The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-25
WHOLE NUMBER 23S

J expressing eloquently the curiosity which
!, her friends language had excited.
I've got the most astounding news
; you ever heard Of 1t didn't come
round Ro,in Hoods barn, either, but
just as straight as it could come. Cor
nelia Ann, can you be firm = asked tho
visitor, with melo dramatic air.
AS firm as the Bay of Funday," was
the decisive reply.
| know you won't credit it, but Mrs.
Jones has stolen sir jirs Of snuff from
Mr. Walkers grocery, and what else
she has taken, the Lord only knows -
Just such woman, for all the world
as | always thought she was,' screamed
Mrs Green, clcvating her hands, to
give proper emphasis l never did
like her, and I was saying to Mr.. Green
a few days ago, that Mary Jones was no
better than she should be. It's kind
o'strange, but I've had my suspicious
about her character, which have never
before limited to any of my most intimate
friends
She was not the sort of person that
| should have chosen to make confident
Of, replied the other, but | confess it
never entered my head that she would
steal but so it is, for it came directly
from Mrs. Walker, and she ought to
know, seeing her husband has been tho
sufferer
! You don't know exactly what other
things she has taken = inquired Mrs.
Green
No, don't; but tea, sugar, coffee,
raisins, spices, and all such things, pro-
badly The fact of the case is, she has
got mouomania, and can't keep her
hands off any thing
1t doesn't surprise me a bit, Mrs.
Brown, for she has the querest look with
her eyes,
Mrs Brown and Mrs Green discussed
the subject thoroughly, before they
parted, and felt that they ought to be
grateful that they had been kept from
The evils into which Mrs. Jones had
fallen.
Before three days had elapsed, it was
all over Hammertown that Mr.. jones'
wife was confirmed thief. There was
not thing that could be mentioned but
what she had the reputation of purloiu-
ing; she had taken shawls, silks, gloves,
etc, from dry goods storos-rings, pins,
and chains from jewelers. shops, as well
as teas, coffee, sugars, and six jars of
snuff from Mr.. Walkers grocery.
This singularly astounding news was
talked over in all circles, and produced
universal horror in Hammertown for
Mrs. Jones had hitherto borne an excel
lent character, and been much respect
cd. These scandalous stories at length
reached the ears Of Mr.. Jones, for his
good wife began to be slightod, and
treated with marked GOODNESS by those
who had been proud Of her acquaintance.
Mrs Jones was much shocked and NOR
tilted, but could not forbear smiling
when, among the articles enumerated as
having been appropriated by her, was
mentioned six jars OF snuff taken from
Mr. Walkers grocery.
Her husband succeeded in tracing the
snuff story directly to Mrs. Green, and
the latter declared that she knew moth
ing about it, and had only told it to ono
or two OF her Intimate friends, precisely
as she had it from Mrs. Brown, who
had informed her on the very best au-
thority,' as she said, that Mrs. Jones
had stolen six jars of snuff, and a great
variety of other articles.
Fully resolved to follow the matter
up to It's origin, Mr. Jones called on
Mrs Brown, the Bakers wife, who, in
turn, avowed that she had repeated the
story Just as che had received it from
Ms Arabella White therefore, the
injured husband FASTENED to the resi-
d,uce OF the latter. Mrs. White was
IN the same state of innocence in regard
to the subject, and ouly knew that Mrs.
Black had told her that Mrs. Walker
had informed her, coufdentially, that
Mrs Jones had taken a quantity OF
snuff from her busband's-Mr. Walkers
grocery. To Mrs. Black, then, as
the next link 10 the chain, Mr., Jones