The Dickinson press., 1891-05-30
A SHARE TRICK.

buys 11Iu Ia 1nelr OluCF S1BCeTs
Anna Mowry wa left in charge of her
two younger brothers one summer while
her parents went to California. She was
with them in a farmhouse on the Massa-
chusetts coast, and frequently lectured
them OH questions of morals and man
ners. Ono evening she talked to them
on the subject of honesty. ~ have
often read Ill tho papers" she said, "of
young men who are first led into extrava-
gance and then rob or defraud their en-
ployers. If a brother of mine wa to be
guilty Of such dishonesty 1 would never
forgive him-never! I would not ac-
knowledge him as my brother!"
The boys had been tempted to
steal, andthe suggestion that temptation
and fall were possible, together with
their sisters threat, startled and i'm
pressed them. The next day, while the
question of honesty was still fresh in
their minds, Anna came in, eager and
excited.
II hear" she said, "that a woman in
the neighborhood has some fine old
Satsuma ware. Her husband was a sea
captain and brought it to her fifty years
ago. Come with me. I am going to try
to buy a piece of it,"
The house, when they reached it, was
a meager, forlorn little cottage. The
woman was old; her lean, pale face
lightened when she saw Anna. She was
poorly clad. Here was a chance of earn
ing money!
uT, ooLiD, for roo,pc ,no,o,,2D oba eoid
Il have some good ones to let"
"No," said Anna, carelessly. 1--WE just
stopped fora glass of water"
"Why, sister!" exclaimed Bob, aston
ished at the deception.
She shook her head angrily at him to
be silent, and when the woman left the
room she whispered, eff she knew what
1 came for she would charge twice as
high for the ware" Then she followed
her hostess, who wa opening a cup
board.
"You have some nice glasses there"
she said.
eyes; cost a dollar a dozen,"
every neat pattern indeed"
Anna turned the cheap, ugly shaped
goblet in her hand, while her keen eye
scanned the recess of the cupboard.
"Queer looking old china cup, that"
she said. "May I see it? Thank you.
What is it,"
"Some foreign kind Of crockery. My
husband brought it to me. I've been
told it was worth considerable money"
"Ah? l shouldn't like to give much
for it. It's q dingy looking bit of china.
I think 1 would give seventy-ive cents
for it-just for the oddity."
81 couldn't let it go for less than a
dollar" said the woman anMously. "My
husband gave it to me, but I do need
money!"
Anna laid the cup down, declaring
that it was "dingy," but after some hig-
Cling she bought it for a dollar. She hur-
ried away with it, her cheeks flushed
and her eyes shining.
"Cousin Bell gave twenty-five dollars
for not half so good a specimen" she
cried ex~ultantly, when they were on the
road.
els this worth so muchm asked Bob
gravely.
ut is worth more, but she did not
know it."
"That was a pretty sharp trick of
yours, Anna" said Tom thoughtfully,
after a pause.
Anna laughed complacently. Eyes,
think so," she said.
When the lads were alone that night
Bob said: Gamma said she would not ac-
knowledge us as brothers if we stole
money. Didn't she the same as steal
that cup from the old woman if it was
worth twenty-five dollars? If the old
woman had known it she would not have
let it go for a dollar. Anna took adj
vantage of her ignorance. She really
stole it."
"It looks like that" replied Tom.
"Well then, I guess Anna wouldn't
mind sharp tricks in business if we were
men, Tom, would she"
"No," said Tom.
Tho seed was planted which would
reach a deadly growth hereafter, and
Annals talk about dishonesty was al
ways thought Of with derision.-Youth's
Companion.