Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-09-26
lie, and Helped hull the berries, as

Potter sent me yesterday
"Katie took it, ma'amr" said Mary. 'lt
was in one of the boxes"
mo, / niver, muml" spoke up Kate,
turning round, with plate of fish in her
hand. Nothing was niver said to me
about money, mum. / jist takes the
boxes out of the basket and sets 'em
in a row on the pantry shelf, as ye bids
me; but it's the first that liver 1 heard
about money"
"What does this mean?" said Mrs.
Townsend, with severe glance at Mary.
Are you sure Mr.. Potter paid you yes
terday?"
30, yes'm, two dollarsp said Mary,
eagerly; and Phebe, forgetting her awe of
Mrs. Townsend struck in with her
favorite ditty, "Yes'm he did, for saw
him. Serious, truly, black and bluely"
Kate, you may go to the store with
the children, and inquire" said Mrs.
Townsend, paying no attention to Phebe.
She had entire confidence in her trusty
old servant, as well she might; so what
could have become of the money?
Kate came back, saying that Mr.. Potter
had given the children a two-dollar bill;
but she did not say, for she did not know,
that Mary had gone home crying bitterly,
her heart nearly broken.
"What shall / do? Oh, what shall i
do?" said the poor child, throwing her
self into her mothers arms. 1.-THE money
was in one of the boxes; that's where l
always put it; but she doesn't believe me.
She thinks / stole it; and Mr.. Potter
thinks so, too,-Mr. Potter, that always
liked Phebe and me, and said we were
the best little girls in this town, to help
our mother"
There was a quick, decided tap at the
kitchen door, and Mrs. Townsend, who
lived Just across the garden, stepped in
without any bonnet on.
81 wish you would tell me what all this
meansl' said Mrs. Penny, forgetting to
say "How dye do?"
"That is Just what came to inquire
of y0u," returned Mrs. Townsend, her
head tipping back at least two inches.
l don't know as it would be possible to
make you believe a word against your
children, Mrs. Penny, but will tell you
a few facts, and then you may say if
haven't some reason to think all is not
right. Yesterday morning, as happen
ed to go into the garden to take look at
the tomatoes, overheard your children
scolding about my being stingy, and one
of them-I think it was the oldest-was
coaxing the other to steal the money for
the next lot of berries"
"Mrs. Townsend p cried Mrs. Penny,
her face quite white with amaZement.
"Oh, l knew you wouldn't believe
me-" said Mrs. Townsend, with hard
smile. "Didn't / say so in the first
place 2"
Mother, mother, twas Phebe %
broke in Mary. "She did say so, just in
fun ~
"Fun p' cried Mrs. Townsend. "I
should call it pretty serious kind of
fun ! And, Mrs. Penny, that very day l
went out riding, while they were gone
to the store, aud what should they do out
take advantage of my absence, and"-
mo, we didn't, mother" exclaimed
Phebe, dancing up and down. "Seri-
Gus, truly, black and bluely."
Mrs. Townsend lost her temper at that,
or perhaps she would not have gone on
so hastily.
"Wait till 1 get through talking, Miss
should they do but take advantage of my
bill"
The outraged mother looked at Mrs.
Townsend, with a pale face and trem-
bling lips, but not word could she
speak She was a Christian woman, and
meant to bear and forbear, but this seemed
little too much.
"Please remember" said she, at last,
with quiet dignity, THAT you are talking
to mother about her dear children. You
should be sure you are right before say
ing what you have just said, Mrs. Town
send"
The hard-faced neighbor covered little.
Everybody knows you are the soul of
honesty yourself, Mrs. Penny, and don't
mean to cast single slur on you; but I've
always thought you were little blinded
as to your children, and, really, did feel
it my duty to come and tell you what
they've been up to. Facts are facts, and
the question is, Mrs. Penny, how are you
going to get around 'em?"
at looks very mysterious, that is true, !"
said Mrs. Penny, taking the sobbing
Phebe in her lap. "But as for my little
children stealing, why, you must know,
Mrs. Townsend, / can't believe it for
moment. You think the case is very
strong against them, but even you must
have your doubts; and hope, as my hus-
band used to say, you will give them the
beneft0f tie doubt"
al don't know what you mean by the
benefit of the doubt" said Mrs. Townsend.
81 suppose it's law phrase; but law
phrases don't change things either one
way or the other"
al mean this; my husband used to say
it was fair to believe a person innocent
till he was proved guilty. only ask you
to wait awhile, Mrs. Townsend, and
please don't mention this affair at present.
/ have faith to believe it will all be ex-
planned"
"Well, I will wait week." said Mrs.
Townsend, softly; land by that time /
Ill 4 r. fxNr thafr
conduct, and bring back the money"
With that, she swept out of the house,
looking angrier than when she came; for
she thought Mrs. Penny held her head
rather too high for a woman that took in
plain sewing.
"There's one thing do know" thought
she, as she walked in at her own gate,
"if the Lord had given me children
of nv own, / shouldn't be so blinded
that couldn't hear a word said against
EN-"
"Sure, mum, it's me, Kate Maloney,
with a spoon in one hand, and straw
berry box in the other. Mr.. Potter's
store-b'y, Just fitched up this box, as come
home this morning, with the money In 1t,
all straight"
Mrs. Townsend stared hard at the two
dollar bill, which lay in the bowl
kate's iron spoon.
"I don't understand word of il" said
she.
"Why, you see mum, it was Mrs. Pink
hams folks got the Strawberries, and
when they tips 'em out Until dish for
dinner, there was the money layin' un-
der 'em, all soaked with the rid, and they
jist says it's none of theirs, and sends 1t
back to Mr.. Potter"
- sha hnx oftar all " said
Mrs. Townsend, looking quite crestfallen.
"Yis, mum, jist as the childers was a
telling; and We must have went and put
the strawberries right atop, mum, and
niver notished."
"Yes, so must" said Mrs. Townsend,
thoughtfully. 1t seemed to her she would
rather face cannonade than go back to
Mrs. Penny's and acknowledge her mis-
take.
81 thought twas the quarest thing what
had gone of that money. OF course, no