Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1891-06-12
A SHARP TRICK.
Yet It Shook the Faith That Two Youe
Boys Had iii Their Older Sister.

- SiHNhl soeStNs
Yet It Shook the Faith That Two Yomge,
Boys Had in Their Older Sister.
Anna Mowry was left in charge Of her
two younger brothers one summer whila
her parents went to California. She waa
with them in farmhouse on the Massar
chusetts coast, and frequently lectured
them on questions of morals and man
ners One evening she talked to them
on the subject Of honesty. 81 have
often read IN the papers" she said, ''ok
| young men who are first led into extrayaN
gance and then rob or defraud their en-
| pic 'rs. If brother of mine was to BE-.
guy of such dishonesty would nevsR
forgive him-never! l would not q.
knowledge him as my brother!"
The boys had never been tempted .,
steal, and the suggestion that temptatioo
and fall We're possible, together with
their sisters threat, startled and i'm
pressed them. The next day, while tina
question of honesty was still fresh in
their minds, Anna came in, eager and
excited.
II hear" she said, 'that woman in
the neighborhood has some fine old
Satsu,na ware. Her husband was a sea
captain and brought it to her fifty yeara
ago. Come with ME. lam going to txy
to buy piece of it."
The house, when they reached it, waa
a meager, forlorn ittlo cottage. The
woman WAS old; her lean, pale face
lightened when she saw Anna. She WA
| poorly clad. Here was Il chance Of earns
ing money!
''Lookin' for rooms, ma'am?" she said
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 tha
room she whispered, eff she knew what
came for she would charge twice "a
high for the ware" Then she followed
her hostess. who was opening cup
board.
"You have some nice glasses there. :.
she said.
eyes; cost dollar 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 see it? Thank you.
What is it,"
"Sone foreign kind of crockery. My
husband brought it to me. I've bean
told it was worth considerable money"
.'AL? | shouldn't like to give much
for it. It's q dingy looking bit Of china
think would give seventy-five cent?
for it-just for the oddity."
II couldn't let it go for less than .
dollar" said the woman anxiously. NY
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 dollar. She hur-
ried away with it, her cheeks flushed
and her eyes shining.
"Cousia Bell gave twenty-five dollara
for not half so good specmenw shs
cried exultantly, when they were on the
road.
"Is this worth SO much?' 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 pause.
Anna laughed complacently. Eyes, Z
think SO" she said.
When the lads were alone that night
Bob said: "-Aalna said she would not &C.
knowledge us as brothers if we stola
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 havn
let it go for dollar. Anna took ad-
vantage Of her ignorance. She really
stole it,"
st looks like that replied Tom. r
"Well, then, guess Anna wouldn't
mind sharp tricks in business if we wera
men, Tom, would she:"
"No," said Tom.
The seed was planted which would
reach deadly growth hereafter, and
Annals talk about dishonesty was al
ways thought of with derision.-Youtha,
CO1nnani0n