The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-04
STEALING A POLICEMAN.
BY s. Barring COULD.

that whatever happens in one corner
of the county is noised over every part
of it, and that the affairs of every per
son in the county are intimately known
to every other.
In one of the fifty parishes, which
shall not be named, because to name 1t
is unessential, lived a youth named
Joseph Samuel Wardley. He was the
son of blacksmith, was an able bodied,
fne-looking fellow, broad-shouldered,
broad breasted, with light red hair,
and eyes that seemed to have fallen
into the copper when his mother was
washing, and to have had the color
boiled out of them, so light were they.
Josph Samuel Wardley was-if vir-
tue consists in a series of negatives-a
most exemplary character. He didn't
swear, he didn't drink, he didn't quab-
BILE with his fellow-men. If, however,
virtue consists of p~ositives, then it
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wardley was distinguished for
his virtue; for, as a matter of fact, it
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wardley did that was good.
He was slow in his movements, slow in
taking in ideas, slower in making use
of them when he had received them
into his brain.
He had worked with his father at
the forge, but his father feared that he
would never make a blacksmith, as he
tired the horses out and made them
FESTIVE before he had shod all their
four feet. Then Joseph Samuel was
sent to work on a farm, but he was so
slow at the plow that the farmers would
not retain him in their services.
1t was said that Joseph Samuel was
always asleep. This was not exactly
true. Joseph Samuel was so drowsy
and INDECENT over his work by day,
that he was never sufficiently exhaust
ed by his efforts to enjoy a sound sleep
at night. He was half asleep by day,
he. was half awake by night. There is
nothing so conducive to all-forgetting
sleep as the exercise of the full energies
by day. Joseph Samuel did not put
forth even one half of his energies by
day. The other half remained to dis
turb the tranquility of the night; con-
sequently he was a light sleeper, and
some times it was as doubtful whether
he were asleep at night, as it was doubt
full whether he were awake by day.
AS he was dismissed from the plow-
tail, he returned to his father, who
employed him to work the bellows
which kept his fire going in the forge.
But" as the farrier said, "a chap
can't go on all his life blowing bellows.
I must find some profession or trade
for which he is suited"
Accident or Fate seemed to give the
requisite Indication. The father of
Joseph Samuel had been an industrious
man all his life, and it was believed
that he had amassed money. He had
no dealings with the bank at Oakham ;
that was we'll known. Where, then
did he keep his money! It was Whis-
pered that, s%ingularly enough, when
ever he had received payment of a
heavy bill, Mr.. Wardley was observed
to mount a ladder to put straight, as
he said, one of the tiles in his roof that
was out of place and let the water
through. That the coincidence was
noticed, and was a matter of discus
rsion, never occurred to the blacksmith.
The last time he brought in his bill to
the Squire it was for the sum of five
~and-twenty pounds and some odd shil-
lings. No sooner had he received the
money than it was remarked a tile was
again loose in his roof.
One night that Joseph Samuel lay
awake, unable by any means to induce
sleep-such as by counting sheep 60
ing through a gap in the hedge, repeat
ing his catechism, listening to the
SHORES of his parents in an adjoining
room-he thought he heard a sound on
the tiles, as.if some one was engaged
repairing the roof. He got out of bed,
peered through the window and saw,
by the light of a crescent moon that a
ladder was set against the house, and
that a pair of legs were visible on the
ladder.
AS Joseph Samuel was inclined for
activity all night, and was prompt
then in his resolutions, which was not
the case by day, he stole downstairs or
tiptoe, and opened the back door softly.
He was in his robe de mutt. That did
not matter. The air cool but not
frosty, and 1e~Tain was falling. He
was at thg back of the house-the op,
-pQeife side to that at which the ladder