The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-07-11

aud her down bed quilt were forgotten
Her lev purchases made aud the doc
. closed behind the peddIer. Mrs. Dorosh!
sat down 10 resume her sowing. worl
} once more in hand and her needle thread
ei. she suddenly misssd her ihimble.
} could not be found nowhere: she looked
In her basket; on the Aoor, Ia every nool
and corner. and thcn called 10 JuliA II sh,
knew of its wbevesbouk: for Il vas
source Of pride TO Mrs Dorothy Lake. =
this tbimblr made from nugget of gold
sent home by her brother David from the
gold fields OF CAlifoEais. and il was al
ways worn. whether u work or not. st The
fortnishtly meet Of the society. Mrs DoI
otby was alarmed ss iss absence. and per
plexsd st the mystery Of its disappesrsncs
when Of sudden she exclaimed. The ped.
dlcr. Of course he took II. shy didn't ]
think Of II before. II ~as right here on
the table when he came in. No use talk
lag. Julia. he took il. and you 60 At once
aud call you father. Johu Lake vas snm.
moued from bis thrsshisg in the barn. .snd
matters hastily explained 10 him by his
wife. Who would up sish the positive -
sertion that she kusw the vsgrant stole it,
for sll pack peddlers are thieves. John
quickly harnessed bis fastest borre into Z
light buggy, snd With his hired msn drove
rapidly along the village road down which
the peddler was seen to disappear. lie
was overtsken just when leaving house.
and when be was informed that he was
wanted. submitted quietly and was brought
back to face his accuser. When be was in-
formed OF the charge against him he was
greatly frightened. and offered the best
thimble in bis pack II be would be allow
cd to depart. This. TO Mrs. Dorothy's
Judicial mind. was 9 confirmation OF guilt.
and she would listen TO no compromise;
so John drove to the village and gave him
to the custody OF the sheriff. after prefer
ring his charge before . Justice.
The next morning found the little vii
lage Of DanviIle greatly excited. A Grim
inaI was q curiosity. aud that such char
ac'er should be spprehended by one OF
their townspeople was matter OF satisfac-
tory comment. "Mrs. Lakes burglar" as
he was called. was to be trisd before Jus.
tice Richards in the town hall that after
noon. and a general holiday was made OF
il.
The room was crowded TO suflocation.
All OF the Helping Hsnd" society had
front seats, for was not this their case, and
was it not their president who was to pun.
ish thief, aud benefit the world thereby
and they would adjourn to Mrs. Dorothys
quilting In body. and celebrate the vic
tory OF their triumph
They gazed IN admiration at their head
official who set by her husbands side near
The witness stand. The peddler was
brought 10. covering and pale. and the
testimony began. Mrs. Dorothy gave hers.
,alm and collected as though accustomed
10 the proceedings, and then sat down.
A hum Of applause came from the front
'ow. The prisoner, when asked what he
,ad to say for himself. made no reply,
md the Judge arose from bis ssst to speak
Vhen messenger came to him and whis
,ered few words in his ear. When he
oft small package WAS seen lying on the
lesk. which the Judge now united and
exposed the thimble to view. Mrs. Doro-
by sprsng forward with cry Of joy:
It 10 nine; when did be give it to you,
With scowl 1t the prisoner, who now
manifested sn interest for the first tins.
Then you claim this thimble, Mrs. Lake,
aid Judge Richards with . judicia
mile.
Why. yes; see my initials, ID. L. on
be rim. Oh! I'm so glad We caught the
orrid thief.
Judge Richards continued:
This thimble was found by Mrs. Aman-
d Briggs in the handle OF pair OF scis
ors on her quilting frame this morning.
The quilting did not occur st Mrs Dor
thy Lakes that afternoon; the society !.
sd other matters Of more concern to them
he down quilt brought to Mrs. Briggs
er former position IS president Of the
Helping Hand" society, and At the meet.
,g after her iustallment shc secured the 8
srvices Of native Zulu. in whose nation
|ity the society is now interested.