The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-11-18
From the Boston Museum.
THE SMITHS OF SMlTHvILLE;
AND THEIR ADVENTURE WITH RoBBER.

dation of some unknown individual, whose
confused ideas concerning the right of proper
ty led to the frequent abstraction of divers
goods ard chattels from the premises of said
Smiths, in furtive and mysterious manner.
Bags of wheat and oats vanished from the
granary, pork from the cellar and corn from
the crib; in one night sheep that had been
slaughtered had coolly trotted away, and on
another occasion several gallons of maple
molasses evaporatedn the night time. Milk
ing stools went off on three legs, and one
morning Mr.. Smiths axe was found to have
"cut STICK Log chains became rattle
snakes and crept off, iron wedges made splits
in the Smiths property, boots walked off, and
jack rode offwith the salr-horse.
Vain were the efforts of the elder and young
er Smiths to discover the mystery of these
disappearance, and to entrap the offender
despairing of bringing him to justice, the
Smiths found that they could do nothing more
than take measures to ensure the safety of
their property. Accordingly they built new
granary, with strong walls, narrow grated
windows, and heavy oak door, to which was
attached formidable paddock. The prison.
like portion of the barn was built sufficiently
large to allow the Smiths to lock up great
deal of portable property, such as was most
likely to tempt the captivity of thieves.
Alter the granary was finished, month
passed, during which time the depredations of
robber or robbers were confined to the ORCH
ards, or hen-roosts; when late one Sunday
evening, the elder Smith, as he was sitting
tipped against the kitchen wall, smoking his
pipe, preparatory to retiring, bethought him
that he had neglected to lock the granary
door tefore leaving the barn. This was by
no means a singular circumstance, consider
ing that the granary was usually locked by a
Younger Smith, who had that night "gone a
courting."
1t was a moonlight evening, and Mr.. Smith
approaching the barn was considerably start
led at the seeing the door jar. Certain of
having shut the door an hour previous, MIR.
Smith thought of robbers. His supicions were
confirmed when, on a nearer approach he
plainly heard a noise in the barn. Too eau
iious to endanger his life by boldly attacking
the robber, Mr.. Smith, with considerable
trepidation, resolved TO watch his movements
and discover who he was.
Looking throsgh crack in the east side of
the barn, he saw dim, ghost like figure glide
across the floor towards the granary. A hap
py thought entered Mr.. Smiths BRAIN
Stealing into the barn, he crept aong beside
the NOW, when clap vent the door, turned
the key, and was off as if for life.
1t as impossible to say what made Mr..
Smith tremble So. 1t might have been the
smoihered cry of alarm which issued from the
granary walls, and rang fully upon bis ears u
cry we'll calculated to awaken superstitious,
fear. But Mr.. Smith never owned that he
was frightened, although on reaching the
kitchen he was white as ghost--or as ghosts
are supposed to be.
"What's the matter?" cried Mrs. Smith.
give caught the robberu' calculated Mr..
Smith, in breath.
"Where-where is he!"
"He's Locked up in the granary-giye NE
my boots"
"Why-what are you going to d %
"Get help. He's desperate fellow, and it
will be dangerous to NEEDLE with MIN alone."
1t is impossible to describe the excitement
of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith on that memorable oc-
cason. The latter took it upon herself to
load the old musket, while her husband went
for the neighbors.
Mr.. Smith exchanged his slippers for his
boots, and ran first to Deacon Natiie's house,
where he expected to find a younger Smith,
who was counting Naffie's daughter He was
surprised to see the honse Clark, as if the Nai-
flies had retired and blown out the candle
He knocked, however, furious as the occasion
required. After some delay, Deacon Nafiles
came down in his night clothes-staried at
Smith in establishment, and demanded his
business at that time of night.
"Caught the thief-locked him in the gra-
nary-where's Incre 'ser'
"Ha! caught the thief!'' said Deacon Naf-
fies, who having lost some property as well
as his neighbor, was interested in the intelli-
gence. "Good. Keep him till morning."
"Twon't do" replied Smith in an excited
manner. she's desperate fellow -break out
Il must rouse the neighbors-where's my
son Increased
80, Sally is sick tonight, so Increase
courted her only about half an hour, and
went home."
"Went homer
"Yes,' said the Deacon, "half an hour
ago."
The elder Smith clapped his hand to his
forehead as if he had been struck with an idea
or some weighty substance.
'"Gracious!' he exclaimed.
"Whatn exclaimed the deacon.
al believe" stammered the elder Smith
I'LL have locked up"
"Who!''
"Iacredse'
"Ill bet you have" cried the deacon. 81
heard him say he had got to carry the buggy
cushions into the granary before he went to
bed
"Look here" whispered the elder Smith,
81 he fO Ri
get cut"
40, I'll keep the secret" interrupted the
deacon, tying to preserve becoming gravity.
"The joke is safe, and I'D advise you to hurry
home and let out Increase.
The elder Smith turned on his heel, and
vanished feeling very weak probably from the