The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-05-30
Burglars in the Partington Mansion

The conversation turned upon variou, ,ur-
glaricN that had been committed III the 'cWn.
and Mrs. PHrington gave it as her opi.. +!
that any one who would bulgariou>lv break
into house would be mean ,naugh 10 steal.
particularly if he took anything. This onr-
ION va gwen wlthou: any hesitation ana nc
listeners admitted that tn,l thought so too.
The old Ganie w.S standing with her snuff
box in hyr left hand and her right fore finger
raised. prcP.ratu., 10 n a,;1g some new lc-
mark. when a door MAS ,.,,,rd to slam Violent
ly the in attic. What can that be-" >aid one.
listening attcnti,ciy with eyes md cars wide
open. 1t must be the cat" replied Mrs.
Darlington calmly. IL am not infected with
fear of bunglcrs. Blessed is he that has moth
ing, for it cant be taken away from him. -
y noise as of a Stcalthv step on the attic
STAIRS was heard a moment after What
that ," WIS asked by one of the most timid
"Don't be dccompoScd." said Mrs. Parting
ton. " it may be a breath of air. but we will
go and see what it is She was always very
rcsolute, and never heard a sound in the house
that she did not ascertain at once what caus-
ed it. The dame and her guests opened the
door. and proceeded to the attic, but there
was no evidence of disarrangemcnt there {;
they then proceeded through all the rooms to
the cellar, with the same result. They stop
ped moment to listen, when they heard the
door of a closet in the room above gently
close There were numerous garments hung
III this closet, and among the rest the black
h"ia''azinc dress that had mourncd for forty
years The loss of Paul Cautiously moving
towards the spot. they opened the door. Ev-
the dress and sundry flannel garments that
we forget the name Of. and Ikc'> Sunday lack
ct, and lots Of other things. They were Just
about turning their attention to search in
other quarters, when the timd one cried out
-" There is the bugcr.." and sure enough
there from beneath the bombazinc dress pro-
truded pair of legs encascd in blue woolcn
stockings and terminating with pair of
thick brogans "Who are YOU, and what do
YOU want?' said Mrs. Partington in a tone
denotlnS great strength of mind and some
lungs. There was no answer to the question.
though a spaSmodic movement in one of the
blue stockings denoted consciousness. What
do you want here??' she repeated, little
lrelh'IouSl!, as II she were slightly infect
cd" do YOU come hear to rob us of our beds
and murder our propriety?" She probably
meant "murder us in our beds and rob
lis OF our property" but she evidently was
confused. The blue yarn stockings still main
tanned their position. If YOU don't come
out Ill cali in policeman and have YOU shut
up III solitary confinement The stockings
moved and now a chink opened among the /.
pendant garments. through which protruded
a face glowing with mirth and mischief. and /,
laugh rich and unctuous with boyish slcc
broke the silence. "Why, Isaac ~ said the
good dame, " how could YOU do so ," have
great mind to punish YOU severally for YOUR
naughty conduct But Ike and the blue
stockings passed out of the door, and anger
passed from the mind of Mrs Partinston.-
But Miss Prev. who had gone past the peri
I'd when chance fo- ma:rimonv had become =