Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-04-25
SELECTED.

GETTING ~ 1T NiGnT.-lh he door was lock
ed when got home, said ron, "and how to
get IN without waking up the governor was
the difficulty. ! knew he'd give mc rarticu-
lar fits if hc knew | was out after ten. and
the clock had inst struck one The back
yard was an impos,ihi!ty. and bat ono
chance rcmuined There was porch over tine
front door. the top o! which was but few feet
below the windows. One of thcm. | knew.
was fastened down, and the other opened
from bedroom, which might or might not
be occuped.' An old maiden sister of
Toms wife had arrives on the same day and
1t was very probable that size was in that
room "but knew that the bed was in the
corner tarthcst from the window and hoped
| should he able to get in without awalling
her. and then had comparatively easy
thing of it. So getting plank from "A
ncighhoring board pile. rested it against
the cave OF the shed, pulled off my shoes, pat
them in my pocket, and then 'conncd up.
All right SO far, hut Thought it necessary.
in order not to arouse any suspicion in the
morning, to remove the plank 50 dragging
1t up, | threw Off tho end, and down it went,
with an awful clatter, on Il stray dog, who
had followed me Tor two or three squares.
who Immediately " set up the most awful howl
n whipped hound ever gave tongue to. That
started half Il dozen other dogs in the neigh
borhood barking.
Ih9 mocking bird commcnnol tinging as if
Ied to split his throat at it, and
olu woman, in her night clothes. with
candle in her hand, appeared at the window
across the street. | knew was safe far
as she was concerned, but if any one came to
our windows, the candle gave enough light
to, very probably, discover me. Nobody did
come, however. and the old lady, after peer
ing up and down the street for minute or
more, popped her head in and returned. The
mocking-b bird kept up his eternal whistle
and it was full hall an hour before it and the
dog settled down, and gave me Il chance to
move. Creeping slowly along the WALL till
reached the window, put my hands on the
sill, sprung up, and, with my head and shoul-
ders within, and my legs hanging out,
stopped to listen. Yes, she was in that room,
for could h.ar her breathing. After waiting
for Il minute, cautiously drew up one leg
then the other, slowed them around, and
putting them down to the floor, was lust
conscious that had stepped on something
soft and yielding, and was about withdraw
ing them, when another yell broke out at
my feet, the old maid jumped up from her
bed crying Murder. murder and the dogs
and the mocking bird started again. | saw
through it all | had put my foot in it more
ways than one. a little darkcy was living
on her back, under the window, and | had
stepped on her face, and of course, woke her
up. ! decided, in flash, what to do. Tho
house would be reused and caught, to
certainty, unless could get to my room be-
fore the governor was up But hadn't a
moment to lose for the little niggcr was
yelling, and the woman screaming, So |
started Tor the door, made three steps and
struck chair, (tumbled over, of course
made the awiullest racket YOU ever heard Of,
in the dead hour of night in peaceable
house the Niger and the old maid screamed
louder than ever the mocking-bird whistel
like steam engine, and the dogs fairly made
chorus as loud as Julicn's
reached the door, however. swiftly and
quietly opened it, and just got out in time to
FEE the old gentleman open his door, with
candle in hi, hand, and come hurryIng up the
stairs. Not Il moment was to be lost. There
was wardrobe near whcrc | stood, and !
sprang behind it. Up came the governor,
reached the door, opened it, and went in and
in the mean time there were all sorts of con-
fusion and inquiry down stairs n 70 what
the matter. Nohudy els, came M,
though, and from where ! ST ol | heard every
word OF inquiry and explanation in the room.
OF course they could mt make much out Of IT,
The little darkoy was tul frightened and too
sound asleep at the time to understand the
that they concluded she had been dreaming.
and the governor, after giving her good
spanking, and explaining the matter from
the window 10 the aroused ncighbors, went
down to his room again.
80 lar, 50 good. now had to 70 down
stairs, reach the back door, unbar it, get into
the yard make for my room, which was in
tho second story of the back building, that
stood unconnected with, and about a dozen
yards from the main one. After giving
everybody another half hour to settle down
again, ! started. Boys, did YOU ever try 10
90 up or down stairs at midnight. without
making II noise lou may try all sorts of
ways but every step is sure to creak. each
with peculiar noise Of its own, and loud
enough, you are certain, to wake up every
body.
had gotten near the bottom, when a little
dog came trotting along the entry towards
me, yelling iuriously. \ suppressed, Come
here, sir, you Xlp,' sienced him. for he re-
cognized me, but the dog started the mock
ing. bird, aud the dogs IN the neighborhood,
having learned to take the cue of course, all
joined the chorus, for the third time,
ran along the passage, reached the door,
unlocked il, Just a. the governor, reused tina
second time, opened his DIOR, and seeing
man escape from the house, cried thieves
thieves y and made rush after me.
I was too quick for him, though, opened
the door, sFranS out, made for the door
which opened INTO the room below mine. and
had just reached it, when crash within n
foot of my head went a brick, aud another
voice, that ! knew belonged to next door
neighbor, Tompkins, joined tho governor in
the cry Of thieves murder thieves
was sale, though. Rushing up stairs, shell
led myself quicker than ever did, telore or
since and was ia bed and sound asleep in
half a minute
Tom cried the old man. in voice that
would have raised q man from Gt.