The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-13

The following authentic story will invalidate the often
repeated charge against women, that 8 they cannot keep
a secret Some years since, a lady called at a glover s
shop in the outskirts Of the city Of London, and pur-
chased a pair of gloves for her immediate wear, observ-
ing at the same time, that she was on the road to Bur-
net-that che had left her gloves at her friends house
where she had called, and that she was apprehensive of
being ~benighted if she went back for them. The glover
fitted on the gloves and the lady, after paving for
them from a purse well stocked with bank-notes, step.
ped into her carriage, and proceeded ON her journey.
She had scarcely reached Finchly Common, when a
highwayman stopped the carriage, and demanded her
money. He entreated her not to be alarmed, as he had
NO intention on her person-if she surrender her prop
erty, it was all he wanted, declaring that distress, and
not his will, urged him to this desperate act, and he was
determined to remove his pecuniary wants, or perish.
The lady gave him her purse, and the desperate rode
Of. ~-
After he was gone, and her fright had somewhat
s%ooslded' the lady imagined that in the address Of the
highwayman, she recognized the voice of the glover she
had just before dealt with. This conceit struck her 80
forcibly, that she ordered her servant to drive back to
town-not choosing, she said, to venture further over
the heath. 80 y
On her arrival at the glover's she knocked and gained
admission, the glover himself opening the door. The
lady desired to speak with him in private. The glover
showed her to a back parlor; when she exclaimed, I
am come for my purse, of which you robbed me this
evening on Finchly Common f
The glover was confounded and the lady proceeded :
: 1t is Of no use for you to deny it. I am convinced,
and your life is at my mercy. Return me my property,
and trust to my humanity "a Kg - So,
The glover, overcome with guilt, shame, and con-
fusion, confessed the crime, returned the purse. and
pleaded his distress. The lady, after suitable admoni-
ton, gave him a ten pound note, babe him mend his
way Of life, and keep his own counsel adding, that she
would not divulge his name, or place of abode. She
kept her word and though the robbery was stated in
the public papers, the discovery was omitted and it
was not until recently, that a minute account of this
singular transaction was found among the papers of the
lady alluded to. Even in the private memorandum. the
name and residence Of the glover was omitted and the
secret, in that particular, rests with the lady in the
grave.
The LOaf-A Moral.
Once upon a time, during a famine, a rich man in
vited twenty Of the poorer children in the town to his
house, and said to them: Z
In this basket there is a loaf of bread for each of
you; take it, and come back every day at this hour till
God sends US better tines
The children bounced upon the basket, wraueled and
fought for the bread, and each wished to get the largest
loaf and at last went away, without even thanking
him.
Francesca alone. a poor but neatly dressed little Girl.
stood modestly apart, took the smallest loaf which was
left in the basket, gratefully kissed the centleman's
hand, and then went home in a quiet and becoming
manner.
On the following the children were equally ;ll-be-
haved, and poor Francesca this time received a loaf
winch was scarcely half the size of the others. Bnt
when che came home, and when hersick mother cut the