Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-30

broken; they were evidently not accustomed 10
such scenes, and were in great terror. learn
cd from the officer and from the examination
before the magistrate, that they were respectable
girls, or rather claimed TO be so, and had been
in the habit going together evenings, and with
out their parents knowledge, to places Of quos-
iionabe character. On this night they had
been treated to some wine, and their irolic had
resulted in quarrel and fight, and thus brought
in the Police. This was the first time they had
ever been in the hands of the Police, and the
fear Of exposure and disgrace, after Icing sober
cd by nights lodging in the "Tombs," and the
uncertainty Of their punishment, was the cause
of this truly hcart-rcnding scene. They were
discharged, after severe lecture by the Justice
Il but they will soon be there agnin. The bounds
Of virtue once pissed the restraints Of modesty
and principle once broken down. there is little
left to Withstand the temptations of vice, which
are here spread out in allurins forms. The first
public exposure, AZ in this case, shocks and ter
rifles, but they gradually become lost to shame
aud decency, or drown it in drunkenness, aud
find an early grave. 1t is strange to me, that
females in the country ever come to the city for
cmployment For thousands of them, It Is vor-
tex OF speedy ruin. The wages they can get will
not generally pay their board, and multitudcs
can find nothing 10 do, and actually suffer for
want Of food.
Let me take you now 10 a different scene,
where tempting opportunity offers to a Yankee
to make a speculation. ! stepped into an auc-
ton store the other day, in one Of the most bust
ness streets. They call them mock auction "
stores, where "green 'uns are taken in and done
for;" but II was not like the generality of them
for it was filed with rich and substantial goods
| stood around To see how business was done
When entered, they were selling broadcloths
mud several we're standing around bidding, but
they Immediately offered some silver pencil-casc,
on cards, with gold pens in them, which were
sold OF very rapidly, first at $3.50 per dozen
aud then at Si,25. | was solicited to take a
dozen, but not being in the trade, declined
They turned to selling broadclolhs again, unit
another stranger entered, when they commenced
anew to sell Rogers pon.knives Those stand
/ ing around bid with great spirit and all wer,
sold but three OF four cards, at $500 and 81 s,
per dozen. "Chcap Is dirt said the stranger
bu, be did MT bite. The pencil cases were nov
offered and sold on' as before at 80 per dozen
Two or THREE dozen were left; the stranger wa
examining them; they were worth probably Z.
cents each. At last, all but one dozen were ia
ken, at 81, 20, and Who'll take the last dozci
a. IL. D.
turned TO the stranger, who had them in hi
hand. "We, | don't care il | take them at tina
price" said he, and they were struck oil to hin
lie gave his name, and went up TO the desk L
pay for them While the bill was being mad
out, another folded the pencil-cases; the strnn
ger handed out five dollar bill, which the book
keeper snatcbed, and throwing down the bill q
sale, said 81 want so more" The strange
looked up in perfect astoni.hment. Ten dol
lars What do you meanl | bought doze
for 81 rs, and want my change" you mus
be green" said the book-kecPer, "to think q
, buying dozen pcncil-cases, with gold pens il
them, for SIPS. You bought dozen for s p
each, and I want the balance, $40" By tbi
time the sale was stopped, aud all gafhere'
round the stranger, Ginning in with the book
keeper, and asserting that he had bought then
at sl,2j each. Aher a while, the Grange
seemed 10 realize where he was, aud to recoyc
his presence Of mind; lie became cool aud a
ease, and even appeared amused at the idea q
being sucked in. lie heard them all around
and then said to he aucliouccr, laughing. " Loo
here, my fricnd-l am green, that's fact, an
give il up. am green enough to be cdugA
but not green enough to be piuck,d You hav
done your part perfectly, and don't belicv
you can be beat. Now, if you please TO rotur
me my money, wen quit even. It's my profe.
sion to deal with such chaps as you, and | hav
helped many a poor ID out Of your clutche,
so tina, admit ] am fair game. But YOU kno'
there is a law in this State, making it mistle
mcanor for an auctioneer TO strike oil goods a
auction, without rendering sworn account c
sales, and paying State tax. Now you do il
every day, and here you have sold to each q
your Peter Funks, and made no account at al
except against the green-horn.' | will let yo
off this time, in consideration Of the lesson yo
money. If you don't, well call in police off
Ger, and take walk up to the Tombs." Thi
speech showed them they had caught Tartar
and before he finished, the Peter Funks slope
oft, and the auctioneer became very polite mar
1t was evident, he said, that there was misur
dcrstanding, and lie certainly did not wish 1
take advantage of it, He handed back the 5,
| went out with the stranger, and found he wa
an old lawyer in the city. lie laughed hearth
at the adventure, aud said he had not the lea.
suspicion it was mock auction store.
But it is not every one escapes so easily
Strangers from the country are every day swim
died in this way. Two or three years ago tn
Mayor undertook TO put them down, and en-
Ploycd men 10 stand before the doors Of som
of these auction-rooms, with large placards, an,
Beware of mock auctions painted on them
and yet countrymen would go by these placarl
into the auction rooms, and be swindled. Scarce
Iva day passes in which. the public are not warn
ed by all the newspapers of the city, against thes
mock auctions, but TO no nurnoso There ar