The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-24

All sorts Of isyoas chfissmas nm ~ carried
On, and kissed pretty Girls under the misstseoe
until either with thst pleasant sxsrciss OF Win
cssrching the thirst Il excited, became slightly
elevated wast 20 diss there nsxs aay s .... ny
friends would fAin have persuaded me to say AZ
nisht; bat vas dstsrminsd TO retarn 70 ny Ioue
tues, 10 knew Mrs Wtngase would sis up fos No
II was past midnight when babe my Kind enter
taiaers good night, and With hssty out NOT 700
VA soon At home and In bed Mrs. wis rate
had more than oocs laughed about the odd figure
cut on the occasion OF my old adventure. She
aIso informed me that the two men Who had
played the street part had besn since detected .s
prisoued for twelve mouths, but were know at
liberty The good lady manifested no small unca-
s.Esss on my account, and Cushioned me to DO very
careful not TO give them aay opportunity OF execu.
Her evident timiaity and anxiety only excited
nay mtrth. but was nevertheless careful 70 exam
Inc the fastening Of my door, aud always both lock
and bolt t.
when I reached my lodgings on Christmas I've,
was. ~ said, little elevated, and contrary TO
my usual custom, on getting Into bed could not
sleep.
l began to think over the amusemsnts Of the
evening, criticising the fair facos had been 20
close 10, wishing had such cheerful home; )
/
event OF my asking one OF the said fair dafnsels
to part with her name In favor of mine, and
thanking my stara that at any rate should be
suest at the Same place on the morrow. The
clock struck two, and found my thoughts still!
busy, but sudden check was given to the car
rent OF my ideas. heard sort Of grating sound,
and then felt certain some one was moving
stssishily mp the kitchen stairs. At first was
little alarmed. imagining thieves were In the
house. and thes-pshaw, thought l. Mrs. Win
gate had been sitting up later than usual, to
finish her Christmas pudding II Is rather sinau-
lar that my former adventure did not then enter
my mind; though IL had occurred in that We ry
spot. l listened again. The footsteps, certainly
| audibie close to nv room door-a hand was on
| the iock-it turBed-they were stealing along the
floor TO my apartment-I became sensible. OF the
| presence of two persons-and nov FELT all the
| horrors Of my situation. Every iota OF what had
formerly happened there, the presence OF the ~
fellows who had then, doubtless, beep disappofnt'
cd Of their prev, aud the thought ofmy own pow
erlsssness, drove me mad.
Fool, idiot that was-1 had 10 my tfpsy FOLLY
rushed upon my fate
| had refused the cordial invitation which would
have secured me from all danger, aud had even ne
elected the precaution Of securing my room, almost
for the hrst time within my recollection. became
aware OF dim light and partially opening my eyes.
| perceived two rascas fumbling about lantern.
| am not ashamed TO Uwn was perfectly paralysed
vita terror and utterly incapable OF doing any
| thing-indeed. what could do! saw them re
| inkstand into candlestick. One proposed light.
Lg the gas but the other objected that IL disturb
| ed he might be furied, aud turned into the wrong
| way. They then, with singular quickness and
dexerity, ransackee my desk aud case Which they
| opened by means of skeleton keys. This done.
| and the plumber tied in handkerchief the youn-
| ger Of the two suggested, with an oath, that
| they should finish him.
He approached my bed; drew side the curtains,
and, though burst not look, felt he was gazing
! ia my faca. Again he turned aside, and fumbled
| in his ,ckets as IL in search Of something
| had hoped all along that by feigning sleep l
| might escape, for knew, should struggle ensue,
| could not escape, since they were powerful men
aud 1 ante unarmad. While ne was feeling 10
| in bis ,cket, could no. help stealing my hand
| up to my throat, thinking at the same time how
little chance there was that 1t be used as vehi-
Gle for Christmas cheer. Guess my horror, II you
can, when the elder scouudrei, in an impatient
tone, babe his son make haste If he meant to do
it, and not keep him waiting there all night"
The young man tumbied over the articles that
had been dis placed in their search Tor plumber.
aud not finding what he sought, inquired with an
oath, what his father had done with the knife
| At first the latter seemed puzzled and then in
forAod his son. with an equally elegant expetive,
thas he had left it on the pantry shelf down be-
lev.
The younger, bitterly cursiug him for a greedy
fool, who must begin to eat before the work was
| done. babe him fetch it.
'-Well, Bill" replied his parent" that ham wac
stunning and you know you couldn't stand those
ere che csc Cakes but won't this do for him! hand.
| ing: up one Of my pistols.
| Yes a pretty thing, frs, kick up row. aud be
| scragged for it-thst would pay nicely. Fetch the
| knife and have more jaw. or We shall wake the
| chap, instead of sending him up quietly to spend
| his Christmas in Heaven withoutan invitation
| He chuckied and the old fellow seemed equally de-
lighted at his sons wit; then, taking the candle
| went OF to fetch the knife
| All their motions had been so nsiselessly per
| formed, and conversation carried on in tone sc
wonderfully clear. though low, that was astOnish
ed the perfection thay had attained In their hor
rid craft. During the fathers absence, the
| not ide. He actually loosed the collar of my
shirt. and then stood quietly waiting the Others
| return.
You could never imagine, unless placed in SINH
| lar circumstances. what multitude Of thoughts
| passed through my mind 10 few minutes. / veri
~ believe that every Christmas with its accompan
imeuts offun and feasting at which had assisted
siUce the height OF the table was reviewed il
| turn. Then thought of the morrow. and of ths
fair girls had lett and how an hour be fore, wa.
fu OF Lo . that ere another Christmas reuno
/ should call one my own. Still found time fol
earnest prayer, aud to think of all sorts Of expe
| dents to escape my impending fate. Once fan
cied, now there was only one to contend with,
| might do something. but just then the touch o.
the muscular hand on my throat reminded me
| that a movement would cause my instant destruc
| ton. Indeed, have often wondered that the tel
low did not strange me 10 his impotence. How
bitterly did reproach myself for not raising az
alarm when the footsteps fret became audible
At length the fellow fairly gnashed his teeth
with rage, and utfering smothered exclamation
ofsHang the tipping beast, he's at that wine again.
he also left the apartment. to recall his truans pa
rent, and fetch the implement Of murder.
Now was the time. aud you may believe I lost
none The instant he left tho room, was on
my feet; noiselessly approached the door. dashed
it to, turned the key, shut the bolt lighted the
gas, and once moreI stood. my heart ready to
jump into my throat with joy and thankfulness
with my trusty pistols 10 my hand.
There was chance Ct their recent ering for
their skeleton keys lay on the bench, and every
article Of pluuder was there also; for, intending
to return, they had not conveyed it from the
room.
l made noise enough from the window; my
boste-s and her damsel, now reused. Joined the
chorus and soon, at the head of host Of aiar med
| neighbors and couple of policemen, we searched
| the house from top to bottom. One of the men
| knew had left the premises, as heard him dash
over tho ratings, and down the street but
the elder ruffian discovered, stupidity drunk,
10 the cellar the danger of his position not having
suf1ced to prevent his INDUCING his favorite pro-
pensity, when the temptation strong,
| We found they had gained adnittancs by cutting
| away the zinc from the pantry window, their
l skeleton keys having made the rest easy.
l Bill, the younger rufian was toe we'll known to
| escape detection. He was captured in few hours
| and ~ he and his father eventually obtained
free passage to a distant land in vessel provided
| for that purpose by Her Most Gracious Majesty.
The affair made prodigious sensation, aud
became the lion of all Christmas parties that year;
and the extraordinary sympathy manifested by a
| certain fair Individual at the recital of my
story brought about most satisfactory expla-
| nation. My next Christmas dinner was eaten In
my home. with her as q mistress.
| have often blessed my stars that good Mrs
| Wingate was not member Of the Total Abstinence
Society: for had 1t been for the liberal repen-
| ishing her cellar underwent few days befure
| Christmas, In readiness for sons and daughters
who were to gather round her, and celebrate in
her house that true home festival, my throat would
have been In condition perform its func lions