Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-09-12
From Arthurs Home Gazette.
PUTTING YOUR HAND IN YOJR
.NEIGHBORS POCKET
BY S. p. Il.

BY S. p. b.
'Do you recolect Thomas, who lived with
us as waiter about two years ago, Mary" asked
Mr.. Clarke, as he seated himself in his comfort
able arm chair, and stripped his feet into the
nicely-warned embroidered slippers whicl
stood ready for his use.
Certainly was the reply of Mrs. Clarke
'lie was bright, lctve fellow, but rather in
solent'
'lIe has proved to be a regular pckpocket
continued her husband, 'and is now on his way
to Blackwel's Island
"A very suitable place for him. hope he
will be benefited by few months residence
there, returned the lady.
Poor fellow exclaimed Mr. Joshua Clarke,
an uncle of the young couple, who was quietly
reading newspaper in another part of the
room. There are many of high standing in
the world, who deserve to 90 to Blakwell's
Island quite as much as he does
you are always making such queer speeches
Uncle joshua said his niece. Il suppose YOU
do not mean that there are pckpockets among
respectable people:'
Indeed there are, my dear niece. Your
knowledge of this world must be very limited,
lfyou are not aware of this. Putting you hand
in your neighbor's pocket is one of the most
| fashionable accomplishments of the day.
| Mrs Clarke was too well acquainted with hci
uncle's peculiarities to think of arguing witt
him. She therefore merely smiled and said tc
her husband
well, Henry, am glad that neither you
nor myself are acquainted with this fashionable
accomplishment
'Not acquainted with i: y exclaimed the old
gentleman. i thought you knew yourselves
better. Why, you and Henry are both regular
pickpockets!'
4 wonder that you demcan yourself by as.
sociating with us i was the playful reply.
oh, you are no worse than the rest of the
world, and, besides, ! hope to do you some
good. when you grow older and wiser. At
present, Hcnrys whole soul is absorbed in the
desire to obtain wealth.
in ia r and honorable way, uncle, inter-
rupted Mr. Clarke, and for honorable purposes.
Certainly replied uncle joshua, in the
common ncceptation of the words fair and hon
orabie. But do you never, in your mercantile
speculatiOns. endeavor to convey erroneous I'M
pressions to the minds OF those with whom YOU
are dealing: Do YOU not sometimes suppress
information that would prevent your obtaining
a good bargain: Do YOU never allow your
customers to purchase goods under false ideas
OF their value and demand in the market? If
you saw Il man, less skilled in business than
yourself, about to take step injurious to him.
but advantageous to YOU, would You warn him
of his dangcr--thus obeying the command to
love your ncighbor as yourself:
'Why, uncle, these questions are absurd. OF
course, when engaged IN business, endeavor
to do what is for my own advantage
others to look out for themselves
Exactly so. You are perfectly willing to
put your hand III your neghbor's pocket and
take all you can get, provided he is not wise
enough to know your hand is there
'Oh, for shame, Uncle Joshua shall not
allow you to talk to Henry in tn manner ex-
claimed Mrs. Clarke, perceiying that her hus-
band looked somewhat irritated. Come, prove
your charge against me. In what way do |
pick my neighbours pockets:
'lcu took SIX shilings from the washerwo-
man this morning. coolly replied Uncle Joshua
'1ooh SIX shlllngS from the washerwoman
Paid her SIX shilliags, you mean, uncle. She
called for the money due for a days work, and
gave it to her.
Yes, but not till you had kept her waiting
nearly two hours. | heard her saw, as she left
the house. 4 have lost days work by this de-
lay, for ! can not go to Mrs. Reeds at this
hour; so | shall be six shlllngs poorer at the
end of the week.
why did she wait, then? She could have
called again. | was not ready to attend to her
at 50 early an hour
Probably she needed the money to-day
You little know the value of six shilngs TO the
mother of poor family, Mary; but you should
that her time is valuable and that it
is sinful to deprive her Of the use of it, as if
YOU took money from her Dursa'
well, uncle, will acknowledge that did
wrong TO keep the poor woman waiting, and | /
VIII endeavor to be more conslderate i'll future.
80 draw your chair to the table, and take cup
OF tea and some of your favorite cakes
Thank you, Mary bnt am engaged to
take tea with your old friend, Mrs. Morrison.
Poor thing she has not made out very well
lately. Her school has quite run down, owing
TO sickness among her scholars and her own
family have been Ill all winter, so that her ex-
penses have been great
Il am sorry to hear this, replied Mrs. Clarke.
] had hoped that her school was succeeding
Give my love to her, uncle, and tell her will
,all upon her in day or two.'
Uncle Joshua promised to remember the
and bidding Mr.. and Mrs Clarke
good evening, he was soon seated in Mrs.
Morrison's neat little paror, which, tho it bore
10 comparison with the spacious and beautiful
y furnished apartments he had Just left, had
IN air Of comfort and convenience which could
not fail to please.
Delighted to see her old friend, whom she
also, from early habit, addressed by the title of
Uncle Joshua, although he was no relation, Mrs.
Mornson's countenance, for a while, beamed
with that cheerful, animated expression which
u used to wear IN her more youthful days. but
an expression Of care and anxiety soon over
'hadowed 1t, and in the midst of her kind atten-
mons to her visitor, and her affectionate endear-