Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-08-12
yntutstirg Storg.
MY only Adventure.


1t is OF no use to ask me for a ghost story
-tor though | have stayed in nearly every
town in England of any size, / have met
with none. Railways have pat haunted
chambers out of fashion. Fancy a ghost be.
ing bold enough to venture into one of our
vast hotels There is not a single white
robed customer that would have the impu-
dence to do it. Ghosts lived in old coaching
days, and dwelt in the quaint wayside inns
and l was never lucky enough to have my
bed curtains disturbed by invisible hands
but am net ashamed to own that I ence got
a terrible fright.
In my early life, Like some of my pro-
fesslon-traveled from place to place, lust
remaining In each long enough to pocket all
the spare cash the inhabitants were willing
to expend on dental ornaments. Sometimes
l made large towns the centre of nv opera
tons, and remained in it for months, visiting
the lesser ones in the neighborhood on sta
ted days. 1t was in one of our large manu-
featuring towns in the west of England that
L met with the adventure l am going to give
you. ~
L had been uncemmonly successful, and
had made a long stay in the place on that
aecount-indeed, | had spent some months
there when it happened. l had excellent
lodgings, and occupied three apartments-a
sitting room, and a sort of reception room
for patients, on the ground floor, and a first
floor bedroom, all facing the street. l al
ways worked in the last named apartment.
and laid the necessary tools and materials on
a little bench near the window. Here I gen
orally took my station, and spent the time
from six to seven in the evening till midnight.
as was less liable to interruption.
My apartments were all furnished with
~gas-burners, and before winter set in, / add
ed a gas-stove to my bedroom. that nv
working there might cause no useless trouble
or expense to my lapdiady. One evening,
being very busy, / sat later than usual, and
when at length my task was done, I drew
my chair close to the stove, and sat half an
hour reading before extinguishing nv light.
You are aware that we make use of gold
plates and wire in fastening artificial teeth
and, in consequence of my numerous orders,
L had been particularly well supplied with
the precious metal in this form, ever since I
came to this town. Moreover, / was. by no
means deficient in these pieces which bear q
likeness of our most gracious Sovereign
Being particularly weary, and intending to
recommence my labors early in the morning,
| did not trouble myself to put away nv
materials. Blu | was careful to examine the
fastenings of my door; and this duty done,
l extinguished the fire and light, and got into
bed.
/ fell asleep almost instantly, and had a
somewhat ludicrous dream. 1 fancied nv
self a keeper in the Geological Gardens,
which had visited a few days before, and
that while handing some food to my especial
charges, (the bears), / overbalanced, and was
tumbled into the pit among the grizzly
brutes, when the shock awoke me.
Again dozed of, but only to get amongst
the bears once more I thought a tremen-
dous specimen, a perfect Ursa Major, had
just been purchased, and that to me was en-
trusted the task of tanning the monster.
No pleasant thing, even in a dream. mar
tlcuiarly at that moment, and in the incom-
prehensible manner ouly to be accomplished
in sleep, the scene shifted to my bedroom,
and ! found myself standing, en- chemese
without any means Of defence against the
precious cgesture advancing open mouthed
| thought 1 leaped on my bench, seized the
blind reller. and as he advanced, dealt a ire.
mendous blow at him.
But, alas he eluded it with the dexterity
OF an accomplished 'fencer, and I, losing nv
balance, toppled head first to the ground
The brute sprang upon ME. He tugged, and
SO did ], With might and main. l was get.
ting the worst of it, when suddenly recol.
Letting that any sort. of attack is lawful, and
that one may be permitted to waive ceremo.
ny with a bear, I seized the creatures ear be.
tween my teeth, and bit the piece completely
out. He dropped me like a hot potato. The
ludlcrous, pitiful howl, and the way he an.
Piled the paw just taken from my waist to
the wounded ear, were too much.
l burst into a perfect roar of laughter, and
SO much noise did l make, that il awoke me
l was still laughing at this whimsical Wis
ion, and wondering if it had any reference
to an apprentice who was to come under nv
care on the morrow, and who was, truly. as
uncopth q looking cub as any gentleman need
have to lick into shape, when / heard, not q
ghost-they make no noise-but a sort Of
uneasy grunt, then a yawn,. such as d person
emits when disturbed from q soundsleep
listened attentiyely, lying perfectly still, and
in a moment, distinctly felt something move
below my bed. / knew no one could have
entered after I laid down, as / am d light
sleeper, and the deer was to we'll secured to
be opened without a noise. I therefore fell
sure that they had ~bsenlunder the bed before
I commenced working, and, having fallen
asleep, been awakened by the boisterous
laughter which had dispelled my own dream
What was Z to doa Ifeared the moment
! set foot on the floor should be seized; and
what could Ia little fellow. almost naked
unarmed-do against one, or perhaps more
doubtless prepared for q struggled
Oddly enough, the remembrance of my
dream gave me courage. I had loaded pisr
tolls In the Kcom. and onoa ont of had. sh0ulc