcconnoltrc. Now c7H, ny
the country, means to drop IN little while al
ter noon lay off your bonnet and shawl, take
out your work, and sit like one OF the family,
working and chatting until evening or bed
time, parlakiug of such fare as the house al
fOrls.
And who were these poor people concerning
whom such suspicious we're ailoai
will give YOU a sketch Of thc'r history--
Mr. Howard who was the son Of an indcpend<
ent farmer, Who was owner oi superior tract
of land, an elegant and comfortable house,
fine stock oc cattle. ard h-gc Trtiy of hand
some apd intelligent children Thcsc were all,
from childhood. acct stoned to healthy labor,
plentiful board, comfortable lodging, aud sub
s,antial mImcnt. besides many little clegauccs
Of dress and furniture. As they arrived at
proper ages they were well educated, and pro-
yidCd with dtuaioYs. in which 1t was reason
able to suppose thu they might IN time, make
themselves fortunes. One studied mcdclnr,
Two rrad law, one being pious, became NM
i,tcr. and this one, William Howard, served
his ,evcn wears ~ clerk in dry goods store.
Abou, the time he attained his nf"ioniy, his
father died, aad the property that had been
riches m one maus possession, WAS but sinall
portions when divided amongst ten chlldrcn.-
However, Williams share enabled hun to en-
ter ~ unor partncr into a respectable mcrcan-
tile hrim BE now Thought himself authorized
to marry as hc had long been a sincere lover
of Al lice Carroll, daughter to the merchant with
whom he had served his clcrkship, and ol whom
he was now partner. The pir loved him, aud
as hc was honest, industrious, handsome, aud
a real gentleman in his department., her parents
consented to then union.
Alice was a lovely gih ~ cc'-'rmperct, and
highly accomplished, and Howard perfectly
adorcd her they commenced housekeeping
IN style of simple elegance, suited TO 'her
standing and expectations, and, during several
years, enjoyed the sweets of contcG,cd coinpe'
lencc and reasonable prosperity
but reyer-es came. loss followed loss
and the wealthy house Of Cauuil ) Howard
became lusol,cnt. Misfortune secm,d never
weary of pcrsccullnp them, AMI Olo~ Toll wcd
blow. until Mt Canoll found rest ~ The grave
and NJ How ard found lodging m a small