Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-21

situated?" inquired Dckey.
"Her stable God bless you. sir = an.
swered Mr.. Musgravc, her stable is in
my bedroom. I'm bachelor, aud SO
every night | fasten her to my bcd,post
had manger put up for her in the
room, and no music is so pleasant to me
as to hear her grinding corn all night by
my pedside."
Dickey was astounded-and we'll he
might beat such unheard Of prccau-
tious but, Disgusting his establishment,
he contcnted himself by simply express
ing to the farmer his hearty approval OF
the means he adopted to secure the safety
of his fayorte.
II suppose you have good lock upon
your bedroom door 2" was Dickey's next
| 'fecler."
"Come with me, and | will show it
you" replied the unsuspecting farmer.
| This was Of course just what Dickey
wanted. He examined the lock care
fully, and soon satisfied himself that be
could pick it without much difficulty
lie, however, declared to Mr.. Musgrave
that it was ',just the right sort Of a lock
ait couldn't have been better, in fact; it
was quite non-pickabc &C., &c.
Again the loving cup passed round,
and after draining bumper to their
"next merry meeting" Dickey depart
cd.
The old farmer, after his guests leave
taking had been completed, carefully
went the rounds of his house. locking
doors and closing windows with all due
precaution. He then, as usual, tied his
mare to her accustomed post, retired to
bed, and was soon lulled to sleep by the
sound of his fayorite grinding her cern.
So the night wore away, Presently,
as the first gray streaks Of day began to
appear, Mr.. Musgraye awokc, and feeling
very cold and chilly, looked around to
ascertain the cause. To his astonish-
mcpt he found that all the coverlets had
been taken off his bed, aud that his
blankets had been spread out upon the
floor. For what purpose ? thought Mr..
Musgrave. Was he the victim of some
horrible nightmare, or was he really IL
wake? Mechanically his eye glanced te
the spot where his mare should have been.
She was not there, She was gone-s:ol-
Gu! During the night some daring thief
had broken into the farmhouse, had pick
cd the lock on the door of the bedroom,
had spread the blankets over the floor SO
that the hoofs Of the mare should mako
no noise, and had thus triumphanty
made off with his prize.
OF course Mr.. Musgrave reused his
bousehod, and commenced vigorous
search after the thief. 1t was useless
The despoiler had left no traces behind
him, and so Mr. Musgrave was Obliged to
return home disconsoatc and to content
himself with venting curseS-neithcr few
nor far bctween-upon the horse-thlef
In the meantime our friend Dlchey-
for his was the deed--was comfortably
mounted upon Mr.. Musgrave's favorite
mare, and was every moment increasing
the distance between her outraged owner
and himself. So great was the speed OF
the mare that by the break Of day Dick
ey felt himself secure from pursuit. He
had directed his steps to the eastward,
and whilst crossing lialtwhistle Fell,
whom should he encounter but the vcrita.
bic owner o: the oxen he had stolen but
two or three days before, and had just
sold to Mr.. Musgrave.
Dickcy knew the owner Of the oxen
well, but luckily for the freebooter that
injured individual did not know him.
He therefore accosted Dickcy and inquir-
ed if he had seen any oxen in the coulse
Of his travels, similar to those which he
described himself to Dickey as being in
search Of
"Why to be sure l have ~ replied
Diekey; "with the same marks as you
describe, grazing in Mr.. Musgrave's fields
at Lanercrost, only yesterday. l was
rather struck" he continued, "by their
appearance, and learnt, on inquiry, from
one Of his servants that Mr.. Musgrave
had purchased them just yesterday. Un-
doubtedly the oxen are yours. | would
advise ycu to 90 to Lanercost at once,
and to claim them"
"Certainly will" replied the other.
"But l am knocked up with walking, aud
it is long way to Laneroost, see you
ride a good beast. Will you sell her %
After some hard bargaining, terms
were agreed upon, the purchase money
was paid down upon the spot, and Dickey
and the farmer separated; the former to
seek his stolen oxen, actually from the
very owner of the stolen mare he was
himself riding; whilst Dickey proceeded
"where he listed"
The next day the farmer reached
Lanercost, and, of course, at once re-
cognized his own oxen grazing in the
field. He forthwith rode up to an elder
ly man standing near, whom he judged to
be the owner Of the field, and exclam.
cd:
IL say, friend, those are my oxen inI
your field. How may you have come by
them ?"
"And III be hanged replied the other
(aftcr taking long, astonished look at
the animal on which his qaestoner was
mounted,) "if that is not my mare you
are riding! How may you have come
by her, pray?"
Each of course described the person
from whom they had respectfully purchas-
cd the oxen and the mare; and when
this was done, they discovered that they
had indeed been sold by rogue of no
common order.