The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-23 00:00:00

CURIOUS STORY.

A somewhat strange story is just now occupying
the attention of the lovers of gossip in the neighbour-
hood of Walnut-street. There dwells in that street a
person named Parkes, whose business avocations lead
him frequently into the country. Mrs. Parkes, who
is close upon the period of her accouchement, keeps no
servant, so that when her husband is absent, she and
her two children are the sole occupants of the house.
On Friday last, according to Mrs. Parke's account, a
man called at her residence and requested permission
to speak with her. This being accorded, the stranger
inquired if her husband were in Liverpool at
that time ? She replied in the affirma-
tive. He then begged to be informed when
Mr. Parkes would set out for his next journey.
Mrs. Parkes informed him that her husband
would leave home on the following day. The
stranger thanked her, apologised for the trouble he had
given, and departed. On the following day Mr.
Parkes set out on his journey, in fulfilment of his ar-
rangements. On Sunday morning last, about two
o'clock, Mrs. Parkes states, she was aroused from her
sleep by a noise in her bed-chamber. She looked up
and saw a man with a light in his hand, and, on atten-
tively observing him, she saw that he was the same in-
dividual who called upon her on Friday. Filled with
alarm, she uttered a cry of terror, upon which the fellow
advanced to the bedside, and told her that if she ut-
tered another sound, he would put her to death. He
immediately tied her hands and feet, and, putting a
rope about her neck, fastened her firmly to the bed-
post. She had in the bed her two children, who were
awakened by these proceedings, and the elder of
whom, seeing a man binding his mother with ropes,
began to scream. Mrs. Parkes now became con-
scious that there were other villians below stairs, for
she heard one or two voices cry out to their com-
panions above that he was to silence the brat. The
man by threats induced the boy to cease his cries,
and he forthwith proceeded to bind him also, and
a younger child about three years old. The
party then searched the house for money, and suc-
ceeded in finding about 81., the property of Mr.
Parkes' employers. Having obtained his booty, they
quitted the house, leaving Mrs. Parkes and her chil-
dren still bound on the bed. Not the least extraor-
dinary part of 'the story is that which follows. Mrs.
Parkes, when she was assured that the villains had
left the house, screamed for assistance, but, though
the next cottage is only divided from her dwelling by
a thin partition, she could not succeed in getting any
assistance.. Strange to say, the whole of Sunday
passed away, and still she and her children
remained in the same position, unable to
extricate themselves, or to make any of the
persons outside aware of their situation. Thus
they remained till Monday* morning, when the little
boy succeeded in freeing himself from his fetters, went
to the window and gave the alarm. The party at the
next door, it appears, never during the whole time
heard the slightest sound or disturbance. The police
have been made aware of the circumstances, and are
endeavouring to procure some trace of the delinquents
—Liverpool Courier.

A valuable Newfoundland dog was lately sent to
the Veterinary College,
.at %Camden-town, by the
Duke of St.Alban's, the dog having been taken sud-
denly ill. The animal grew worse, and ultimately
died one day last week. He was opened, and it was
then discovered that the poor animal had swallowed a
stone about the size of an egg. This stone had lodged
in the centre of the stomach. It appears that the
Duke, his master, was in the habit of throwing stones
into the water for the deg to dive after, and it is sup-
posed that in bringing one of the stones up he swal-
lowed it.

CORx-LAws.—We learn that R. Cobden, Et 1.,
M.P., after attending the Glasgow and Edinbur rh
demonstrations in favour of free trade, will vi ;it
Dundee. The Dundee Anti-Corn-law Associatiu,n
have invited him to attend a soiree to be held in
Dundee on the evening of the 16th January. He will
be accompanied by Colonel Thompson. The free
traders in Forfarshire, Perthshire, and Fifeshire, will
thus have an opportunity of listening to the best prac-
tical expounder of the evils of the Corn-laws whom
the men of Manchester have as yet sent forth, to
combat a monopoly fraught with injustice to all classes
of the community.--Scotsman.