The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-12-28


her little room, her heart beating with
anxiety for the approach Of midnight
Her surprise may be imagined when,
half an hour afterwards, she found her,
self prisoner. She tried the handle Of
the lock. 1t would not move What
was to be done? Could it have been fas-
tened on her by accident? She called
for her father. and he came.
"What's the matter, Mary ?" was his
exclamation, without, however, opening
the chamber door.
"My door is fast and can't get out =
every well, dear, was his reply; 60 to
bed, like good girl, and I'll open it in
the morning.
She knew it was not of the slightest
use to demonstrate. He must, by some
means, have discovered her design. She
could do nothing but weep and bite her
lips with vexation.
The next thing the farmer did was to
visit the barn. As usual, it had large
wagon-door, in which was cut for com
mon use a smaller entrance. The latter
was also secured by the ordinary latch
inside which was lifted, in the customary
way, by thrusting a finger through
small hole made in the door, beneath the
latch, for the purpose.
Farmer AIillar remained in the barn
long enough to arrange matters to suit his
private purpose, and then coming out
through the stable that adjoined, on rath-
erl lay partly beneath it, he walked quie-
thy home, laughing heartily to himself.
He first listened at his daughters door,
and finding all quiet, retired to his own
room and went to sleep.
Just about midnight horse and wag-
on drew silently up, on the road, behind
stealthily out of the vehicle, jumped the
fence and crept cautiously around to the
door of the building in question. How
happy he felt In another momen
Mary would be his own! In the NOR
ming, she would be his darling little WIFE
Farmer Miller would storm, OF course;
but the farmer loved his daughter dearly.
He was proud of her. He would there
fore, relent, forgive, and bless them. Full
Of these delightful anticipations, Joe
thrust MS finger Ill the hole of the barn
door to reach the latch, but-Ahl how
he yelled with pain. A steel-trap, ad-
roitly placed on the inside, so as to catch
any obtruding article, had snapped, and
his bleeding finger was held fast with its
iron teeth!
1t was cold night, and Joe's feelings
may be conjectured as he stood there,
shivering and shaking, hour after hour,
unable to move from the spot, held
prisoner by the savage instrument, his la
cerated finger occasoning him exquisite
agony land his hear fairly sinking into his
boots with the conviction that daybreak
would only expose him to the farmers in
dignation and the village ridicule.
Just at dawn, Farmer Miller chuckling
over the success Of his ruse, went down
to the barn. There still stood Joe, and
not far off the horse and wagon. | need
not say how Joe implored pardon, and
promised everything that could be desired
to purchase it and silence. Farmer Mil
Ter and he finally closed a bargain. Joe
was released. Nay, more, Farmer Miller
gave him one hnudred dollars, and Joe
was in New York, before noon, en- route
for Iowa.
AS for Mary-this incident occurred
two years ago, and have just kissed her
first baby She pleased her father, and
seems to have pleased herself in conse-
quence, quite as much.-S@mday Times