Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-08-27

Independent rs we'll of Bill as of the rest
of the boys. His mode Of entrance was
rather more difficult and hazardous, and
had he not been almost as light and supple
as n cat, he never could have accomplished
it. 1t was effected oy climbing up the tin
spout, and thus getting access to the roof,
from. which he entered by the dormar win
dow. The first time Joe tried this he fail
ed in accomplishing the feat. He found
no great difficulty in getting up as far as
the roof, but when there the flat surface
offered nothing on which he could take
hold and draw his body over the projecting
edge; so he had to go do wn and submit to
be let in. But during the next day, he
procured three or four strong spikes, and
drove them into the roof at convenient dis
tances from the edge This established
his independence. On that very night he
tried the feat again, and succeeded TO his
entire satisfaction.
One night it was Joe's turn to be out;
our master came to the door of our bed
room a little after ten o'clock, and asked
if we were all in.
Yes SIR was promptly replied
is Joe here!'
Yes sir;' answered voice that sounded
like that of Grimes
The old man as we called him, although
his age was not over thirty-six, was salts,
fled, and went down stairs.
About twelve o'clock, we were all star
tied from slumber by crash, that was
followed by loud cry ofpain. We sprang
from our beds, and hurriedly drawing on a
part of our clothing, ran down stairs, by
this time more than half guessing what was
he matter. Our master, whose name was
Tuj h, had also been awakened by the
noise and joined US at the front door.
We found Joe lying upon the pavement,
with about two-thirds Of the tin water-ppe
torn from its fastenings and stretching half
| across the street. To us the mystery was
at once solved but it took Turner some time
TO understand it. A broken arm was the
extent Of Joe's injury After that more
rigid embargo was laid upon our proceed.
ings, but we still managed TO violate 1t ano
with great regularity.
|. In the matter of grumbling we were in
Idefatgable. NNothing was done just to
nlease US. OR principal cause Of dissatis-
faction lay in the fact that every dellcacy
The house contained was not shared With us.
We saw fruit come in from market, cakes
made in the kitchen, and kegs of table beer
come in full and go out empty, without by
any means beihg satisfied with the share
we obtained in these good things-esre
cially as it was our candid opinion that our
labor paid for almost everything.
| Feeling thus and thinking thus, it is no
matter of wonder that we did not look upon
nocturnal depredations upon the pantry as
penitentiary offences. Apples disappeared
mysteriousl Y, plates Of cakes diminished,
and kegs of beer came in and went out
more rapidly than was consistent with the
overt acts of drinking that took place IN
the family.
That keg of beer is gone very quick;
l'm sure it isn't three weeks since it came
in, we would hear Mr.. Turner say to his
wife sometimes.
| "A keg of beer used TO last six weeks,
replied the wife.
Il know it did,
Somehow or other, everything seems to
so wonderfully fast. baked a large plate
Of cake yesterday, and this morning there
is hardly any of it left
DO you lock it ups
Yes. If it wasn't for that, could un-
derstand it..
We understood it all very we'll, even it
our mistress did not. There was a large
pantry under the main stairway, in which
all the delicacies of the house were kept,
the beer barrel and its creamy contents in
cluded. The pantry was, of course ais
why's locked, and the key safely hidden n
way in the pocket Of our mistress.
To effect an entrance into the tempting
repository had long been one OF our prom
inent objects. Dozens Of times did we
search about, after all the family were IN
bed, in hopes the key had been accidently
left behind; but our careful mistress was
never guilty of such culpable neglect: she
knew too we'll the characters OF those with
whom she had to deal. There was NOT key
in the house that had not at one time OF
other been tried in the pantry lock, but al
were either too large or two small. Eli
forts had been made to pick it, but with nc
better success. At last our perseverance
in the matter was rewarded by success:
the door yielded to our open sesame. =
e No, it was not the door either; am little
too last in that. But we got in.
: One night we were all wide awake il
:. our garret room, long after the rest of thu
Il family were IN bed and nsleep. On tina
: very day, barrel of file Newtown pip
e pins had been brought into the house ant
IS locked up in the pantry. One piece hat
n been given to us after supper, but thes
:. only whetted our appetites for more.
70 "A paltry applen said Bill Henderson
IS contemptuously. ~ .
/. yes, one apple out Of a whole barre
IT fullp responded Joe Grimes. 4 think tha
1t old woman of ours is about the meane
o Christian that ever darkened a churc
/, door,
1t If could only get into her pantry, L
sr make that one a dozen,' remarked one c
"a ho hovc