Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-02-18
From st. \
Picked Pockets.
A STORY ToR CHILDREN.

we're the fellows who could not pay their fare.
ave had our pocket picked just as we came
aboard :" began George; and we haven't any
money and VIC"
81 know the rest interrupted the man
"yOu needn't tell it,
"You saw the operation ?" said George, ca
gerly.
"No. But I have heard the story rather
too many times; no danger of my forgetting
| itr'
From the passengers!' said George, who,
Supplemented and ineI pericnced, was too much
inclined to take every sober mans word in
earnest But the Other Boy detected sarcasm
in the mans cold tone of voice
"From just such fellows as you," replied
the man. "It's fine excuse for Sinking your
fares you've lost your money, or had your
pockets picked the same thing; one story's as
good as another; and neither will go down with
me-"
George looked aghast; while the Other Boy
spoke up quickly
"Plenty of people saw the pick-pockets take
our money; and if you don't believe US"
"I'll believe you as soon as I'll believe man
who say he saw pick-pocket take your money,
and didn't report him on the spot lie is no
better than pick-pocket himself
The boys felt the force of this argument; and,
indeed, how could any spectator know that they
had not been playing game, in order to make
it appear that they were robbed, Although
one must have allowed that, at least, Georges
CONSERVATION at his loss was either very real,
or very well acted indeed.
"We tell you the truth" said George, with
a sincerity that ought to have been convincing.
"And if you won't believe us, or those per-
sous who saw the whole affair." added hiscom-
panion, falling back upon a. certaiu.stult Bern
ness, and defiance of the worst. xlic4svcre
marked traits in his character, "I don't know
what you'll do about it,
q" That's simple enough" replied the man.
" You pay your fares or you'll be put ashore
at the next landing" lie turned away, but
paused and added in the same business-likc tone,
"You've no baggage of course"
Yes we have baggage" said George.
The man appeared little surprised. No
doubt it was unusual for such trckstcrs as he
took them for, to be encountered with luggage,
but he did not reent
/" loud better get it ready" he said. " You
will be put off at Hudson, and you won't want
to go without your traps
"This is lovelyr' said the Other Boy, knit
ting his brows and COMPRISING his lips, while
his companion was simply coufounded.
1--WE don't want to be left at Hudson, or any
other place!" said George, pale with alarm.
"Only twenty-five cents Just think of ito
exclaimed the Other Boy, with laugh which
did not have an overlooking amount of mirth
in it. "That's too absurd! They never'll do
it!'
"I'm afraid they will Why not!'' asked
George.
They'll threaten us, TO make us fork over
our fares if we have any money, of course; but
when they find We haven't, they can't be so
meant Besides the passengers who saw the af-
fair will interfere. I'm not going ashore at
Hudson Come! Wen ind some Of them. There's
that old gentleman!''
He was the same who had spoken to the boys
before. He now listened kindly to their story,
and said:
"No, don't think they will really put you
Oft the boat; but you can't blame them for be-
ing little suspicious of you, there are so many
rogues trying all the while to cheat them out of
their fares
"And so we who are innocent, must suffer be-
cause there arc imposters 20 exclaimed George,
Indignantly.
Yes, that's the way it works. If every
body was honest" said the old gentleman,
" then we should have no cause to lock our
doors or shut our ears to the appeals of the I'M
fortunate. So you see how how uncomfortable
liars and knayes make the world for us. But
think know honest boys when see them, and
| am satisfied you tell the truth. 1t is a small
matter, and I may save you some trouble by
lending you the amount of your fares,''
"Oh!' said both boys at once.
The old gentleman handed them half dollar
saying, +" Now you needn't give yourselves any
trouble about it; but when it is perfectly con-
Went you may repay me- Here is my card"
The boys thanked him as well as they could |
the tongue never can speak what the heart
feels at such times,-an George said:
g wish you would go with us, sir. and tell
that man that you lend us the money for do
not want him to think we had it in our pockets
all the time
That's NATURAL" said the old gentleman;
md, as they soon met the officer coming toward
Them again, he accosted him, and standing by
The boys, explained why they were then able to
pay their fires, and bore his testimony to their
honesty.
"Fm glad you are satisfied" replied the
nan, "and hope you'll see your money
'gain'
SIN sure shall, if they are prospercd,"
aid the old gentleman, with smile.-J. #.
Trowbridyc.
Kentucky is wrestling with the problem of
ducation as it affects her coIored population.
bill has passed the Senate, taxing the colored
itizens 20 cents on the 800 for fund, which
$ to further receive the interest on n pro rata
hare of anything the Commonwealth may col
ect of the United States government on the
war claim " Of the State This fund it appro-
,riates in aid Of separate and distinct schools.
he superintendent of public instruction is nut
n charge; the school commissioners are charged
With all the duties, to colored children they now
ave to white; each school il To have colorod |