Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-08-04
is that punching out your pocket? Let

faint under a tree, with the Geneva
watch in her lap. Mrs. Whipplc had be-
lieved herself not only lady of highest
fashion, but remarkably excellent moth
er. She had brought the child up in the
way she should 60, and here she was
after all, with somebody eiso's watch in
her pocket. Mrs. Wtipplc gasped for
breath.
"How did you come by this 2" she
whispered. 80 you dreadful child! how
did you come by ths?"
TO which Miss Dolly replied -
"I dunno, ma"
40 Fanny. Fanny! did that naughty
It'd give it to you p
''No ma. she didn't"
"W ho did, then p
"Nobody."
"Wherc did you find it ?'
"Nowhcre, ma"
40 Dolly, Dolly. watches cant come
by chance into little girls pockets. Tell
the truth. Who put it there?"
IL dunno, ma"
Mrs. Whipple shed tears.
"My child is story-tcller as well as
thief, she said, and, letting down her
veil, took Dolly home forthwith.
| Questioned at home, however, no furth-
er answer could be elected. The FIVE
year old was astonished out of her senses.
Her truthful answer. in the words Il
dunno. ma" was all that she could utter.
Mrs. Whipple was wretched. Maternal
love and shame were strong within her.
She could not confess her child's iniquity
yet the watch must be restored
Locking poor Dolly up in her room
with page Of catechism to learn, Mrs.
Whipple hoyered about the hall, hoping
to find an opportunity of gliding into
Miss Paulina's room unseen and replace
ing the watch. None offered. At last,
in desperation, Mrs. Whipple tied the
bobbin about the mouth Of the bag and
suspended it from the lock of the door.
They'll come up soon." she thought,
"and fad it. ! can't expose poor naugh'
ty Dolly"
Down stairs, however, the household
were occupied about the extension-tab!c
in the diniug-room, which, under the aus
pices Of Miss Scraggs, who was an ANA
teur medium, was tipping information re-
garding the lost watch, which, 1T affirmed,
by bobbing when certain letters were
named, was in possession of the sririts,
who had, for motives which they refused
to explain, puroined it.
Consequently Miss Paulina did not
come upstairs as soon as Mrs. Whippe
expected. Neither did Miss It'd, Becky.
or Dinah, or my story would end
here.
The person who next appeared upon
the scene was the bachelor Jones, on his
way toward the cars for New Y York. For
her aunt's sake, Mr.. Jones had taken an
unusual interest in lid.
"Biess her little heart!" cried Mr..
Jones, apostrophizing the absent It'd.
"She hung her little bag there. III take
it to the city and ELL it with sugar-plums. "
Therecpon, "unknowing what he did,
the bachelor united the bobbn from the
door.knob and pocketlng the pink calico
bag, to the horror of Mrs Whipple, who
was peeping at him over the baustrades.
Half an hour aftcrward the Geneva
watch was on the way to the city ofNcw
York per railroad.
Mr.. Jones, after transacting the busi-
ness which called him to the city, lunch
ed com mfortably at Taylor's. Approach
ing the counter at the end Of his meal, he
thought of lid, and purchased a package
of sugar-plums, with which he fastened
carward. lie seated himself with a
smile, and felt remarkably comfortable
and happy. Ten minutes after, he was
the most wretched being in existence
He had taken the bag from his pocket
and drawn forth also the sugar-pIums.
"What has the little mischief got in it
ALREADY ?" he asked himself. "Gracious
heavens -
For as he spoke, he empted into his
fat hand Miss Paulina's Geneva watch.
"I'm an unlntentional thief ejaculat-
ed Mr.. Jones, and burying bis face in his
hands groaned bitterly.
An old lady near asked, sympathizing-
ly, if he were i'll. The conductor in-
ouired if he would like the window open.
70 both questions Mr.. Jones replied.
"No thank you," and continued to gtoan
at intervals.
Most men would have regarded the
matter as joke. Jones took it serious
ly. Suspicious himself, he could not
fancy others less so. lie was truly
miserable.
lie left the cars with faltering step
and went toward the Villa. On the
porch stood the funny man of the house.
hold, Mr.. Jocose, who saluted him
with -
"Here comes the robber. Call the po-
lice :"
"It's all out" thought MIR. Jones, and
he turned pale.
"It is suspicious, l admit" he began !;
but | beg"
Suspicious )? l should think so, "
cried Mr.. Jocose. '"You've worn my
duster, bran.new one, and I've been
obliged to disgrace myself by wearing
your old one. Here, pull off" and Mr..
Jocose filed the air with laughter.
The unhappy victim of mistakes never
smiled. He withdrew from his pocket
the candy and the bag, and bestowed
them in those of his own proper gar.
mcnts, and apologized formally. Mr.. 10.
cose roared again, and, being in an un.
usually funny mood, took occasion te