Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-11-17


Jones was no better than she should be- Il is
kind o. strange, but I've had my suspicious
about her character which I have never before
limited 10 any of my most intimate friends.
'She was not the sort Of person that should
have chosen 10 make confident Of replied
the other, bot | confess it never entered my
head that size would steal but SO il is, for il
came directly from Mrs. Walker, and she had
ought to know, seeing her husband has been
the sufferer
you don't know exactly what other things
she has takenp inquired Mrs. Green.
mo, don't but tea, sugar, coffee, raisins,
spices, aud all such things, probably. The
fact of the case is, she has got monomania,
and can't keep her hands of any thing
1t doesn't surprise me bit Mrs. Brown,
for she has the queerest look with her eyes
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Green discussed this
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, il was all
over Hammertown. that Mr.. Jones' wife was a
confirmed thief There was not a thing that
could be mentioned, but what she had the rep
utation of purloning she had taken silkq,
shawls, stoves, ETC., from dry good stores
rings, pins, and chains, from jewelers. shops,
as well as teas, cofiees, sugars and six jars Of
snuff from Mr.. Walkers grocery.
This singuarly astonishing news was talked
over 10 all circles, aud produced universal hor-
ror in Hammeriown for Mrs. Jones was a
lady who had hitherto borne an excellent char
acter, aud been much respected. These scan
dalous stories at length reached the ears of Mr..
Jones for his good wife began TO be slighied,
and treated with marked coldness by those who
had been proud Of her acquaintance. Mrs.
Jones was much shocked and mortified, but
could not forbear smiling, when among the ar
,icles enumerated as having been appropriated
by her. were mentioned six jars Of snuff taken
from Mr. Walkers grocery
/ Her husband succeeded in tracing the snuff
story directly to Mrs. Green aud the latter de-
cared that she knew nothing about il, and had
only told il TO one or two OF her intimate friends
precisely as she had il from Mrs. Brown, who
had informed her on the very best suthoity, as
she said, that Mrs. Jones had stolen six Jars Of
snuG and great variety Of other articles.
1 Fully resolved 10 follow the matter up TO lis
I origin, Mr. Jones called on Mrs. Brown the
bakers wife, who in turn avowed that she had
repeated the story just as she had received il
from Mrs Arabella White; therefore the injur-
ed husband FASTENED TO the residence Of the lat
ter. Mrs White was in the same state Of inno-
cence in regard to The subject, and only knew
that Mrs Black had told her that Mrs. Walker
had informed her confdeniially, that Mrs Jones
had taken quantity Of snnif from her husbands
MIR. Walker's-grocery. To Mrs. Black,
then, as the next link in the chain, Mr.. Jones
posted. The excellent woman was also in a
'---l.--. r-s.sy .-s-..--l---
whole affair she had no more knowledge Of the
subject than an infant. and could only refer to
Mrs Walker
1t only remained for the indignant Jones to
visit Mrs. Walker, and call her TO account for
her reprehensible conduct. That pattern ol
Christian quieiude was perfectly shocked when
she heard that Mrs. Black had reported that
she had told her, in confidence, that Mrs Jones
had taken large quantity Of snuff from her
husbands sore. She pronounced il vile slan-
der, and was unspeakably astonished at the
wickedness Of Lucretia Black
4 have traced the scandslons story thai my
wife has stolen six jars Of snuff directly 10 you,
returned Mr.. Jones, firmly. ! consider Mrs.
Jones' character grossly vililed. ] shall sin
this matter to the bottom; and. il no other rem
edy remains shall resort 10 the law
Six jars OF snuff calculated Mrs. Walker.
Together with tea, coffee, sugar. and so on,
ad intiaif,1n.
You astonish me beyond measure, rejoined
Mrs. Walker. 4 only told Mrs. Black thai
your wife had acquired habit Of taking sunlf
for my husband told me that she had purchased
small box of Macaboy at his store.
is it possible exclaimed Mr.. Jones, thai
such slanderouo and exaggerated reports could
grow out of thing so trvall There is GER
tainly great difference between taking snuff as
siernutaory, and stealing six jars Of il from Mi
Walkers store. Behold how large fire .
small matter kindleth AS ifhappens, you al
so labored under a slight mistake, Mrs Walker
for The box Of snuff that was purchased at youi
husbands store, was not for my wife, but fol
her mother, who is afflicted with a catarrhal az
fection. 4i & n
Mrs. Walker made many apologies, aud pro
missed to do all she could to counleract the ef
feet of The false rumois which were being pro
nulgated BY the joint efforts Of Black, White
Brown, Green q Co. salo
The surprise and modification uf the parties
referred to cannot be imagined, when full ex.
pose Of the subject took place. aud they die
covered on what a small basis they had erected
such towering fabric Of falsehood.
The moral of this story is quite apparent.--
Sianderous stories grow larger the oliener they
fo~ a. Iet.. b.l