The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-04-28
DAVID BixBY'S RELiCT.
HOW SHE ENTERTAINED A DETECTIVF F

MIS-. Abigail BlXDy was WHOM lauy, tlle
number of years of her life fixed at an indefi-
the sad morning when the turf had closed
finally over Bixby, she felt that all mankind
We're banded together in seeking her tenn
poral ruin, and that she was the pre-ordain-
ed prey of all the sharks of humanity and
moreover looked upon pretty much all hui
manity as of the shark species. She owned
a house and garden spot, pasturage for
COW, a bit of moving, and some live stock ;
and every morning she looked out of her
bedroom window, before she took her night
cap off, to see if these sharks hadn't gobbled
up some part of her property. She felt that
any poor unwashed who had hungry family
might lead off her cow or cosset sheep
thieves might make off with her poultry; or
rude boys be caught in her apple trees; the
neighbors cattle might break into her corn
field or their pigs root up her garden; for
she was poor widow and every body took
advantage of her.
The milkman gave her short measure and
diluted her milk beyond that of all her neigh
bors'. Didn't she know good milk In self
defence she bought her COW, or rather she
asked the deacon of her church, in whom Of
all men she could place confidence, to buy
one for her The deacon was cheated, and
the deacon cheated her. She bought a new
stove and ordered it sent home. The dray-
man charged her fifty cents for bringing it.
That was an abomination She bought some
coal, and the depraved dealer sent her a
poorer quality. She presumed he thought
she never would know the difference! The
man who made her garden charged her a
quarter of a dollar day more than he charg-
ed any one else,-and so through the whole
round-the butcher, the baker and candle
IL 1oor Of fCr
| she was poor widow and every one took
advantage of her,
II she hadn't found solace for the trials of
life in her tea pot, she would have nightly
bedewed her pillow with tears in vain long
ing for the protection of the lost BiXby dear.
The most and heaviest of her troubles Mrs
Bixby of course bears on her own account,
but She has taken goodly number on her
shoulders for our village. Wit h all It's un-
principled usurers, dishonest dealers and
exorbtant laborers, it's a very wicked place,
and being u widow lady, Mrs. Bxby fully
understands the depths of its wickedness.
reform she wants justice, signal and unspar-
ing, shown it. We have been getting more
and more of the lights of modern civilization
every year She felt sure that trouble was
in store for us, as it always was for her, the
only difference being that it would fall upon
us as q Just retribution; upon her it came
through the eyil-mindedness of us dwellers
in the Valley of Destruction.
Mrs. BiXby believed that we were approach
ing the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah,
and she was laborious in devising methods
for our destruction without resorting to any
literal fire and birthstone storm. The factory
dam might give way and the flood destroy
us, as in the old days when the wickedness
. We, IN, ho a,tb i'm
agination of his heart evil continually; or g
fire might consume all our ill-gotten wealth
and humble the spirit that boasted itself, OF
the pestilence might sweep us from the earth
leaving but a name and heritage.
But if we went by water Mrs Bixby and
Mrs Bixby's COW and cosset and hens woulc
be likely to go too; if we went by fire hel
real estate would be likely to depreciate ir
value; and if the cholera took us off Mrs
!, Bixby, being very susceptible to contagious
diseases, would, in all likelihood, 60 early
without the satisfaction of having seen right
eous vengeance executed. So that all she
feared for the village threatened to have 8
reflex action upon herself. 1t would be pos
sible for burglars to spoil us and Mrs. Bixby
remain unharmed, but burglars seemed no
, to occur to her. Nevertheless we had burg
lars.
We are village on the Boston & Alban,
, railroad, of few years and small size, bu
with large prospects and a taste for metro
politan institutions; so when l say that in
stead of burglars proving a salutary dsci
f pline we took degree of pleasure in having
them you will understand my meaning,
: We had an account of our experience in th
g newspaper, and read over the item with SOM
q inward graduation at our Importance. The
q manufacturers wives, from the night OF the
burglary, ceased to speak of their servants
as ''hired help" and before the close of the
first day after the event, building lots ha'
+ had risen ten per cent. A wholesome aw'
fell upon all persons of ten years of age ant
:. under, after dark. and older persons wer
; supplied with that great desideratum of lite
something to talk about. Every one advanc
Q ed theories, suggested possibilities and lai(
u plans long, deep and wide, in adroitness
l. But there is palpable difference betweel
). specializing upon burglars with the sun higl
: in the heavens, and getting out at night t.
1t hunt up the camphor bottle, and running in
l. to the arms OF 4 big man carrying darl
V lantern. SO that, while every one speculat
). ed, every one purchased patent locks and pa
e tent firearms. Men slept soundly through
d thunder-storms, cat-fghts and the breakin,
V up of Good Templar meetings. with loaded
e revolvers under their pillows, and womel
lay awake all night to listen to mice gnaw
S ing through the garret stairs.
It The facts in the case of Village versu
+ Burglars were something as follows: Potte
c & Brothers. store had been broken open ant
!. thirty-seven cents, very little of which wa
:. counterfeit, taken from the money drawer
e Two pieces of handkerchiefs and half doz
a en- pairs Of stockings were also taken. Th
@ stockings were thrown into the river,-a
e evidence of good judgment of the quality o
t. stockings on the part Of the burglars: Potte
l. & Brothers sent for a constable, for Their
was strong circumstantial evidence. A GIN
q let had been found, and the boot-tracks point
,, ed toward p. Three persons knew me-
d who had purchased gimlets, and five person
If knew men who had been seen going in tn
e direction of P. Potter & Brothers woul
e have sent for the sheriff, but the constabl
t. believed that was he empowered with suffi
is cient authority to act in such cases. Th
burglars were not apprehended, but Potte
:, & Brothers took an inventory, and sent fo
- five varieties of patent locks and three quail
H. tiles Of gun-powder.