The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-06-12
Discovering the Thief.

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Discovering the Thief
Nick Bowers was member Of the
original Christy's Minstrels, and as
the veteran performer, /. A, Hermon,
recently remarked to the writer, Nick
was the greatest middle man. and in.
terrogator, ever known in the whole
profession. Nick's nobleness of heart
and ever generous readiness to assist
needy friend, was proverblal; and al:
though man Of giant stature and her
culean power, he in disposition was as
gentle ana harmless as lamb.
Nick used to tell, with great merri-
ment, an incident of his boyhood.
To preserve the flavor Of the relation
we will record it in Nick's own words,
and only regret that we cannot accom-
pany it with his inimitable gesticula.
ton.
.'My old man" said Nick, Gas a gen.
eral thing, was pretty steady old
gent; but once in while he would
get oblivious, and aOater was not the
cause of it, I recollect certain hol-
iday was approaching, and | had been
SHINING around to get little money
to have good time with on that day;
but the fates and purses were against
me. Two days prior to the anticipa-
ted holiday dawn hedn't nary red.
Remember this boys, when add that
upon this same afternoon l came into
the house, when 10! there upon the
floor, totally overcome by his imbibi-
tions. lay my respected daddy, and be-
side him six shining half dollars which
had rolled from his pocket. Boys, l
have been an honest man all my life;
but once. when boy, I committed a
theft. l hooked one of those half-dol.
lars. Thinks to myself, the old
mans been on a jamboree; wont know
how much he's spent. and will never
miss it. But mark you. the next
morning and my two brothers were
summoned into our fathers presence.
the old mans face lowered. thought
OF that half-dollar, and knew storm
was brewing. Boys SAID he, last
night I came home with six half-dol-
lara. One Of ems gone. Your moth
er didn't take it. There's been no
one else in the house. Which of you
took it! We all protested our limo
cence. Boys said the old man,
that half:dollar never walked away,
and I'm going to find out which one OF
you three boys took it. Turning
round, he took from the wall an old
flint-lock Queen Anne ,blunderbuss.
This he deliberately loaded with pow
der and buck-shot in our presence;
then fastening it upon the table, he
cooked it, tied a string to the trigger,
took a seat behind it, holding the
string in his hand, and in solemn tones
addressed US thusly: Boys, I'm going
to discoverthe thief, and punish him
at the same time. You must each
blow in the muzzle of that gun
When the guilty one blows, of goes
his head. Now then, you have
chance; will you own up, or blowa
Not word did either of us speak.
'Ben,' said the old man to nv oldest
brother. have you got that half-dol-
larF NO sir BLOW in that muzzle.
Ben did so. and the gun didn't go off,.
Jack, to my next brother,' have YOU
got that half dollar9' No SIR take
a blow Jack did so in safety.
Mick. (eh boys, tell you the chiils
began to course down my back), got
that half-dollarP said the old man.
No sir said I, with defiant swagger.
BLOW in that gun. l walked up
bravely, gave blow, and-dodged.
'Ncik, said the old man, in voice of
thunder, where is that half-dollara'
He had me. The truth lodged out Of
me. Said I, Out in the barn, pop,