Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-02
NUMBER 22l.
AMERICAN ORGAN.
Getting In at Night.

Tom ''and how to get in without waking up the
governor was the difficulty. / knew he'd give me
particular fits, II he knew was out after ten, and
the clock had just struck one. The back yard was
| an impossibity, and but one chance remained
There was porch over the front door, the roof of
which was but few feet below two windows. One
of them knew was fastened down, and the other
opened from bedroom, which might or might not
be occupied. An old maiden sister OF Tins wife
had arrived on the same day, and il was very prob
able she was in that room; but knew the bed was
in the corner farthest from the window and hoped
should be able TO get In without awaking her,
and then had comparatively easy thing of it.
So getting plank from a neighboring board pile,
rested II against the cave of the shed, pulled on
my shoes, put them In my pocket, and then
conued up All right, so far, but thought it
necessary, in order not to any suspicion In
the morning, to remove the plank; 60, dragging il
up, threw off the end, and down it went, with
an awful catter on stray dog that had followed
me for two or three squares, who immediately set
up the most awful howl whipped hound ever gave
tongue to- That started half dozen other dogs
in the neighborhood barking. mocking-bird
commenced singing US il he intended to split his
throat at it, and an old woman, in her night
clothes, with a candle in her hand, appeared in
window across the street. knew was safe, as
far as she was concerned; but IL any one else came
to our windows, the candle gave light to very
probably discover me-
| Nobody did come, however, and the old lady,
after peering up and down the street for minute
or more, popped her head in and retired The
mocking-bird kept up its eternal whistle, and Il
was fully half an hour before it and the dog settled
down and gave me a chance to move. Creepng
slowly along the wall, till reached tie window, I
put my hands on the SILL sprung in, and, with my
head and shoulders within, and my legs hanging
cut, stopped to listen. Yes she was in that room.
| for could hear her breathing After waiting for
a minute, cautiously drew up one leg then the
other, slowed them round, and putting them down
10 the floor, was just conscious that had stepped
on something soft and yielding, and was about
withdrawing them, when another yell broke out at
my feet; the old maid jumped up from her bed.
crying " murder! mnrder!n and the dogs and the
mocking-bird started again.
saw through it all had "put my foot in it"
more ways than one. little darkey was lying
on her back, under the window, and had stepped
on her face, and, of course, woke her up. deci-
dcd in flash what to do The house would be
aroused and | caught, to a certainty, unless
could get ID my room before the governor was up.
But hadn't moment to lose; for the little Mig
ger was yelling, and the woman screaming 80 /
started for the door, made three steps, and struck
chair, tulubled over, Of course, and made the
awfullest racket you ever heard of, in the "dead
hour of night" in peaceable house. The nigger
and the old maid screamed louder than ever, the
mocking-bird whistled like stean-engine, and the
dogs fairly made chorus as loud as Jullen's!
i reached the door, however, swiftly and quietly
opened it, and just got out in time to see the old
gentleman open the door, with a candle In his
hand, and come hurrying up the stairs Not mo.
| ment was to be lost. There was a wardrobe near
where stood, and sprang behind It. Up came
| the Governor, reached the door. opened 1t, went
in, and in the meantime there all sorts Of con
fusion and inquiry down stairs as TO what was the
matter. Nobody else came up, though, and from
where stood heard every inquiry and explana-
| tion in the room. OF course they couldn't make
much of it. The little darkey was too frightened
aud 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 a good spanking, and
explaining the matter to the arc ised neighbors
from the window went down TO his room again.
So far, SO good. had TO 20 down stairs, reach
the back door, unbar II, get il into the yard make
for my room, which was In the second story Of a
back building that stood unconnected with, and
about dozen yards from, the main one. After
giving everybody another half hour 70 settle down
| again, started. Boys, did you ever try to go up
or down pair Of stairs, at midnight, without
making a noise : You may try all sorts Of ways,
but every step Is sure to crack, each with pecu-
liar noise of its own, and loud enough you are GER
tain to wake up everybody. had gotten nearly
to the bottom, when little dog came trottng
along the entry towards me, yelling furiously. A
suppressed Come here, you Zip" silenced him,
for he recognised me; but the dog 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.
| l ran along the passage, reached the door, un-
locked IL, just as the governor reused the second
time, opening his door, and seeing man escaping
from the house by the back way, of course cricd
Thieves thievesl" and made a rush after me-
/ was too quick for him, though, opened the door,
sprang out, broke for the door which opened into
the room below mine and had just reached Il, when
crash within foot Of my head went brick, and
another voice, that knew belonged TO next door
neigbbor Tompkins, joined the governor In the
cry Of Thievesl thieves murder! thievesln
| was safe, though Rushing up stairs, shced
myself quicker than ever did before or since, and
was in bed and sound asleep in less than half a
minute. Wasn't there row, thought I never
heard so many dogs before; the mocking-bird, Of
course, outdong all previous efforts. The chick
ems even began TO crow. Tompkins next door,
was halloing thievesln and calling the governor
| could hew screams and oil sorts OF taking and
noises among the neighbors, until, at length, the
old gentleman's voice was heard In the yard call
| ing Tom Toni
| Tom was sound aseep--snoring.
| Tom !" cried the old man IN a voice that would
have aroused a man from nm elliptic It,
| judged i prudent 70 wake then, and jumped
/ IEOiu my bcu, anu NuVOuib VuS egtt huu ioohmb
particularly frightened, (which wss,} asked
"Why, father, what in the worlds the matter y
| "Theres thieves in the bouseln was the reply;
| " get your gun and come down, and I've quick"
| "He's in the room below you Tom !" halowed
Tompkins, "Pm certain Of IL saw him az be ran
down, and threw brick at him. know he didn't
pass that door, Mr.. Jones'
was directed to "look out for myself;r the
governor stood sentinel at the door below, armed
with club while Tompkins had FIVE minutes 10
collect aid from the neghbors, and in less than
half that, so thoroughly was every house alarmed,
there were dozen or moro men in the yard, arm.
cd with guns, pistols and sticks.
The governor led the attack. Opening the door,
he called, "Come out here, you house-brcaking
scoundreli If you attempt to run or resist, III
| blow your brains out! Nobody came, however"
"Watch the door, while 90 in;' and was told
to "look sharp" and "shoot the rascal If he came
up stairs" momentsry search was sufficient 10
satisfy everybody that the thief was not in the
room. "Hes up stairs, then,' cried Tompkins,
"for III take my Bible oath he didn't pass that
| door,
/ - \ Ii n. n