The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-03-25
TEE GRoCER's STORY.

Ours wasa quiet stree, at most lines.
a lazy, shady place, where the green
blinds were forever closed, and where
there we're SO little passing, that, spies
of grass grew here and there among the
flag stones. and stcoecOrbs of the IRON
rallied acres were Irioged with sofl green
moss, A very quiet place at most times
but late one autumn afternoon a strange
cry sounded through it which awakened
all its echoes and called curious faces to
,.he doors and windows.
Stop thiel!'
The strong voice of a policeman ut
tered The cry at FIRST, and the shrill tre-
BILE Of Two boys al play near by took it
up and repeated it, aod by aud by there
was full deep chorus. like the cry ola
pack of hounds : a sound you might HAYS
known at any distance, however igno-
rant you were Of the language, to be the
cry olimep who hunted something,
Poiicelaea Rih lbeir elebss eSFsnd-
5addies, bsEefs 7sSiih
,bssksis 90 their arms. young genilemoo
Just released from the academy close at
hand. and ragsed-urchins whose school
houses was the gutter, ali joined togslh.
or ia hol pursuit. aud followed the mis-
cradle object with bare begrimed feet
and hotless head, that illed along before
them with speed which only fear coUlJ
lend 10 one so worn and wrelched "a
speed which kept the crowd lang way
of, while tho buIEesl Of bis pursuars
painted for breath.
They were out Of sight ia a moment,
but in little while the cry was heard
tha! the lhisfhsd bsfH'd them, Snd some
among the crowd rushed back to see if
their prey had doubled on his track, aud
indignant with the useless chase, came
back matering augrily, or swearing
with many bitter oa'hs that they would
have him yc;, One pol ceman, we'll
fed fellow, with crimson face, made
quite a hero oil himself by asserting that
he knew the fellow anl would trap him
before sundowa. There was good
deal of sympathy for the gentleman who
lost the pocket Handkerchief, but nonc
that | could hear for the poor, degrade
wretch who had purloinei it until a pla-
cid voics OF my elbow uttered the follow
ing words, apparently in soliloquy:
We'll may be wrong, but somehow
hope they won't catch him.
turned in surprise and confronted
our grocer, on whose step had sOugh
shelter from the crowd. which at such {
moment, could not be expected to thinl
mach Of the safety ola woman.
Our grocer was poHly man with
shining bald head Hinged by a ring O
whitO hair, like the tOOsure Of q RomaI
Catholic priest and wearing at the mo
ment Holland apron and short blut
| jacket.
'YCs'm.' he went on, 4 hopo ia,
miserable, starved. looking creature vii
get of,
Then you don't believe he picked the
! gsrniemau pockct?' said |.
I'm arraid It's only too certain thu
he did, maam, said the man. shakin;
bis heed, He looked straight at me a
he passed, and he had hungry desperate
eyes that looked like lhelt-murier, to-
for that matter.
And ye, YOU want him to escAp
when he has broken the laws Of the lao
and will probably do so sgoin,"
God forbid that should help 10 brCaI
the laws, said the old grocer. Goo
men make them Hud1hsy ore righl; bu
there are other laws that l read in m
oil Bible Sunday nights, that seem t
bo binding, One of them is; DO uUt
Others as you woull tha, olherO shoul
! do uulo you, and another. love th
noghbor as lhyseli,' When rcmen
these words, | think tha, we may bc to
hard with a poor sinful feIlow.beiul
and not 60 beyond the limits Of tho la
either.
The rich gentleman who had hi
pockol picked will 60 homo and End
dinner and bottle Of wine no doub
anil the wr,loh Of a thief may have