Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-07-11
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
Putting your hand into your Neighbor's
Pocket.

GUCAGb,
BY 8. P.D
edo you recollect Thomas, who lived with us, as
waiter, about two years ago, Nary" asked Mr..
Clarke, as he seated himself in his comfortable
armchair, and slipped his feet into the nicely
warmed, embroidered slippers, which stood ready
for his use.
"Certainly,' was the reply of Mrs. Clarke
''He was bright, active fellow, but rather inso-
lent''
ale has proved to be regular pickpocket,''
continued her husband, sand is now ON his way to
Blackwell's Island''
GA 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 deserves to go to Blackwell's Island quite as
much as he does.''
"You are always making such queer speeches,
Uncle joshua said his niece. 81 suppose you do
not mean that there are plckpockets among respeca
| Bile people:'
''Indeed, there are, my dear niece Your knowl-
edge of the world must be very limited, if you are
not aware of this. Putting your hand into your
| neighbours pocket, is of the most fashionable
accomplishments of the day.
Mrs Clarke too well acquainted with her
unce's peculiartes, to think of arguing with him.
She therefore merely smiled, and said to her hus-
band
'Well, Henry, I am glad that neither you nor
myself are acquainted with this fashionable accom-
pishment.''
''Not acquainted with it!'' exclaimed the old gen.
tleman. 81 thought you knew yourselves better.
Why, you and Henry both regular pick
pocketsn'
81 wonder that you demean yourself by asso-
ciating with usn' 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, Henry's whole
soul is absorbed in the desire TO obtain wealth.
"In fair and honorable way, uncle,'' interrupt
ed Mr.. Clarke, Sand for honorable purposes
"Certanly,'' replied Uncle Joshua, sin the CON-
mon acceptatlon of the words FAIR and HoNoRA-
BILE. But, do you never, in your mercantile spec
| ulatlons, endeayor 10 convey impressions
to the minds of those with whom you dealing!
DO you not sometimes suppress information which
would prevent your obtaining 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 man, less skilled in business
than YOURSELF about to take step injurious to him,
but advantageous TO you, would you warn him OF
his danger--thus obeyng the command to love your
neighbor as yourself?''
"Why, uncle, these questions are absurd. OF
course, when engaged in business, endeavor TO do
SNA
look out for themselves
"Exactly SO. You are perfectly willing TO put
your hand in your neighbor's pocket, and take all
you can get, provided he is not wise enough to know
your hand is there.''
sob, for shame, Uncle Joshua! l shall not al
low you to talk to Henry in this Manner exclaimed
Mrs. Clarke, perceiving that her husband looked
somewhat irritated. SCome, prove your charge
against me In what way do pick my neighbours
pockets?''
''You took six shillings from the washer-woman
this morning. coolly replied Uncle Joshua
"Took six shillings from the washer-woman p
Paid her six shllmgs, you mean, uncle. She called
for the money due for days work, and gave to
hers
''Yes, but not till you had KEEP. her waiting nearly
two hours. | heard her say, as she left the house,
4 have lost days work by this delay, for cannot
so to Mrs. Reid's at this hour; so shall be six shil-
lings 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 SO early
an hour''
"Piobably she needed the money to-day. You
little know the value of six shings to the mother
of poor family, Mary; but, you should remember
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 purse"
''Well, uucle, will acknowledge that did wrong
to keep the poor woman waiting, and l will en-
deavor to be more considera.e in future. So draw
your chair to the table, and take cup Of tea and
some of your favorite cakes.''
''Thank you, Mary; but 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 dowd, owing to sickness among her
scholars; and her family have been i'll all win
ter; so that her expenses have been great"
81 am sorry to hear this" replied Mrs. Clarke.
81 had hoped that her school was succeeding Give
my love to her, uncle, and tell her will call upon
her in day or two.''
Uncle Joshua promised to remember the mes
sage, and bidding Mr.. and Mrs. Clarke good even-
ing, he was soon seated in Mrs. Morson's neat lit
tie parlor which, though il bore no comparison with
the spacious and beautifully furnished apartmentIhe
had Just LEFT, had an 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