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

where he'd steal nothing for year or
two at least"
"Might be a she; dar's she robbers"
suggested Ona; " an dey's all wuss den
caterpillars. Caterpillars takes yo'
things right fore yo' eyes-don't sneak
in yo' pockit. Take a cup of tea, Miss
Peppar'. Oars 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 a 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'; cant
do no good. Wish i had dat robber
here, dough-"
But after dinner, for which Ona
served soothing little stew and cool
ing cream custard, the old lady became
little calmer, and retired to her own
room to write letter to her sister
Polly, who lived away off 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 1 shall
miss baby's picture |" Peteona opened
the door sans cerenonie, as she always
did, and walked in with a 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. lock de do.
An he's dirty, ragged feller dat looks
JUS like dirty, ragged feller. Shall 1
broom him off, Miss Peppar'P Looks as
dough he ort to be hroomed off-or glib
sumin to cat-pore, bony, dirty soul. "
"I'll come right down." said Miss
Peppard; and down she went. And
there on the porch stood dirty,
ragged, forlorn-looking boy of about
twelve years Of age, looking exceedingly
ebony and half starved, sure enough.
He pulled off his apology for cap
when Miss Peppard opened the door,
but said never word until the old lady
asked him, in mild voice-she never
spoke unkindly to dirt and rags: Well,
my boy, what do you wantP"
"Then you lost your pocketbook
yesterday 2" he blurted out.
"Yes," said she eagerly. "That is,
it was stolen from me; for l felt it in
my pocket q moment before missed it.
Do you know the thief !"
Tim 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 darted 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-
ing the slightest resistance.
"Ain'f he to be drug to the lookup p
asked Ona, with toss of her turbaned
head.
"Wait till we hear what he has tc
say" said Miss Peppard. Then turn,
ing to the boy, she asked as mildly as
ever "of course you haS%'t brought
me back
eyes, have" interrupted he.
"Here tits, money and all, 'cept what
had TO take to fetch me out here.
found your name in it on card, an6
where you lived"
} "But, bless you " exclaimed the ole
: lady, more end more surprised, "what
} made you take it if you were going tt
bring il back? Come Into the kitchen
and tell me all aboutit. Ona, give him
"I sha'nt do 4 spect robbers git
! thirsty as well as odder folks, dough.
And she handed him the milk, which he
drank eagerly.
, "Now go on" said Miss Peppard
"Why did you steal my pocketbook
: and why, having stolen it, did you bring
it back ? Are You thief ?"
r S'pose-I2am," he stammered
3 "but don't want to be no more.
, wouldn't a took it year ago, when m!
q mother was alive; but she died, anC
? father he went to prison soon after TO
Q beatin' another man and 1 hadn't NJ
friends and it's hard gittin' along whel
I your mothers dead and you hain't n,
!; friends, and your fathers in prison."
|, "'Tain't soft, dat's de fac'," said Pc
/. teona, gravely.
$50 1 fell in with gang of bad fel
q lers, but never stole nothin' but thing
8 to eat till yesterday. come out of tn
/ house of refuge two weeks ago -
= "House of refuse |" exclaimed Pc
s teona, holding up her hands. "Ar
a-settin' in my clean kitchen, on m
o clean oilclofl Wot nex'f"
: ST was there for breakin' a winde
{ and sassin' ascop," said the boy, with
show of Indignation, "and nothin' else
Is though they did try to make me out
II reg'lar bad un." And then he went OF
d under the influence of Miss Peppard
}, steady gaze: "And the fellers said
I. was a softly not TO have the game as we
it as the name, and 80 went into tbs