Washington telegraph., 1857-01-07
THE SEARCH WARRANT.

There lived, not many years ago, {
: wicked wight whose name was Joe
; Though very poor he eschewed labor, an6
lived by ilching from his neighbor. Sd
at least his neigh5oTs always thought
though at he was never caught-he' {
: take if he could get a chance, whatever
3 fell beneath his glance;1 end when a far
liner missed hoe. or an asas twas laid to
joe In fact they made him with impu-
nifty, scape-goat for the whole co:nmu-
nifty.
In the same neighborhood there dwelt
an old Dutch farmer, named Van Pelt,
whose wealth enabled him to keep, large
herds of cattle and Of sheep, and often he
boasted OF the latter no sheep than his
were fatter. Our worthy farmer, though
no glutton, was partial to fat chops Of
mutton. One day he labored hard and
long, like the nightingale In the song, be-
gan to feel, as well he might, the keen de-
nlands of appetite-he'd eaten nought
from morn till night-and hieing forth
he sought 20 sIay his fattcst sheep without
delay. He arrived at the field which he
supposed, all safe and snug his flock en-
closed; but though the rest were ON the
! ground, the fattest could not be found
The field produced Of grass and clover, in
full supply; it was moreover, encircled by
q high fence-too high for sheep to scale
and hence, he argued, ''thcre can be no
doubt, some hungry thief has been about" F"
| Each circumstance proclaimed it so, and
who could steal sheep but Zoe ?''
s'It Is he, I'm sure ; I'll bet my life on
| it !" and he went home and told his wife
on it.
Next day he to the Squire repaired,
and with a solemn oath declared, his be
/ lief that Joe had got, the sheep concealed
about his cot 'eTo prove his guilt, dear
sir, L wish ycu would instantly a warrant
issue, and the constable and [ together,
viii search Jos's cot for my wetker.''
The magistrate at once complied, and
with the catchpole at his side, Van Pelt
set forth. They reached the spot, tiny
locking rough built cot, and rudely en-
tered without knocking Joe's wife sat
darning an old stocking, her feet. mean
while the cradle rocking. The officer, in
a surly tone, made at once his business
known.
With much surprise the woman listen
ed, while in her eye tear-drop glisteaed.
Her pride was touched, her color rose,
carnation tinged her cheek aud nose, as
she expressed in tones of thunder, her In
dignation and her wonder. 1T is to
search my house, then, is it, that I'm in
debted for this visit? You choose YOUR
safest time to come, for if my husband
was at home, I'm sure you wouldn't ven
ture, with such intent the house to enter.
He steal a sheep. he'd scorn to do it, and
If you told him SO you' rue it. But If
you can't be satisfied, when you've rum
mayed far and wide, proceed at once as
soon as maybe, aad don't wake up my
poor sick baby" Then came flood OF
tears, then more reconciled, she sang, OF
rather sobbed, a ditty to her child.
Woman's threats are vain her tears
have potency to move the spheres. Sc
thought Van Pelt, whose heart was pain
ed to see them flow all unrestrained. To
leave his c0mrade in the lurch, alone to
prosecute the search, strongly at first he
felt inclined. lie soon, however, changed
his mind, concluding it would be better to
guard the lady, and not let her be by the
constable abused, who, being TO such scenes
more used, seemed with her grief some
what amused
Around now they began to pry, search
ing the house with careful eye The pam
try first, turning the button, they looked
within but found no mutton and then
the cellar, earTet, hall, bedroom. wood
shed, oven and all Their search, howev-
er, proved in vain, and they retraced their
steps again, sure that the place did not
contain, the missing sheep, alive or slain
With head thrust through broken
light, the woman watched them out of
sight Then stepping to the cradle took,
and straightway hung upon hook, well
dressed sheep, as fat I'd fine as ever
tempted man to dine.
Joe soon came in, and she related how
nicely she the men had chcated-how.
when she saw their steps directed, towards
the house, their plans suspected; SO, run
ming to the pantry shelf, where Joe had
put the meat himself-for he the night
before had taken it, and lugged it home
and slyly laid it-she clapped night-cap
on the sheep, and laid it down as if to
sleep within the cradle, where It's form she
covered up to keep it warm; and rocked
and sung to keep it quiet, supposing they
would not come nigh it.
This did old Joe's tenderness awaken ];
she saved his mutton and his bacon, and
proved herself help quite meet for one
who stole the food he eat. So up he step
ped and fondly kissed her, until he thought
he'd raise blister, and priced hers as
the best receipt he'd ever found to keep
fresh meat.
fV,., yTo,,, ~, 0z,4o rT,1,o 1r,1:ol 20