The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-22

Jim Crow.
W----neither understood nor reished all
this. Butthe more angry and INVESTIGATED
lie became, the louder laughed the company,
and the ireer became their jests, At last, in
passion, he swore at us Justify, and leaving
the bar room, in a high dudgeon, took his
horse from the stable and rode off.
1t was past eleven o'clock. The nigh was
cold, and n ride oftwo miles made VT
sober enough to understand TINT he had been
rather drunk, and was still good deal in
for IL; and tina. it wouldn't exactly do for his
wife to see him Just rs he was. So he rode
mile past his house aud then back again, at
a slow trot, concluding that by this time the
good woman was fast asleep. And so she
was. He entered the house, crept silently
up stairs, and got quietly into bed, without
his better half being the wiser therefor.
On the next morning, Mrs. W-awoke
first. But what was her surprise and horror,
upon rising up, to see, instead Of her lawful
husband,what she thought strapping negro,
as black as charcoal, lying at her side. Her
first impulse was 70 screanI;but her presence
of mind, in this trying position, enabled her
TO keep silence. But you may be sure that
she didn't remain long in such close contact
with Sir Darkey. Not she! For slipping out
of bed quickly, but noiselessly, she glided
the kitchen, where n stout, two listed Irish
girl was at work preparing breakfast.
'Oh, dear, KiltyT she exclaimed, painting
for breath, aud looking as pale us ghost,
have you seen any thing Of MIR W--tliis
morning%
Och! no, and dear ma'am. But what ails
YEP Y'r as white as q shate?
'Oh, nercy Kitty. You wouldn't, believe
it,but there's monstrous negro in my roomp
Gracious me, Mrs. Wa nagcrY
Yes, indeed, Kitty returned Mrs W,
trembling in every limb. and worse and
worse he's in my bed! lust awoke, and
thought il was Mr. WY my side. But
when looked over saw, instead his face,
was fright ened almost 10 death.
is he aslape" asked Kitty.
'Yes, sound asleep and snoring. Oh,dear!
What shall we do: Where in the world is
Mr. W? Pm afraid this negro has muir
dered him. ..
OcIl.the blasted numbering thAfe!eXelaim-
ed Kitty, her organ of combativeness, which
was large becoming terribly excited. Fl
show him what we'll do. Get into nisthress's
bed, aud the Teddy there herself, the omad-
hounl The black murtherin' thafe of a vii
LAIN
Aud Kitty, thinking ONO danger to her
self, nor making any calculation of comse-
quences, seized n stout hickory clothes pole
that stood in one corner of the kitchen, and
went up stairs like n whirwInd, banging the
pole against doors, ballustrrs or Whatever
came in its way. The noise she made arous-
ed W-from his sleep and he raised up i'll
bed just as Kitty entered the room.
Oh,you murtherin thafe of Il villain! shout
ed Kiity,as she caught sight of his black face,
pitching into him her pole,and sweeping off
his night cap, at the imminent risk of taking
his head with it.
'Hallon he cried, mot at all liking Ibis strange
proceeding ARE you madn
mad is il, We thafe 2 reiorted Kitty, who
did not recognize the voice, aud taking surer
aim this lime with her pole, brought him
tremendous blow along side ofthe head (which
knocked him senseless,
Mrs. W, who was at the bottom ur the
stairs, heard her husbands exclamation, and
knowing his voice. and came rushing up, and
entered the room in time to see Kilty's form
idabie weapon come with terrible force a.
ganst his head. Before the blow could be
repeated, for Kitty calculating her Murther-
in thafG of villain" had lifted the pole again,
Mrs. W threw her arms around her and
cried, Don't, don't Kitty for mercy's sake !!
It's Mr. W, and you've killed him'
'Mr W., indade ? re;ohed Kitty, indig-
nantly, struggling to free herself is Mr.
w thafe and negar, ma'am ?
But even Kitty's eyes as soon as they took
the pains 10 look more closely, saw that il
was indeed all as the mistress had said. w
- had fallen on his face, and his head and
white neck were not 10 be msinkem
The pole dropped from kitty's bands, and
with the exclamation Och murther y she
turned and shot from the room with as good
a will as she had entered it.
The blow which W had received was
a severe one. breaking through the flesh, and
bruising and decorating his ear badly. lie
recovered very soon, however. and as he rose
up, caught sight ofhimself. in a looking-glass
that hung opposite. We may he sure that
it took all parties in this exciting and almost
tragical affair, some time 10 understand eX-
actly what was the matter. VS. recol-
lection of the loud merriment that had driv-
en- him from the Black Horse on the pre-
yious night, when II revived, as it did pretty
soon, explained all to him. and ser him to
swearing in most unchrisian manner.
Poor Kitty was SO frightened at what she
had done that she gathered up her buds
and fled instanter, and was never again seen
in that neighborhood.
AS for w, he was cured ofhis noctur-
nal visits 10 the Block Horse and love of
toddy. Some months afterwards he
espoused the temperance cause.and Eve heard
him tell'ihe tale himself, many a time, and
laugh heartily at The figure he must have cut
when Kitty commenced beating him for
ihafe ola negar.'
The Grafton Murder
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