The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-04-02

where he'd steal nothing for year or
two at least"
"Might be she; dars she robbers,
suggested Ona; Z" an dey's all wuss den
caterpillars. Caterpillars takes 20
things right fore yo' eyes-don't sneak
in 20 pockit. Take cup Of tea, Miss
Peppar'. Dar's no use Of frettin' no
mo-. An de cats ben a-settin' on yer
skirt for half an hour, wantin' you to
notice her, pore thing. She JUS came
in off de pooh q minnit ago."
Miss Peppard took the tea, and spoke
to the cat; but she couldn't help fret.
ting, and she slept but little that night,
and awoke the next morning almost as
vexed as ever, and denounced the thief
at intervals of about half an hour from
breakfast until dinner, although Peteona
emphatically remarked: "Dar's no use
cursin' an swearin', Miss Peppar'; can't
do no good. Wish I had dat robber
here, dough-"
But after dinner, for which Ona
served soothing little stew and a cool
ing cream custard, the old lady became
little calmer, and retired to her own
room to write q letter to her sister
Polly, who lived away of in Michigan;
and she had Just written: And can't
make Q strawberry bed this summer, as
1 intended, and I'll have to wear my
old bonnet, and dear dear how shall
miss baby's picture |" Peteona opened
the door sans ceremoaje, as she always
did, and walked in with mysterious
air. "Pusson want to see you, Miss
Peppar'--man pusson. Bout boys
age, guess.
"What does he look like, and where
did you leave him ?" asked the old lady,
laying down her pen, and looking lit
tie alarmed.
"Out on de pooh. I lock de do.
An he's dirty, ragged feller dat looks
JUS like dirty, ragged feller. Shall /
broom him of, Miss Peppar'? Looks as
dough he ort to be broomed off-or glib
sumfin to eat-pore, bony, dirty soul. !"
"I'll come right down." said Miss
Peppard; and down she went. And
ragged, forlorn-looking boy of about
twelve years Of age. looking exceedingly
"bony" and half starved, sure enough.
he pulled off his apology for cap
when Miss Peppard opened the door,
asked him, in mild voice-she never
|
my boy, what do you wantP"
"Then you lost your pocketbook
yesterday 2" heblurted out.
"Yes," said she eagerly. "That is,
it was stolen from me; for I felt it in
my pocket a moment before missed it.
Do you know the thief ."
"I'm him." was the answer and he
raised pair of dark eyes, that looked
like the eyes of haunted animal, to
+ her face.
"My conscience +" exclaimed the old
lady, and fell into chair that stood
near, while Peteona daxted out and
seized him, shouting "Golly got yo'
wish mighty soon dis time, Miss Pep
par. Run for de constable. I'll hold
him. Gould hold a dozen like him-or
two or free"
"Let him alone, Ona," said her mis-
tress, while the boy stood withadt max
ing the slightest resistance.
"Ain'f he to be drug to the lookup ?"
asked Ona, with toss of her turbaned
head.
"Wait till we hear what he has to
say" said Miss Peppard. Then turn
ing to the boy, she asked, as mildly as
ever "Of course you haven't brought
me back -
"Yes, I have" interrupted he.
J Here It's, money and all, 'cept what
had TO take to fetch me out here. ]
found your name in it on card, and
where you lived"
} "But, bless youi" exclaimed the old
! lady, more end moro surprised, "whSt
} made you take il If you were going tC
bring il back |? Come iuto the kitchen
and tell me all aboutit. Ona, give him
} drink Of milk"
, ST sha'nt do it. Spect robbers gifts
: thirsty as well as odder folks, dough. y
And she handed him the milk, which he
, /" Now go on" said Miss Peppard.
"Why did you steal my pocketbook
: and why, having stolen it, did You bring
t it backP Are You theft"
r S'pose-IEam," he stammered
. "but / don't want to be no more. ]
!, wouldn't q took it year ago, when my
q mother was alive but she died, and
= father he went to prison soon after fol
Q beatin' another man and hadn't NJ
friends and it's hard gittin' along wheI
your mothers dead and you hain't nj
!; friends, and your fathers in prison."
|, "'Tain't soft, dat's de fac, said Pc
|. teOna, gravely.
d $50 1 fell in with a gang of bad fell
a lers, but never stole nothin' but fhingI
8 TO eat till yesterday. come out of thu
l. house of refuge two weeks ago.
: "House of refuse r. exclaimed Pc
q teona, holding up her hands. "An
a-settin' in my clean kitchen, on m,
% clean oilclofl Wot nex't"
}, ST was there for breakin' a Winde
( and sassin' ascop," said the boy, with
show Of indignation, land nothin' else
ls though they aid try to make me out
" reg'lar bad nm" And then he went on
d under the influence of Miss Peppard'
}, steady gaze: "And the fellers said
(. was q softy not TO have the game as wei
it "a tha name. and 80 j want into tbs