Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-01-10
THE SEARCH WARRANT.

ed wight whose name was Joe. Tho very
poor he eschewed labor, and lived by flch-
ing from his neighbor. At last his neigh
bors always thought--though at it he never
was caught-he'd take if he could get a
chance, whatever fell beneath his glance !;
and when farmer missed hoe Or an axe,
twas laid to Joe In fact they made him
with IMMUNITY, a cape-goat for the whole
community.
In the same neighborhood there dwelt an
old Dutch farmer named, Van Pelt, whose
wealth enabled him to keep large herds of
cattle and sheep, and often he boasted Of the
latter; no sheep, no sheep than his were
fatter. Our worthy farmer, thong BIT no glut-
ton was partial to fat chops of mutton. One
day he labored hard and long, like the night
iingale in the song, began to feel, as well he
might, the keen demands of appetite-he'd
eaten nought from morn till highland HE
ing forth he sought to slay his latest sheep
without delay He arrived at the field which
he supposed all safe and snug his sheep en-
closed but though the rest were on the
ground, the latest one could not be found.
The field produced Of grass and clover in full
supply it was moreover eneireled by high
fence--too high for sheep to scale-and hence
he argued, 'sthere can be no doubt some
hungry thief has been about" Each cir
cumstance proclaimed it SO, and who could
steal sheep but Joe ?
cit was he, I'm sure I'll bet my life on
it p and he went home and told his wife
on it.
Next day he to the Squire repaired, and
with solemn oath declared his belief that
Joe had got the sheep concealed about his
cot "To prove his guilt, dear sir, l wish
you would instantly warrant issue, and the
constable and l together will search Joe's
cot for my weather"
The magistrate at once complied and with
the catchpole at his side, Van Pelt Set forth.
They reached the spot, tiny, rough built
cot, and rudely entered without knocking.
Joes wife sat darning an old stocking, her
feet meanwhile the cradle rocking. The Of
fccr, in surly tone, made at once his bus
mess known.
With much surprise the woman listened,
while in her eye tear drop glistened. Her
pride was touched her color rose, carnation
tinged her cheek and nose, as she expressed
in tones of thunder her indignation and her
wonder ''it is to search my house, then,
is it, that I'm indebted for this visit You
choose your safest time to come, for if my
husband was at home, I'm very sure you
wouldn't venture with such intent the house
to enter lie steal sheep! he'd seen to
do it, and if you told him 50 you'd rue it
But If you can't be satisfied when you'ye
Irummaged far and wide, proceed at once as
soon as may be, and don't wake up my poor
baby. Then came food of tears, then
more rcconciled she sang, OF rather sobbed,
"a ditty to her child
Womans threats are vain ; her tears have
potency to move the spheres. So tho't Van
Pelt, whose heart was panied to see them
flow all unrcstrained. To leave the comrade
lin the lurch, alone to prosecute the search,
strongly at ffst he felt inclined. He soon
however, changed his mind, concluding it
would be better to guard the lady, and not
let her be by the constable abused, who be-
ing to such scenes more used, seemed with
her grief somewhat amused.
Around now they began to pry, searching
the house with careful eye The pantry
first, turning the button, they looked within
but found no mutton and then the cellar,
garnet, hall, bedroom, wood-shed oven and
all Their search, however, proved in vain,
and they retraeed 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 cut of sight
Then stepping to the cradle took ,and straight
way hung upon a hook well dressed sheep,
as fat and 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 plan suspected SO, running to
the pantry shelf, where Joe had put the meat
himself-tor he the night before had taken
it, and logged it home and slyly laid it
she clapped a nightcap on the sheep, and
laid it down as if to sleep within the cradle,
where its form she covered up to keep ii
warm. and rocked and sung to keep it quiet,
supposing they would not come nigh it.
This did old Joe's tenderness awaken
she'd saved his mutton and his bacon, and
proved herself help quite meet for one who
stole the food he eat. So up he stepped and
fondly kissed her, until he thought he had
raised blister, and priced her as the best
receipt he'd ever found to keep fresh meat