Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-29
How Mr.. spsrrowgrass went povn s,.,,,

Mh I
busy writing, when il struck me thst |. 80
of ice water would be palatable So I 49,
canale and pitcher and went down 10 the
kitchen. Our pump is in the kitchen. A
country pump IN the kitchen is more oonxe-
nlent; but a well with a bucket is certainly
more picturesque. Unfortunately our we'll
water has not been sweet since il was cleaned
OUT FIRST, L had to open a bolted door that
lets you into the basement hall. and than 4
went to the kirchen door, which proved 10 he
locked. Then remembered that our eirI
always carried the key 10 bed with her
ana slept with it under her pillow Then
retraced my steps, bolted the basement door
ana went up into the dining room As Ia
always the case, found, when could not get
any water, was thlrstier than L supposed 4
was. Then L thought L would wake mn our
girl. Then L concluded not 20 do II Tbon
thought OF the we'll but gave that IN on ar
count OF the flavor. Then opened the clo,et
uoors-there was no water there: and then 4
thought Of that dumb waiter. The poveIty
OF the idea made me smile; took out two Of
tne moveaole shelves, stood the pitcher in the
bottom OF the dumb waiter, got in myself with
the lamp, let myself down until supposed
was within foot Of the foor below, and then
let go! ''''A
We came down SO suddealy, that vas .hos
out Of the apparatus as If il had been n cats-
putt. 1t broke the pitcher, extinguished the
lamp, and landed me in the middle of the kit
chen at midnight, with no fire, and the air moi
much ABOVE the zero point. The truth is, A
nad nlscalculated the distance Of the desceps
instead OF falling one foot L had fallen five
My first impulse was TO ascend by the wayI
came down, but found that impraeticable
Ten tried the kitchen door IL was locked
Tried TO force II open il was made of two
inch stuff, and held its own. Then hoisted
me window, and there were the rigid iron
bars. If ever felt angry at any body, il was
at M myself Tor putting up those bars TO please
Mrs' Sparrowgrass. L put them up, not 10
Keel people in, but to keep people out
laid my check against the ice cold bar
rlers, and looked out Nt the sky; not a star
was visible; IL was as black as ink overhead
Then thought Of Baron Trenck and the nr;s-
oner OF ChillOn. Then / made a noise; / shout
ed until L was hoarse, and ruined our presery-
ing Kettle with the poker. That broupL; our
dogs cut in full bark, and between ms we m sSs
night hiteOus. Then l thought L heard a
voice, and listened-it was Mrs Sparrovorass
Gaining me from the top Of the staircase
trled 10 make her hear me, but the dogs united
with howl, growl and bark, SO as to drown NV
yoice' which is naturally plantive and tender.
besides tnere were two boltei doors and dou-
ble-desfened doors between US; how conId
she recognise my voice, even if she did hear il,
Mrs Spsrrowgrass called once or twice ana
then got frightened; the next thing L heard
was sound as II the roof had fallen i'm. bv
which understood that Mrs Sparrowgrass
ives springing the rattle.
That called our neighbor, already wide
awake lie came to the rescue with A buu
terrier, Newfoundland pup, a lantern and A
revolver. The moment be saw me he sho, az
me, but fortunately just missed me. threw
myself under the kitchen table and began 10
expostulste with him, but he would not listen
TO reason. In the excitement had forgotten
his name, and that made matters worse. IL
was nct until he had reused up everybody
around, broken into the basement door with
an axe, got into the kitchen with his savage
dogs and shooting iron, and seized by the col
lar, that he recognized me-and then wanted
NE explain it But what kind of an expla.
nation could make to him. told him hs
would have TO wait until my mini was com
p sed, and then 1 would let him understand
The whole matter fully. But be never would
nave had the particulars from me, for do
not approve of neighbors that shoot az Won.
break In your door, and treat you in your own
mouse as If yoa were a Jail bird He knows
all about it, however, Tor somebody ba. told
him somebody tells every body everything in
our village