Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-22
Mrs. Dickson's New Petticoat.

a meek, quiet looking man, calllnS nlmselI
John Dickson, was detected in the very act OF
stealing a large roll of red flannel from the door
OF dry goods store in Eighth street. He did
not deny the fact, but attempted to palliate the
offence by the following address to the Mayor:
"Sir, confess | did take the tlannin but
when you hear achy l took it,you will say that
am an unfortunate man, and ought to be pitied.
My wife says to me yesterday, John, I've got a
two dollar note, Bank of Harrisburg says she !;
Il made it by washing and ironing, and | want
you to 20 and buy me eight yards of f'annin-
red flannin,' says she-'to make me two petit
coats, for the spring is backward (says she) and
the weather keeps coo, and havn't q rag that's
fit to wear And, mind you, don't lose the
money nor so near any grop-shop, (says she,)
for you know your weakness; and don't you get
into conversation with any other loaters as you
ore going along on the errand.'
$50 took the money, the two dollar note, |
did, and set out and went three squares around
to keep clear of a grogsery that's in the upper
end of our street; and that's the way missed it,
for in t'other street / met Joe Hinson. Says
Joe, Jack, where are you boundP Says |, to
get eight yards of quarter dollar flannin to make
my wife two petticoats.' Says he, dock the
old woman half yard, and let's have o couple
of glasses Of toddy. It's only making the petit
coat little shorter, (says he,) and she's got O
handsome pair of ankles she won't mind hay-
ing scant pattern
"Well Il thought half yard of tlannn wouldn't
make much difference: so in we went to the ho-
tel, changed the note, drank glass apiece, and
that put us in the notion of more, it did; and
Joe drank and in less than honl I'll be switch
ed if had 20 cents left ont of the two dollars.
w. I L. I
ble man what could do? / couldn't go home
without the hannin; so hooked bolt of it, ]
did, that's fact, aud Pm not ashamed to &c
knowledge it,for nothing else could be done;
and if | hadn't been nabbed my old woman
should have had six red fannin petticoats in
stead of the two she sent me after; and that's
the whole story"
Dickson was committed in default of bail, to
answer for the larceny -Philadelphia Mercury.
DEAL GENTLY WITH TIE LITTLE ONEs.-A
child, on being asked why a certain tree grew
crooked. replied, somebody trod on it, | sup
pose, when it was little"
"Ie who checks child with terror,
Stops its play, and stills its song,
No. alone commits an error,
But grieyOus moral wrong.
Give it play, and never fear it,
Active life is no detect;
Never. NEVER break its spirit;
Curb ii only to direct.
Would YOU stop the flowing river,
Thinking it would cease to flow?
Onward must it flow forever;
BETTER TEACH 1T WHERE TO CO."
Were the sentiments inculcated in the above
moroccan universally adopted by parents it would
save from crushing many little heart.
The New York Mercury, in speaking of the
late rainy SPELL says: We think it was r. II.
Stoddard who poetized such weather by sing
ing
we knew it would rain, for all day long
A spirit, on slender ropes OF mist,
Was lowering his golden bucket down,
Into the yapory amethyst!
This is all very fine, for poet to say of a
summer afternoon shower, but our idea would
be moro like
sye knew it would rain, for the whole week long
A Demon whose breath congealed our blood,
Was lowering his Shiny buckets down,
Into Il mixture of water and mud.
A Coop ONE.-One of our neighbors over
heard the following conversation between TWO
Jolly sons OF the Green Isle, q day or two since,
which has point to it,
81 say, Jimmy, did ye ever see such asummer
as this same?"
Faith an have
"When2"
>Last winter, be jabers."
The love of little girl is a sweet thing.-E1'
change.
The love of big one is sweeter.- George.
toacn Gazette.