Litchfield enquirer., 1855-12-13
Having nothing better to do, specula-

As to the first of these supposed causes,
it seemed improbable that his recent visit
to the door in a very airy costume. should
have had any tendency to increase the ami
NAL heat; and as regarded the second the
DRY. my knowledge of his dietetic habits
was too limited to furnish me with data for
anything.like an argument. If his short
delay at the door after receiving the mail
bags, was produced by any cause Tor which
conscience might properly goad him. the
last hypothesis might be correct-but On
the whole. was obliged to follow the ex-
ample of many profounder theorists, and
confess that l didn't know much about the
matter.
A combination of the stomach and con-
science suggestions. might be an adequate
solution of the question, for the slender sal
airy of post Office clerk hardly sufficed
for more than three meals day, and the
inference from these premises would be
rather easy that fourth must have been
at the public expense.
Here my reflections came to an untimely
end; for the insect orchestra of whose per-
formances | have spoken, was reinforced
by the addition of a picolo. in the shape of
one of those minute specimens of creation
commonly called mosquito, whose note
"most musical, most melancholy" blended
with trombone of the blue bottle fly in a
manner rather more curious than pleasing.
And the different sounds produced by these
insects were no less unlike than their modes
of approaching their victims; the latter
with bull headed obstinacy,. bouncing d.
| rectly against your face in laundering
way, with apparently no particular object
excepting that of making himself generally
disagreeable. while tire former. lighting up
on you as delicately as a SNOW flake, pro-
ceeds with admirable prompttude and def
niteness of purpose to take out his lancet.
and like some neverfaiIing humorist. is al
ways in 81 the vein.''
! The tones of this insect Enlian rose and
fell for little time at distance, but was
speedily aware Of its presence in immedi-
ate proximity to my ear, and apparently
making tour of observation around my
head. Whereupon | commenced Blind
sort of defence by hourishing my hands as
noiselessly as possible round the region in
attack of regular troops upon a body of In
dians for in a moment, the music ceased.
and felt the sharp prick which informed
! Inc tuut L was NIT uuu tstlICtNtIy
ted an energetic slap upon the spot. by
which my enemy was extinguished. and one
bill at least cffectually cancelled. The re-
suit was not attained without report,
which so~violently broke the silence, that !
stood for moment in breathless suspense,
fearing that the sound would penetrate into
the realms Of Morpheus. and that thus !
might pay too dearly for my triumph
But the sleeper "made no sign" and was
again left to my solitary musings.
| A small pistol which had observed my
sleeping friend place under his head on go
ing to bed. did not tend to increase the
comforts of my position, for since he had
become SO restless, the thought passed
through my mind that he might have heard
some suspicious noise in my direction. and
was feignIng sleep, while on the watch for
its repetition. If this were the case, the
discovery Of a supernumerary Oh the pre-
misses, might lead to hasty assault on the
supposed midnight prowler. and also n
more rapid traster of the contents of the
pistol to me than would be either agreeable
or wholesome, before could offer any rea-
sonabe explanation for my presence be-
hind the door ut such an unreasonable
hour.
After while, however, a renewal of the
snoring, which was occasionally echoed by
the occupant of the .djoining room. aSsur-
ed me of the absence pf beliigerent inten-
tons; and the buzzing Of the flies before
mentioned, with the ticking of clock in
the office, were the only additional sounds
that broke upon the silence.
Abou; two O'Clock, slight accident &C.
! Cured to me, which, however, did no HARM
In reaching for d pitcher of water that
stood on the table near by, knocked off a
book, which must have been poised on the
corner of the table. l INN ediately imita-
ted, by scratching. the gnawing Of a rat in
the wall, SO that if the falling of the book
had aroused the sleeper, he would have at
tributed both the noises to the imaginary
animal.
But few sounds outside the building were
heard, save the occasional drunken shout
of some votary of Bacchus. reeling hons
to disgrace his family with his presence :;
and the measured strokes of the city clocks
as they told off the long. long hours.
But the most ludicrous circuw stance
happened just about daylight-that is, day
light outside, for within tho office it was
still dark, as all the blinds were closed.
"o' StostiSo W q SoeuSh AaP ou
door of tho post masters room which oper-
ed into the main hall, soon followed by an
other more energetic. The clerk in the
bedroom jumped from his bed, and passed
by me to open the door. Fearing that
should be discovered, darted into the
bedroom without his knowledge and before
he had returned. The truth is, he was not
more than half awake, and had forgotten
| me entirely. He had admitted co.ored
man to get the boots which required his
polishing touch, and then returned to bed
again.
This gentleman of color, who by the way
proved TO be a trusty porter employed in
several offices in the building. proceeded
first to the side Of the cot to get the boots
there, and then made for the bed room, into
which had retreated. In feeling about
the floor to find the remaining "leathern
conveniences," he sliced one of mine -