The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-09-25
VINO srnLE rnE HONEY.

The honey Was In Deacon Birds
store. What child living in the
country has not seen Just such n
store" u has barrels 81 putatues,
kegs of mOlas=es, piles nf Goldfish,
and on the counter pieces of pink
and white calico for the little folks
frOcks aud aprons. There IL always
q glass showcase i'm this kind Of n
store where are kept pen-knives aud
thimbles aud letter paper, and per-
haps n little ease Of glitlering flu
yer rings. And behind the show
case, on the high shelves, there are
glass jars full Of candy; fascinating
sticks penny apiece, some white,
some red, some with TIbbon-lIke
stripes, are la the Jars, and pink
cinnamon lOZPngers and delicious
lemon drops.
Besides having all these melI-in-
yOuT-mOuth Ia sell, Deacon Bird
dealt Ia honey. A few boxes Of the
sweet golden stuff always stood in
the back Of the store near q window.
One summer day Deacon Bird die
covered that a large part of the
honey had been taken from one OF
the boxes. Had his little erraud
boy, Dick, q sweet tooth"
Come here you, Dick, said the
deacon.
Dick came, harefoOIed, curly
headed, with his ragged straw hat
in his hand.
Have you been meddling with
my honey, sir"
"No, SIR
prove that you havn't by finding
out the thief said the deacon "DO
you hear"
Poor Dick How was he 10 find
out the thief" 4 few days past and
another box was nearly emptied.
ave watched, said the deacon,
land NO one goes into the back
store but yourself. II you don't
clear up This mystery in q week |
you leave my store. want no
thieves In my place"
To be called a thief, That was
harder than hard work. Dick would /
have left the deacon's employ that i
very minute had 70 not been that his /
father was n poor msp, with little
ones younger than Dick to clothe
and feed. No, he must stay aud
find the culprit.
One day Dick went into a hack
room, and sat down on q bag OF
meal. The deacon had gone home
to dinner and Dick was tending
store. Hut there were no customers,
and the boy, feeling very disheart-
sned, sat down among the ba rrels
and boxes Co think what he should
10 II the deacon turned him away.
Suddenly he heard a sound that
raused him to look up.
"Ha' hai" said Dick, There are
The thieves"
There they were, indeed, talking
away 60 each other, coming Ia and
going out, rs busy and important
10 N their dOings were bonest and
lbove board. Above board they
'eally were, for not one Of pilfef-
ng gentry made the slightest pre- c
ense to secrecy.
al will tell the deacon you are .
lere," said Dick. land he may
ateh you IL he eau. guess he'll Z
ave q merry Chase Of t." n
The Dick fell laughing, and in n n
aroxysm of mirth rolled or the b
nealbSg On to u lag of Brazil nuts. D
he mute did not make n very COM d
DFtahle bed, and he sprang up lust q
, the deacon came in.
1--WE found the thieves, Deacon q
ird,' he said. Come and catch
lem"
But the deacon WAS afraid the m
Iseals might do him mischief. So Ell
, locked the door Of the back room, .
aking Dick n prisoner with the l.
and ran Off after q W
He was back presently al
lth bury Billy Barrett, who had u
eked up many q sinner. Pushing eli
e constable ahead, the deacon, bs
I'll covered by his broad shoulders, Of
tered the back store. IN
where be thsy?" he asked, for We
ting his grammar. ca
Don't you see them ." asked be
Oh, pointing to . score OF bold sb
vsdeFs.
Nov, Mr.. Barrett, now's your
ance." alb
Mr.. Barrett laughed q loud, roar th,
! laugh. er
Bees, by my yardstick!" said the &c,
aeon. Boy, you may have lar
} rest Of the honey II yoH col
n't tell o. thls." eel
Bat somehow the story got out IyI
aerfSdsiOaGlist. SP