The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-11-14


awfullest racket you ever heard in the
+" dead hour Of night" in peaceahle
house, the nigger and the old maid scream
ed louder than ever, the mocking bird
whistled like steam whistle and the
dogs fairly made choru. as loud as
Julien's.
81 reached the door, however, swiftly
and quietly opened it, and just got ont in
time to see the old gentleman open hi.
door with a candle in his hand and come
hurrying up the stairs. Not a moment
was to be lost There was wardrobe
near where I stood, and I sprsng behind
ill., Up came the Governor, reached the
door and opened it and went in and i'll
the meantime there was all sorts of con-
fusion and inquiry down stairs as to what
was the matter. Nobody else came up,
though and from where I stood I heard
every word of inquiry and explanation in
the room. OF course they couldn't make
much out of it. The little darkey was
too much frightened and too sound asleep
at the time to understand the truth, and
the upshot of the business was that they
concluded she had been dreaming, and
the Governor, after giving her sound
spanking and explaining the matter to
the aroused neighbors from the window
went down to his room again.
$50 far, SO good, / now had to go
down stairs, reach the bsck door and Nh
bar it to get into the yard to make for
my room, which was in the second story
Of back building that stood uuconnected
with, and about a dozen yards from the
main one tergiving everybody anoth-
er half hour to settle down again, !
started.
| "Bors, did you ever try TO set up or
down pair of stairs at midnight with
| out making a noise? You may try all
sorts of ways, but every step is suIe to
crack, each with peculiar noise Of its
own and loud enough, you are certain, to
waken everybody. | had gotten nearly
to the bottom when little fest dog came
trotting up the entry towards me, yelling
furiously. A suppressed Come here,
sir, Zip" silenced hin, for he recognized
me, but the fest started the mocking bird
and the dogs in the neighborhood having
learned to take the cue, of course all join
ed chorus for the third time.
al ran along the passage, reached the
door aud unlocked it just as the Governor
reused the second time opened his door
and seeing man escaping from the house
by the back way, of course cried
"Thievesl thieves p and made rush
after me. I was too quick for him, how
ever, and opened the door, sprang out
and made for the door that opened into
| the room below mine, and had just reach
ed it, when crash! within foot of my
head went brick, and another voice that
I knew belonged to our next door neigh
Dor Tomkins, Joined the Governor in the
cry Of" Thieves! Murderl'' / was safe
now. Rushing up stairs l shelled myself
quicker than | ever did before or since,
and / was in bed and sound asleep III less
than half minute.
"Vasn't there q row, though? never
heard SO many dogs before; the mocbing
bird, of course, was out doing all previous
efforts, the chickens even began to crow
Tompkins,. next door was hallooing
I"Thieves p and calling the Governor.
could hear screams and all sorts of talk
ing and noises among the ncighbors, unit
at length the old gentleman's voice wa.
heard in the yard Calling
"Tom Tom! Thieves!"
, "'Thieves! Thieves"
"'Tom! cried the old man in q voic,
that would have aroused man from al
epileptic fit.
II judged it prudent to wake then, ant
jumping from my bed, raised the window
and rubbing one eye, and looking partic
ularly frightened, (Which l was,) asked
"'Why, father, what in the worlds tn
: matter ?''
"'There's thieves in the house. was tn
reply, get your gun and come down, AM
be quick"
".He's in the room below you, Tom
= hallooed Tompkins, Pm certain of il
:, / saw him as he ran down and threw a fir
!, brick at him. know he didn't pass tha
= door, Mr.. Jones"
, "'I was dressed to look out for myself
the Governor stood sentinel at the doc
= below armed with club, while Tompkin
had FIVE minutes to collect aid from tn
;, ;, neighbors, and in less than half that tim,
: so thoroughly was every house alarmed
: there was a dozen or more men in tn
" yard, armed with guns, pistols and sticks.
J. "The Governor led the attack" Open
! ing the door, he called, Come out hel
:. you house breaking scoundrel! If yo
- attempt to run or resist I'll blow you
;, brains out!"
Nobody came however"
:, "'Watch the, door, was the orde
:, y while go in,' and was told to loo
: sharp, and shoot the rascal if he came u
y stairs" A momentary search was suf1
!. cient to satisfy everybody that the thi
! = was not in that room"
a 2"'He's up stairs then, 'cried Tompkin
d 'for I'll take my Bible oath he did nc
! pass that doer.u "a .4bs2a 81 agEg Z.
e1 S" 50 up stairs they trooped,s but I 'ha
: lit candle by that time, and there wa