Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-24

their struck and plunder," for the store
keepers "wares and notions" the boy
we've looking to see what they could find
jeff, the Oldest, had brought two musk
rat skins and coon-skin, and was study
ing whether to buy with the proceeds o
his "plunder" pair of skates or jack
knife. While be was looking first at on
and then the other, he noticed that Nh
Bradwell was very busy with his fathe
and mother. So be slipped the iack-knifi
in bis pocket and said be would take tn,
skates, and went out of the store. Th,
other boys soon followed, and began ma
king what We called ''four mills" in The
bank that overhung the road. This we
reekoned rare sport. Soon we wanted to
sharpen stick, and JEFF. took out his knife
to whhtle the end. a.. -.... ...-.-.t
10, jeff, " said his brother, "where did
you get such bright knife?"
~ bought it with the coon-skin O.
"No you didn't, because Mr.. Bradwel
gave you the skates for that"
swell, then, father gave it to me-"
''That's likely story. He's too stingy
for that"
"Well, then, father gave it to me-"
"There now," cried Pete, ''dad told me
he'd get me the next knife, and he's got
one for you first. III ask him what he
means by giving you knife and not Civ
ing me one too"
Il say l bought the knife, and III lick
you if you don't hold your tongue" said
jeff. ....
"No you won't, neither" cried Pete as
be ran off for the store. He went right
up to his father and began,
al say, dad, why did you give jeff. a
knife and didn't give me none?"
~ ha'n't gin him none," said the father.
"He says you did,
"Then he lies, that's ALL"
Here Mr.. Bradwell went to his drawer
where he kept his knives and looked over
them saying nothing.
AS soon as Pete had gone, I asked jeff.
how much he gave for his knife.
twenty-five CENTS" said he.
"Why," said l, .Mr. Bradwell sold one
to me for seventy five just like it"
swell, dad gave it TO me-"
l had seen him take the knife, and so l
said to him,
"Jeff., let me tell you one thing. l
know how you came by that knife" He
looked at me fiercely, and said,
"You think stole it, do you! If ever
you tell any body SO, Iii knock you into
the middle of next week."
II don't mean TO tell anybody just at
present. But you needn't try to fool me.
know that you stole it."
"Well," said he, Suppose l did, is that
any of your business!"
NO" said l. But it was some of my
business, and every wrong that 1 see or
know to be done is some of my business,
and ought to try and set it right. A
great many persons think that if any per-
son does wrong, it is none of their bust
ness. But they ought to stop all the
wrong they can. Their Heavenly Father
sent them here for that very thing. And
if any body steals or does wickedly, it is
their business to stop it. So l said, No.
And the next minute l said,
"But l ought to see that Mr.. Bradwell
does not lose his property. shall 60 and
tell him if you don't"
"Tll kill you if you do" said he, trying
to look at me 6ercely.
"Now, look here, JEFF. How foolish it
is to try to steal so little thing as a jack
knife! Here's mine, take it; I'll carry the
new one back to Mr.. Bradwell and make it
all right" -a
After few words he took my knife and
went off with his father to the blacksmith
shop. l soon went to Mr.. Bradwel and
told him l had one of his knives which l
wanted TO return if he would let me. He
at first insisted that stole it, but seemed
halfconvinced by my manner that 1 was
innocent, and wanted to know how l came
by it. l merely told him that knew it
had been stolen, and had got it and now
wanted him to take it back. He declared
he would believe that stole it myself and
have me flogged for it, if l didn't tell
But my uncle happened in just at that mo.
ment. My uncle came in and declared
that boy who would act SO honestly in
bringing knife back could not have stolen
it. Mr.. Bradwell was at last satisfied that l
was honest and took the knife. l went
home feeling little proud of what my un-
Gle had said. But that night, after Invent
to bed, had long cry about my knife,
which had given TO JEFF.
Next day jeff. himself came and brought
back the knife, saying that he couldn't
"sleep wink" all night with thinking how
be had taken the knife without thought,
and he was "awful sorry" I was glad
then, and have been glad thousand times
since. But when l SAW jeff. about twenty
years afterward, good member of
Church and respectable doctor, l reckon l
was glad l tried to meddle with what he
called ''none of my business"
EThe London Times has scorch-
ing article on the Governmental interfc-