Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-12-15
8W S @ r @ % s.
The Fat Girls jump,

OR HOW TO DO UP soMNAMBULIsM.
/ was just twelve years Of age, and the
most unequalled rogue for mischief that old
Kentucky could produce. 1t was at this
time that was sent to a country boarding
school, some thirty miles from my birth place,
Louisyille-and an agreeable school it was,
for it had but two departments, and they
simply consisted of male and female. Our
tutor and tutoress were the kindest souls in
Christendom, and never indicated a heavier
punishment than that Of sending the guilty
one to bed supperless, or depriVing him or
her Of the privilege Of recess. Then there
could be no wonder in our imposing upon
such good nature-but for my adventure.
There was only a door Chat, of course,
locked) that separated the dormitory of the
boys and girls, but the kind builder had not
omitted to place q ventilator over this door,
and as luck would have it, the good mistress
bad covered it with a small green baize cur
tain upon our side. After enjoying a fine
dance upon the green, and that, too, under
the prettiest moonlight that ever shone, we
were assembled in chapel to prayer, and
then sent to our separate dormitories-the
girls, some fifteen in number, taking one
fight Of stairs, while we, eighteen or twenty
OF the greatest scamps alive, took the oppo-
posite fight-our master and mistress re-
turning to their own. A few moments found
oil in bed, and stIangeto say, perfectly quiet.
We had lain so but a short time, when we
heard a sudden creak, like a bedstead put in
violent agitation, and this was followed by
q suppressed but general litter.
by golly, boys, there's fun among the
gals | exclaimed, and here's what's going
TO have a peep at EN-
In a moment every bed showed a sitting
figure. / bounded out, and running softly
to tho key hole-but the fallen angels had
stuffed it with a rag, and that was no 90.
Never mind, boys-easy now, and II
giveyo all a sight
Isoftly drew table, and placed it againsr
the door, and with the greatest difficulty
stood a chair upon it-for the table being
small, the chair made most too great a stride
for il. However, | mounted, and raising
one corner Of the curtain, the whole scene
was visible to me.
The girls had placed two beds, some 81,
or eight feet apart, and slr,l laid ana 2 feanbtsgSSr 1 hs3
then exercising themselves by Jumping from
one bed to the other. There was one YER,
fat girl, as broad as she was long, and in n,
way calculated for physical exertions bu
she had got upon the bed, and stood swing
ing her arms to and fro. making every ind
cation for a desperate jump. BY this tim
! was on the floor, and my place at the cur
tain supplied by another sprig Of mischie
He leaned down and whispered the IA
girl IS going to jump
'!Ob, gollyp said he, If Fan only fall
vent she roll over nicel'
was determined to see this; and clint
ing up again, we both occupied the 'totteI
ing pile With one hand over our mouth
and pinching our noses, to prevent a bur.
Of laughter, we stood breathless, awaiting th
awful calamity
There she goes, BY jingop exclaimed
She didn't Goi though-for her feet lust re,
ted on the round of the bed, she balance
but for a moment, and fell backwards, hea
down and feet up in the sir, rolling an
putting like a porpoise, but displaying 4
mean agility for such an embarrassing stu
ton.
We could hold in no longer, but shoe
With laughter. The chair tilted, and dow
all came together, with a crash like a your
peal Of thunder.
TO bed-to bed, boys said ], and lea
the rest to me-
In an instant all was quiet; every boy
bed and sound asleep, with the exception
myself. Oh, such attempts to snore as mic
have been then heard-but we were all us
To playing the 'possum, and now I conclud
70 give the approaching tutor and wife a sal
die Of somnambulism.
Now don't laugh for the world, boz
and see me do the thing
l raised the table on its legs, and getti
on it, was concluding my speech that h
written and committed to memory for Il
day-and here the trainers of young ide
entered, but still | continued
cd as | am with gratitude for your kind
tention, cannot refrain from e~xpressi
thanks, yes, warm and heartfelt thanks a
to you, dear SIR (this, of course, meant I
tutor, and at this point my vacant start