, 1891-06-03
A SHARP TRICK

Yet 1t Shook the Faith That Two Young
Boys Had In Their Older Sister.
Anna Mowry was 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 on questions of morals and man
ners, One evening she talked to them
on the subject OF honesty. II have
often read IN the 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 was to be
guilty Of such dishonesty | would never
forgive him-neverl | would not &C
knowledge him as my brothery"
The boys had never been tempted to
steal, and the suggestion that temptation
and fall were possible, together with
their sisters threat, startled and i'm
pressed them. The nex day. while the
question of honesty was still fresh in
their minds, Anna came in, eager and
excited.
81 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. | 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
hghtened when she saw Anna. She was
poorly clad. Here was a chance of earn
ing money!
"Lookin' for rooms, ma'amg' she said.
Il have some good ones to let"
NO" said Anna, carelessly. 1--WE just
stopped fora glass of water"
why, sisterr' 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, IF she knew what
l came for she would charge twice as
high for the ware" Then she followed
her hostess, who was opening a cup
board
You have some nice glasses there, e"
she said.
Yes; cost n dollar n dozea,"
Every neat pattern indeed"
Anna turned the cheap, ugly shaped
goblet in her hand, while her keen eve
scanned the recess of the cupboard.
Queer looking old china cup, that"
oAAo w may 4 Htt III IuAuk 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 ike to give much
for it. It's a dingy looking bit of china.
l think l would give seventy-ive cents
for it-just for the Oddly"
II couldn't let it go for less than a
dollar" said the woman a~nxiously. "My
husband gave it to me. but | 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 exultantly, when they were on the
road.
''Is this worth so muchy' asked Bob
gravely.
1T is worth more, bat 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: "Anna said she would not &C
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 ad-
Nyaptann 80 I,ar fr,Ar,,,n Oh. Ill.
stole it,"
at looks like that" replied Tom.
well then, | guess Anna wouldn't
mind sharp tricks in business if we were
men, Tom, would she?'
mo" said Tom.
The seed was planted which would
reach a deadly growth hereafter, and
Annals talk about dishonesty was al
ways thought of with derision. Youths
Companion