The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-08
The Smiths Of SMithViiic:
AND THEIR
ADVENTURES WITH 4 R0BBER
by PAUL CREYTON.

nc SmltnS OIL CMilUNi!Ie BdV LOI q
long time been very much annoyed by
the depredations of some unknown indi-
vidual, whose confused ideas concerning
the rights of property, led to the frequent
abstraction of divers goods and chattels
from the premises of the said Smiths, IN
a furtive and mysterious manner. Bags
of wheat and of oats vanished from the
granary, pork from the cellar, and corn
from the crib, in Que night. A sheep
that had just been slaughtered, coolly
trotted away; and on another occasion,
several gallons of syrup evaporatcd in a
nighttime Milking stools went off on
their three legs, and one morning Mr.
Smith best axe was found to have ''cut
stick" Log chains became rattlesnaRes
and crept of; iron wedges made splits il
the Smith property; bOets walked away;
and the jack rode off on the Saac-h0rSe -
Vain we're all the efforts of the ED CT
and younger Smith, to discover the mys-
terry of these disaPpearances, and to out
trap the offenier. De>Pairing to bring
him to justice, the SmiiLs found they
could do nothing more than totake meas
ures to insure the safety Of their proper
ty. Accordingly they built new gran
ary, with strong walls, narrow grated
window, and heavy oaken door, to
which was attached formidable pad
lock. This prison-like portion of the
barn was built sufficiently large to allow
the Smiths TO lock up with the grain a
great deal OF portable property, .uch as
was most likely to tempt the cuIidity of
thieves.
After the granary was finished, month
passed, during which time tie dcpreda-
tions Of the robter or robbers were con-
fined to the orchard aud hen roost; when,
late one Sunday evening, the elder Saith
as be was sitting tipped against the kitch-
en- wall, smoking his pipe preparatory to
retiring, bethought bin that he had neg
lected to lock the granary before leaving
the barn. This was by no means sim
gular circumstance considering that the
grsnary was usually locked by the youn-
ger Smith-whO had that night ''gone a
courting"
1t was a moonlight evening, and Mr..
Suith, oD approaching the barn, was con-
siderably startled at seeing the door ajar.
Certain Of having shut the door an hour
previously, Mr.. Saiih thought Of robbers.
His suspicion was confirmed, when, on a
nearer approach, be plainly heard ID nove.
meut in the barn. Too cautious to en-
danger his life by boldly attacking the
robber, Mr.. Smith, with considerable tre-
pidation,' resolved to watch bis move
ments, and discover who he was.
Looking through crack in the east
side of the barn, be saw dim, ghost like
figure glide across the floor toward the
grauary. a happy thought entered Mr..
Smiths brain! Stealing into the barn,
he crept silently along by the NOW, until
near the granary, when-slapl be shut
the door, adjusted the paddock, turned the
key, aud was of for his life
1t is impossible to say what made Mr..
Smith tremble so. 1t might have been
the smothered cry of alarm that issued
from the granary walls and rang fully on
his earS-a cry well calculated to awaken
superstitious fear. But Mr.. Smith never
owned that he was frightened; although,
on reaching the kitchen he was as white
as a ghost, or as ghosts are supposed to
be.
whats the matter nOwl' cried Mrs.
Smith.
I've caught the rebber!' calculated
Smith m hraath
He's locked up in the grurary-givc
the my bootsp
'Why-wby-what are you going to
dol
Get helpI he's desperate fellow, and
it will be dangerous to meddle with him
oil alone
It is impossible to describe the excite
ment of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith, on that me-
morable occasion. The latter took it u
pom herself to load the old musket. while
her husband went for the neighbors.