Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-04-02

amid her pleasant thoughts like child
among flowers. Sober little teachers
like myself are given to wakefulness and
musing, $50 that "two o'clock tolled out on
the midnight air." or rather in the morn
ing watch, and found me still dreaming
awake. A few minutes after, 1 dis
tinctly heard sounds as of some one try
ing to enter the house 4; the wind had
lulled, but the night was very dark.
As 1 listened, fear sharpening my
sense of hearing, the sounds increased /;
l thought of the bag of money so care.
lessly carried through the streets, and
then flung upon the unacceptable. But
1 seemed powerless to move, and lay like
one Just reused from fainting fit. 1
thought Garry asleep, and resolved not
to awaken her till 1 was sure of danger.
But as the thought formed itself, she
pressed my hand tightly, and with an
agony of expression which shall never
forget, but in tones scarcely above her
breath, "What shall zee do ?" She was
more thoroughly alarmed than myself,
and dared not move. Had it been 9TH
erwise, I should have thought myself
unable to move; but as the most timid
are sometimes bold through the force of
fear, 1 sprung suddenly from the bed,
and opened the door into the dark and
exposed porch, and called loudly, "Mr.-
Pettis %
1t seems that he had heard the noise,
but not distinctly, and was therefore
quickly armed and out of doors. He
thought Of his money and feared an en-
counter. Garry and myself closed our
door, but stood ready for a crisis, shovel
and poker in hand. In few minutes,
in place of battle fierce, a merry shout
broke ominous stiffness, and the voice of
Mr.. Pettis was heard near the window.
"Don't be frightened, girls; it's only
grunting porker forcing his way into'the
granary."
The latter building was but a short
distance from the part of the cottage in
which our bed room was situated. The
stagesdriver had left the gate open, and
a hungry pig had entered and forced his
way into the well-6lled store-room.-
These animals, by the way, like distin-
guished guests, have the "freedom of
the city" presented to them in the -four
ishing Buckeye State-a freedom which
they sometimes abuse in common with
many others thus honored. The unwel-
come intruder dislodged, slumber long
and deep settled down upon the house.
hold, and we rose to very late break
fast on the first of April, 1889.
As we passed through the porch,
"Sukey," who had returned to her post
in the kitchen, met US with grinning
teeth and rolling eyes. "Do come into
the kitchen, ladies', and see how he's
April fooled me ''
"Who, Sukey ?"
Why, Mr.. Pettis he's alers up to
such things"
Sure enough he had remembered the
day, for brilliant whitewash filed the
milk pail, dish of plaster of Paris eggs
were laid to be fried with the ham, and
Sukey had ran half way through the
street to see a robber who had broken
into the house at midnight, and was
now fastened up in Mr.. Doolittle's yard.
"What shall do to pay him back %
said Sukey, appealing 10 the merry face
Of Carry, as if her own wit were at ebb.
"I'll help you" said Cary. her bright
eyes swapping ':.wait till he's gone to
the store.
Thus paci6ed, Sukey. in better spirits,
prepared US fine breakfast, having
found the genuine hens eggs under the
coal-scuttle.
AT the table we had merry laugh at
the adventure of the night, and even
Emily admitted that nervousness and
foolish apprehensions only unfit us for
exercising proper self-possession in time
of danger. For myself, 1 never hear
noises at midnight but 1 think of two
young ladies in flowing night-gowns
armed with poker and shovel, not very
firmly held in their trembling hands.
>"NOw, Carry" said Mrs. Pettis. al
trust Squire Fullerton will 'screw his
courage up and not let your present visit
pass without bringing matters to an is
sue. But these lawyers do like a pro-
tracted case"
"Bctter than we ladies'" said Garry,
"and as Mr.. Fullerton has been screwing
SO long Che had peculiar twist of the
mouth before he eliminated his sentence,
1 join with you in the Rish that this visit
will decide the important matter to which
you refer"
Bravo! Carry" said Mrs. Pettis
that's what suits me. 1 like to have
girls speak their minds freely, and not
affect such disclination to marry, when
looking so wistfully in their hearts at the
haven of welded life."
"Indeed, have no afectation in the
matter" said Garry, "and always said 1
should when sought by the right per-
son."
"Well, now is the time, and Emily, |
adieu to all nervousness; Garry will soon |