The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1892-02-04
OF township assessor.

tangle the accounts
Of township assessor.
"llallo, Squire, some one said.
"lisllo, yourself" cried the Squire,
fiuging up his head, rubbing his eyes
and adjusting his glasses.
His visitor was sturdy, brown faced
girl Of fourteen, with fluffy, black hair,
bright eyes, aud a resolute mouth. She
was very self.contained in her manner,
and, while there was no resentment in
her composition, il was evident that she
was one who would stand up for her
rights.
"what do you wanti" asked the
Squire.
Law" was the crisp reply, where
upon the Squire struggled TO repress a
smile.
al want my pony!" tho girl added.
"Your pony repeated the Squire.
al haven't got your pony. Why do
you come to met"
you're the Squire, are you not" the
girl asked. "My pony was stolen last
fall. The gypsics have her in their
camp at Cove Creek. saw her there
this morning.
Squire Barlow suddenly became inter
Cstcd ~ tho face, voice aud positive ways
Of his young visitor.
"What is your namel' he asked.
"Rosic Watson, sir, she said.
90, you are the blacksmith's daugh-
ter" observed the Squire. "Yes, re-
member you now. Well, why didn't
your father Gomez"
"lt's my pony" the girl said. "And
my-my-case."
YES" admitted the Squire. lie
laughed softly to himself, spread tnt his
official docket, and made few eltries.
"You saw your pony this mornina" he
~,i--I
lierrown, pes.n. A. Cove o@eg,ctp IN,
covered bridge, just outside the gypsy
camp. She was grazing on the banks ol
the stream" stated Rosie.
"Ponies may look very much alike,
suggested the Squire.
"Ah, but Id know Dollie among a
thousand ponies" declared Rosie, heI
brown face aglow. 'She's a dark bay
with black points, star on her fore
head, white fctlocks and faint dash o.
white on her breast"
The Squire was busy writing. IL,
stopped and read aloud to her the com
plant and the description.
"Can you ado anythingi" asked Rosie
"Why, OF course, little dc IT" replied
the Squire, in mis- fathcrIy way.
"Thcn add" suggested Rosie, "tha
the pony is ten hands high"
That was promptly intorlined, an,
then tle Squire grayely asked: "Ros,
can you swear that you know the pom,
to be yours, and that you believe tn
gypsies have hcrp
ayes, sir, | can Rosie said deter
mIncdly, and without moments hesi
taton.
Take this book" the Squire said
alt IS the Holy Bible. Suppose yor
| swore to what is not trucl'
~ would be pcrjurcr,' was Rosie
answer.
"And what would be the consc
/ qucncel'
"My soul would be lost, unless Go
forgavc me the dreadful sin"
"Ycs, child" the Squire said, wit
moistcned eyes. "You seem to kno,
| what You are about"
lie administered the oath, aud then said
kiss the book"
she looked at him with wonderin
/ glance, aud then pressed her lips TO tn
book in an awed, reverential manner.
"What will it cost" she asked, /
, her matter of-fact way.
Don't bother your head about IN
cost, the Squire said. "Wait bit," h
added, seeing that she WIS about to &C
He hurriedly filled up blank summons
folded il, handed it to her and said -
suppose you know where Constable Fin
q Gves2'
so, yes, replied Rosie.
"Takc that to him at once, " the Sour
said. at is warrant for the hea
gypsy's arrest, The hearing will be hel
at o'clock this afternoon. As you ar
the complainant, you must be present a
| that hour"
The time and circumstances OF IN
hearing were noised about the village
and when ? o'clock came, the Squire
office was crowded, The gypsy sat on
rough bench, with an unlighted ella
pipe in his mouth. He was dirty, VI
shaven, sullen-looking. He did no
wear vest, and his corduroy breccht
were fastened at the waist by greas
leathern belt, behind which the haft of
knife was visible.
"The plaintiff here, this little girl
claims that you have pony which be
longs to her." Squire Barlow said, hi
eyes on the gypsy, who replied;
"She hasn't any claim cn"it. 1t