The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-20
A NIGHT ADVENTURE.
From tie Modern $tory- Teller.

hurry me. | have never been in hurry since
then. and never will. Up to that time. in
elusive, was always in hurry: nv actions
always preceded my thoughts; cx pcricncc
was of no use: and ANYBODY would have sup
posed me destined to carry a young head up
on old shoulders to the grave. However,
was brought up at last with a round turn.
| WAS allowed 4 certain space for reflection.
and plenty of materials, and if it did rot do
me good. its pity.
My father and mother both died when /
was still a great awkward boy; and |. being
the only thing they had to bcqucath. became
the property of distant relation do not
know how it happened but had no near re-
lations. Twas kind of waif upon tie world
from the beginning; and suppose it was
owing to my having no family anchorage that
| acquired the habit of swaying to and fro,
and drifting hithcr and thihcr, at the pleas
urc of wind and tide. Not that my guardian
was inattentivc or unkind-quitc the reverse;
but he was indolc@t an! careless, contenting
himself with providing abundantly for nv
schooling and my pocket. and leaving every
thing else to chance He would have done
the same thing to his own son if he had had
one. and he did the same thing to his own
daughter. BIT girls somehow cling where
ever they are cast-;l.: thing is an acliorasc
Tor them: and as Laura grew up, she gave
the care she had never found. and was the
little mother Of the whole house As for the
titular mother. she had not an atom of char
actcr of any kind. She might have been a
picture. or vase. or any thing else that is
useless. except to the taste or the affections
But mamma was indispensable. 1t is vui-
gar error to suppose that people who have
nothing i'll them are nobody III Il house Our
mamma was the very center and point of our
home feelings, and it was strange TO observe
the dcyout care We took Of a parsonage who
had not two ideas in her head Ii is no Won
der that | was aways in 4 hurry. for | r.ust
have had al instructive idc,, that lla,! for-
tune to look for. The governor had nothing
more than gcnteel independence and this
would be good deal le>,enci after his death.
by the lapse of al annuity. But sister Iaur.
was thus provided for well enough. while |
had not shilling in actual money. although,
plenty of Hypothetical thousands. and sundry
castles III The air. Ii was the CONSCIOUSNESS,
of the latter kind of property. no doubt. tha,
gave rlr 50 free and easy az air. aid made
me so completely the master of nv own &C
tioDs. How did worry that blessed Old wo
man how Laura lecturrd and seeded. how
the governor stoc;nc,l' and how was forsiv-
I'll th,. next minute. ;:nG! w. werr all Is hap
py again as the DAY WAS long Bu, at length
the time of separation Came. had grown .
grca, hulkins fellow. strong enough to max,
my bead as 4 porter. j: that had been need
cd: as! 50 situation WAS fouad for me- in .
counting house al Barcelona. AID after a lee
tire and hearty crs from si,s.:. AL. Il srca
sob. kcr, down by 4 hurricane laugh from
Tic Sovr.D"r. wc:t a,.rii;. F"ar wears pass
e.! ra";iiy ;.vas. had attained my fi.l
height a. more nan n: JUS, share 4 inch
<. already ,.joy",! = far .nn...cum e wlIi>
hcrs. ;.9d h., exc: ..,a'!a >oae progress j:
the cultivation G: 4 ~ u: ::,o!stac:. S. ule:
s;:,.v:,iy the l.",:.. w. connected! VII; i'll
cd. What 20 Go ? The .4scvu.,r Insisted III;
III ny rt:urn to England. WHERE hi> in:erc>
;.,no.-, thv in"ccGtiie class WAS considerable
Laura IL, a,>tcrio'i~lv limited that my prc>crc
iii the house w"'id soon lie i matter of gre.
importance 10 her father: and mamma l,; o,:
the >cccct hy writing to ne tina. Laura W.
going to change her condition." was sl.,
IL Ecar this. for kn.w that he would he
mode! fellow who WIS I.aura's husband: and
gulrhins .iown NY pride. wh:ch would tai
have persuaded me that ii was u:marlv 10 9
back again. Ike the IL six;,Ecr. st, CT %
: my return home.
The family. knew. had movc,. 10 aro:hc
house: bat being well acquainted with til
town had no difficulty in finding the place
; |; wa> :. range Of handsome buildings whic
had sprung up in the fashionable ou,>ki,
: during my absence: and although i.:r q
in the evening. nv accustomed eyes soon dc
/ >cried through the gloom :!ie governors ol;
fashioned toor-i'late. l WIS JUS: ahou; t
knock. really aSitated with dclsh. and s,rus
CLING memories. when temptation came i
| r,v WAY. One of the area windows was opcl
: as if gaping for my reception. Why shoul
not enter. ard appear unannounccd in I'll
drawing-room. Il sunhurnt phantom of Fl,
: feet eleven? Why should not prcscn. I'll
precise and careful Laura with handful
her own spoons and forks. left so coaven:rr
e ly at the service of any arca-sncak who mi-l
chance to pass by? Why? That is only
hSuiS w "ftttii. dSNtu iio CutStiOn abo,
the matter: the idea Was hardly well aero.
$ my brain when lnv legs were across the rail
In another moment had crept in hy the VII
dow. and chuck ling at my own clcvcrne>s. al;
t the great moral lesson was about to tcac
n | was stuiFing my pockets with the pate.
|. While thus engaged, the opening of do,
in the hall ahovc alarmed ne: and afraid
e the failure of my plan. stepped lightly u
Il the stair. which was partially lighted bv ii
+ hail-lamp. As was about to emerge at IL
top. serving girl was coming ont of roo
!, on the opposite side. She instantly retrca
d ed shut the door with bang. and ccu
hear a halfsupprcsscd hystcrical cry.
r bounded on, sprang up the drawing roc
stair, and entered the first door at 4 ventur
e All was dark. and stopped for monaen:
c listen. Lights were hurrying across the h;.
r. and heard the rough voice of man. as
c scoldinS and tanntins some person. The gi
c had doubtless given the alarm. although h
/ information must have been very irdistinc
c for when she saw me was in the shadow
the stair. and she could have had little mo-
o than vague impression that she bchcld
d human figure. However this NAV be. Il
$ mans voice appeared to descend the stair
the area-room. and presently heard a eras
! ing noise, not as if he was counting the plat
but rather thrusting it aside en- mossc. Th,
o l heard the window closed. the shutters bol
: ed and an alarm-bcll hung upon them, a,
the man re-ascended the stair. half scoldin
half laughing at the girls superstition Il
:, took care. notwithstanding, to examine Il
: fasteninss of the street door, and even
s lock it. and put the key in his pocket. Il
S then retired into room. and all WIS s;,o,c