Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-08-21
S E LECT TALE
The Smiths of Smithville,
Their Adventures with a Robber.
BY PAUL cREYToN.

The Smiths of Smithville had for a long
time been very much annoyed by the depre-
dations of some unknown individual, whose
confused ideas concerning the right. of proper
~ led to the frequent abstraction Of divers
goods and chauels from the premises of the
said Smiths, in furtive and mysterious man
ner. Bags of wheat and oats vanished from
the granary, pork from the cellar, and corn
from the crib; in one night sheep that had
just been slaughtered, coolly trotted away, and
on another occasion, several gallons of maple
syrup evaporated in the night time. Milking
stools went off on three legs, and one morning,
Mr.. Smiths best axe was found to have cut
stick Log-chains became rattle-snakes and
erePt sf, iron wedges made splits in the Smith
property. boots walked away, and jack rode of
~ith the sac-Aerse.
Vain were the efforts of the elder aud young
er Smiths to discover the mystery of these dis
appearances. and 70 eatrap the offender De-
spaIring of bringing him to justice, the Smiths
found they could do nothing more than take
measures to insure the safety of their property.
Accordingly they built a new granary, with
strong walls, narrow, grated window, and
heavy oak door, to which was attached a for
midable paddock. This prson-Lke portion of
the barn was built sufficiently large to allow
the Smiths to lock up with the grain great
deal OF portable property, such as was most
likely TO tempt the cupidity of thieves
After the granary was finished a month
passed, during which time. the depredations of
the robber or robbers were confined to the or
chard and hen-roost; when, late one Sunday
evening, the elder Smith, as he was sitting
tipped against the kitchen wall, smoking his
pipe, preparatory to his retiring, bethought
him that he had neglected to lock the granary
before leaving the barn. This was by no
means singular Circumstance, considering
that the granary was usually locked by the
younger Smith, who had that night gone
courting.'
1t was moonlight evening, and Mr. Smith
on approaching the barn was considerably
startled al seeing the door ajar. Certain of
having shut the door an hour previously, Mr.
were confirmed, when, on nearer approach,
he plainly heard movement in the barn.
Too cautious to endanger his life by boldly at
tacking the rebber, Mr.. Smith, with consider
able trepidation, resolved to watch his move
ments and discover who he was
Looking through crack in the east side of
the barn, he saw dim-ghostlike figure glide
across the floor towards the granary. A hap
py thought entered Mr.. Smiths brain. Steal
ing into the barn, he crept silently along by
the NOW, until near the granary, when-clap
he shut the door, adjusted the paddock, turn
ed the key and was off as if for his life I,
1t is impossible TO say what made Mr. Smith
tremble so. 1t might have been the smothered
cry of alarm which issued from the grauary
walls, and rang fully on his ears-a cry well
calculated to awaken superstitious fear. But
Mr. Smith never owned tina, he was frighten-
ed although on reaching the kitchen he was
as white as ghost, or as ghosts are supposed
to be.
What is the matter,' cried Mrs Smith.
1--we caught the robber = calculated Smith
in breath.
He's locked up in the granary. Give me
my bootSr
Why-what-what are you going to dot
Get help! He's desperate fellow, and
twill be dangerous to meddle with him alone =
Ii is impossible TO describe the excitement of
MIR. and Mrs. Smhh on that memorable occa-
sion. The latter took it upon herself to load
the old musket while her husband wen, for
the neighbors.
MIR. Smith exchanged his Slippers for his
boots, and ran first to Deacon Nat.'s bouse
where he expected to find the younger Smith,
who was courting Nafie's daug hter. He vas
surprised TO see the house all dark-as if the
Naffles had retired TO rest and blown out the
candle. He Knocked, however, furiously as
the occasion required. After some delay,
Deacon Naffles came down in his night-clothes,
stared at Smith in astonishment, and demand
ed his business at that time of night,
Caught the thief-locked up-in the gran
ary-where's Increase?'
Ha. caught theft cried Deacon Naff1es,
who, having lost some property, as well as his
neighbor, was interested in the intelligence
'Good enough keep him till morning p
''Twon't do y replied Mr.. Smith in an ex-
cited manner. He's desprit fellow-break
QUIT must rouse the neigbhors-where's s nv
SON Increase 2
20, Sally is sick to-night-so Increase
courted her only about an hour, and wen,
home
Went home
Yes, said the deacon, half an hour ago.
The elder Smith clapped his hand to his
forehead, as if he had been struck either by ar
idea, OF some weighty substance.
'Gracious.' he exclaimed
sWhatr asked the deacon,
Il believe stammered the elder Smith
i have locked up
Who = ..s
Increase !" a-aaa ai
Il bet you have y cried the deacon. q
heard him say be had got to carry the buggy
cushions into the granary before he went to
bed
Look here whispered the elder Smith, Z
beg Of yau never to mention shis-l-I-if
should get out M