Star Of The Kanawha Valley

A Wool Story.

The following excellent story is of

Mr. Sheafe, a grocer in Portsmouth,

N. H.

"It appears that a man had purchased

a quantity of Wool from him,

which had been weighed and paid for,

and Mr. S. had gone to the desk to

get change for a note. Happening

to turn his head while there, he saw

in a glass that hung so as to reflect

the shop, a stout arm reach up and

take from the shelf a heavy white

oak cheese. Instead of appearing

suddenly and rebuking the man for

his theft, as another would, thereby

losing his custom forever, the crafty

old gentleman gave the thief his

change as if nothing had happened,

and then, under pretence of lifting

the bag to lay it on his horse for him,

took hold of it; on doing so it appeared

heavier than he seemed to expect,

upon which he exclaimed, Why

bless me, I must have reckoned the

weight wrong.' 'O no,' said the other,

'you may be sure of that, for I

counted them with you.' 'Well, well,

we don't dispute about the matter—

it's so easily tried!' replied Mr. S.,

putting the bag into the scale again.

There!' said he. 'I told you so; knew

I was right, made a mistake of nearly

twenty pounds. However, if you

don't want the whole, you needn't

have it. I'll take part of it out?'

"No, no," said the other, staying

the hands of Mr. S. on his way

to the strings of the bag, "I rather

guess I'll take the whole.'" And this

he did, paying for his rascality by receiving

skim milk cheese, or tap

rock, at the price of wool.