The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-12-29
beware OF H'ickpockets.
4 RAILROAD STORY.

S0e, when that Interesting youth was about
Starting TO visit his aunt Betsey Baker, who
lived sevcaty-live miles off, in the village oi
Grayburg.
"Ie.'m," responded Joshua, dutifally '1'll
keep my eyes p.eIed for cm. Gu,s. if they
ketch this child mapping they'll rise airlier
than they're used to-"
"Thst's right, my lad: / alters know d
veu was the smartsst of the family, Joshua,
bat guess when you come to SO about AMI
SEQ things you'll turn out smarter ever
thought. There's the keers comm now.
Look out. and hold fast TO yeur valise -
And don't forget TO bc kcerful of your father s
watch, and don :, :moke no segars nor drink
no mx,er without lcokin' into it, kass there
was woman I've haard sister Betsy tell
about, out there, drinkt live snake! And
do try and not dirt morn two ,dickies q
week, I'LL make il such hard washin' for
your aunt. and she's got the rumatiz, you
know Now Jock out for your pocketbook !!
Tell Betsy to send me that reccte for color
in blue, and maxim that ounce sass-and
-lordy. here they be!'-and with kiss
that made the very locomotive give a suort
of amszement, Mrs. Harker tore herself
away.
Joshua seated himself in the very middle
of the car-he had heard it said that there
WAS less danger there, and, holding his
valise in HIS lap. he put one hand on his
watch AMI the other on his pocket-book,
and mentally deiisd pick>poekets. He had
heard SO much of their dreadful doiugs in
the cars, that he thought it impossible to use
too much precautlon.
At the next station they took a rather
pretty but decidedly narvous.y0ung lady, in q
blue bouns; and pink dress. See paused
beside Joshua. and asked, iiInidiy-
a. Is this seat engaged p
.No, not ttat | know Of" stammered
Joshua, blushiny up to his hair. want 10
Sit down q
THANK you," aud she sat down so grace
fully that her expansive crinollne spread
entirely over Joshuas knees and v,iise, and
completely enveloped our hero in an aya>
l.ch. OF houac.s, shawl tringes and pate
koniv.
Both of he young people seemed very
much fir shtencd. 10 hua began to finger
his pocket book nervously, shifting 1t from
2 his trousers pocket to -his coat, from thence
to his vest, and finally depositing it in bis
hat, wishing at the same time that he could
drop it into bis boot.
The young lady sdgs.ed, and eyed her
companion askance-pr,'lrd her bonnet
strings, and ciutched tightly the handle of
her re,icule. Bur after little while both
seemed to get easier, and Joshua screwed
up his courage to say something.
Fine lav, msrm."
ayes rather cool though"
"That's fact. Cooler than it was yester>
day"
winter.
"No. stree! Terrible cold Friday last
winter, wasn't there
lawful. Was you out sny?''
"Out! l rather guess l was ont in
spruce swamp drivin' old Buck and old Broad
all day Go!Iy, how the frost stood on
EN-
Yes, thinks likely"
a dead silence. a: last, with desperate
effort at .ociability. Joshua asked the lady
''Goinr fur?'- - -
so GrAybury.
:.You hainl! So be l. Quite con,in>
gency, haint i, ?"
They were beginning te::ret better acquaiut-
cd with each other. Joshua now took his
hand away from his watch and pu, it around
the back of the seat.
.Going to stay there long, Miss?"
a week, | guess.
"Bs you? About as long as | be-" re-
sponded Joshus. letting his hand rest on the
back of her shawl. and feeling very much as
he did when Deacon Joaes caught him ro5>
hing his pet pear tree. The young lady
drew back.
"Lau you mustn't do so, sir. 7 ai7t
proper 80 : ~ -.
I'D like to know what's to hend.r !! cried
Joshua, boldly.
"who, the folks will see u.s. simpered
the young lady.
IL
ty-ons years old. I've get my fathers watch
in my pocket and ten dollars besides ~
And forgetting that be mad deposited his wal
let in bis hat, he felt for it in his pocket.
"Jerusaiem roared Joshua, springine
to his feet in terrible dismay l-''taint there
I've been robbed. LIS gone! Somebody.
committed arson on my person and pocket =
Joshua glared at the young lady by his side
who was NV getting as excited as himself
and was busy feeling FIRST in Que pocke. an!
then in her reticule.s -
"You'vs 20. It," Numbered he. II ort L
have known you waa't respectable Fv'
heern marin say a hundred times that II,
decent woman wore one of them waterfalls
You got it while l was huggn' Of ye
Sarved me right, by hokey! / hadn't an
bizness 10 hug another gal when I'm ksepin
company with Peggy Ann! Ten dollars tina
father got for the brindls calf!-IIapd !
aver, or by scizzors Ill search ye, if ye be
woman" EE ~
The young lady sprang up--hcr faco re'
and her eyes bazing-sbs too had read th
papers and heard about piekpoekets.
An angry man IS feaful sight bat can
compare with an angry woman And thi
one was raging. She brandished her paraso
in one hand and her reticuls in the other.
you've stolen nay Portmonie,T cried she
you've taken advantage of an innocen,
unprotected female, and played the part OF
pickpocket! i might a known you was on
I've heern say they alters have red noses
Ill have ye arrested on the spoti CondHe
tor! here. here! This white>eyed rascs
has got my portmonie, and Jee's miniature
and he huggcd me land he's got m
pocket handkcrchief-oh dear! dear !!
wish / had staid to home II sss - e.
al '.Don,t behave word she SAYS erie
Joshua. She's lrIn'. She's the one that
been st.alin'. She's picked my pocket
everything there was in it,-eyery.hing br
father: watch and plug OF tobaceer Com
sarch her! Dear SUI! I'm ashamed {
myself? Twas so sarsimg could cut IN
own fodder. and mind my P's and Q's. Ho
do wish marm was here-shc know iu
what to do, III gee If can't DO something,
and he began to climb over th. back of Ii
seat.