Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-04-12

slave. AID the green fat gentleman
his money.
Circumstanti Ey idcncc.
Joe Brace was farmers son, in
the town of W, and by his tricks,
and games. and wild pranks. caused
his watchful 'parient' no little trouble
sometimes. 1t happened, on one oc-
casion, that Master Joe was caught in
some misdemeanor, and as q punish
ment for the same, had been compell-
ed to hoe in the corn-feld until said
'parient' should judge proper that he
should be released. Joe, like n duti-
full son, took his hoe, and straightway
commenced said havoc among the
weeds which obstructed the growth Of
the corn. Dinner-timc came and pass
ed by, and still no call for poor Joe,
who began to think his punishment
was greater than he could bear > but
still he toiled on, expecting every mo-
ment to hear the summons which
would release him. for time, at least,
from his task. But there was no such
good luck for him. The old man de-
termined that he should sweat it out
as he termed it; and stretching him
self on the lounge in the back room,
was soon fast asleep. Joe labored
faithfully till near three o'clock, when
hunger getting the better of duty. he
resolved to obtain something to stay
his stomach at all hazards. SO, drop
ping his hoe, he steered cautiously for
the house: and entered the back door
unobserved, succeeded in reaching the
pantry without detection-the old man
being asleep. and the other portion of
the household being engaged with
some company in the front part of the
house, who had arrived few mo-
ments before. On entering. he COM
menced an attack on mince pie, that
had been set before the window to
cool, being just from the oven. When
he had about half demolished the pie,
and thinking of some means to escape
detection, his meditations were dis
turbed by something coming in con-
tact with his limbs. On looking
down, he saw the favorite pussy. who
had stolen in at the door, and was rub,
bing herself, and purring, as if ex
pressing her entire satisfaction at tn,
{ proceeding. On perceiving her, h'
thought of a plan which he put imme
diately into execution. Grasping hel
fore legs, he dabbed her fore feet abou
, in the remaining part of the pie. ant
placing her on the shelf, left the pan
try, the cat jumping to the floor anc
following him. leaving her tracks, 0
7 course, both on the shelf and on th
floor. Joe now made immediate hast
for the field, much refreshed by hi
: bite and was soon diligently a
work.
He had been hoeing but a shor
7 time, when, hearing a noise in tn
:, rear, he looked mp and saw the oil
= man coming, with Tabby under on
arm and his gun over his shoulder
Neither spoke; the old man passin,
! by, and proceeded round behind
j knoll which hid him from Joe's view
!, Joe leaned on his hoe for moment
: listening, when the silence was sud
, denly disturbed by the report of gun
= mingled with the screenings of tn
cat. plainly intimating what had bee
i the fate of poor pussy. In amomen
more. the old man re-appeared wit
. his gun in hand, the smoke still cur
ing from the barrel; and as he passe
. by his laboring hopeful, if he had nc
been little hard of hearing. he migl
have heard:
THERE GOES ANOTHER VICTIM 7
CIRcUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.