WHO STOLE THE HONEY ?

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 11 June 1891, Page 4

WHO STOLE THE HONEY ?

I The honey was in Deacon Bird's store. What child living in the country has not seen just such a store ? It has barrels oi potatoes, kegs of molasses, piles of codfish, and on the counter pieces of pink and white calico for little folks' frocks and aprons. There is always a glass show-case in this kind of a store, where are kept penknives and thimbles and letter paper, and perhaps a little case of glittering finger-rings. And behind the showcase on the high shelves there are glass jars full of candy. Fascinating sticks, a penny a piece, some white, some red, some with ribbon-like stripes, are in these jars, and pink cinnamon lozenges and delicious lemon drops. Besides having all these melt-in-your-mouths to sell Deacon Bird dealt in honey. A few boxes of the sweet golden stuff always, stood at the back of the store near a window. One summer day Deacon Bird discovered that a large portion of the honey had been taken from one of the boxes. Had his little errand boy, Dick, a sweet tooth ? " Come here you, Dick," said the deacon. Dick came barefooted, curly-headed, with his ragged straw hat in his hand. "Have you been meddling with my honey, sir?" . / , "No, sir." f ■■-" ' - ' " Prove that you haven't by finding out the thief," said the deacon. "Doyouhear?" Poor Dick ! How was he to find out the thief? A few days passed, and another box was nearly emptied. "I've watched," said the deacon, "and no boy goes into that back store but yourself. If you don't clear up this mystery in a week you leave my store. I want no thieves in my place." To be called a thief! That was harder than hard work. Dick would have left the deacon's employ that very minute had it not been that his father was a poor man, with little ones younger than Dick to clothe and feed. No, he must stay and find the culprit. One day Dick went into the back room and sat down on a bag of meal. The deacon had gone home to dinner and Dick was attending the store. But there were no customers, and the boy, feeling himself disheartened, sat dowr. among the barrels to think what he should do if the deacon turned him away. Suddenly he heard a sound that caused him to look up. " Ha, ha," said Dick, •• there are the thieves!" There they were indeed talking away to each other, coming in and going out, as busy and important as if their doings were bonest and above board. Above board they really were, for not one of the pilfering gentry made the slightest pretence to secrecy. " I will tell the deacon you are here," said Dick, "and he may catch you if he can. I guess he'll have a merry chase of it." Then Dick fell a-laughing, and in a paroxysm of mirth rolled off the meal bag on to a bag of Brazil nuts. The nuts did not make a very comfortable bed, and he sprang up just as the deacon came in. " I've found the thieves, Deacon Bird," be said. " Come and catch them." But the deacon was afraid that the rascals might do him mischief. So he locked the door of the back room, making Dick a prisoner with the highwaymen and ran off after a constable. He was back presently with burly Bill Barrett, who had locked up many a sinner. Pushing the constable ahead the deacon, well covered by his broad shoulders, entered the back store. "Where be they?" he asked, forgetting his grammar. " Don't you see them ?" said Dick, pointIng to a swarm of bold invaders. " Now, Mr Barrett, now's your chance." Mr Barrett laughed a loud, roaring laugk. " Bees, by my yardstick !" said thedeacon. " Boy, you may have the rest of the honey U you won't tell o 1 this." • ~< t , ; But looiihew tht itory get oati < '