Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-09-08
GETTING IN THE HOUSE AT NIGHT
WITHOUT MAKING A NOISE.

WITHOUT MAKING A NOISE.
Before was free from paternal oversight, 1
was, as boys generally are, fond of running a.
bout at night. On one occasion, the door was
locked when / got home, and how to get in
without waking up ssthe governor was the
difficulty. l knew he'd give me ssparticular
fits,'' if he knew | was out after ten, and the
clock had just struck The back yard was
an imposSibility, and but one chance remain
ed. There was porch over the front door,
the roof of which was but few feet below two
windows. One of them knew was fastened
down, and the other opened from bed room,
which might or might not be occupied. An
old mai len sister of Jim's wife had arrived on
the same day, and it was very probable that
she was in that room but knew that the bed
WAS in a corner farthest from the window, and
hoped would be able to get in and through
The room without awakening her, and then
had comparatively easy thing of il. So, get
ting plank from a neighboring board pile,
rested it against the caves of the shed, pulled
off my shoes, put them in my pocket, and then
sscooned up.'' All right so far, but 1 thought
it necessary, in order not to arouse any suspi
cous in the morning, to remove the plank SO
dragging il up threw il off the end, and down
ii went with an awful clatter on a stray dog that
had followed me for two ar three squares, who
Immediately set up the most awful howl
whipped hound ever gave tongue to. That
started half dozen other dogs in the neigh
borhood barking; mocking bird in the win
dow above commenced singing if he inten-
9ed to split his throat at it {; and an old woman,
in her niaht-clothes with a candle in her hand,
appeared at window across the street. l
knew | was safe as far she was concerned,
but if any one came to our window the candle
gave enough light probably to discover me.
Nobody did come, however, and the old lady,
after peering up and down the street for
a minute moro popped her head in and re-
fired. The mOcking bird still kept up his G.
ternal whistle and it was fully half an hour
before it and the dogs settled down and gave
me chance to move. Creeping slowly along
the wall till / reached the window / put my
hands OF the sill, sprung up, and with my head
and shoulders within, and my legs hanging
out, stopped to listen. Yes, she was in that
room, for conld hear her breathing. After
waiting for minute, | cautiously drew ~ one
leg then the other, slowed them round, and
putting them down to the floor, was Just con-
sciOus that L had stepped on something soft
and yielding, and was about withdrawing them
when another yell broke out at my feet; the
old maid jumped up from her bed crying
"MurderI murdcri" and the dogs and mock
ing bird started again. l saw through it all !;
/ had ssput my foot in it, in more ways than
one. A little darkey lying on a blanket,
under the window and / had stepped on her
face, and of course woke her up. decided
in a flash what to do. The house would be a
reused, and | caught to certainty unless
could get to my room before the governor was
up,~ but hadn't moment to lose, for the
little niger was ye Hing ,andthe woman scream
ing so | started for the door, made three
steps and struck chair-tumbled over it,
of course-made the awfullest racket you ev-
er heard of in the ssdead hour of night" in a
peaceable house; the niger and the old maid
screamed louder than ever, the mockiag bird
whistled like a steam whistle, and the dogs
fairly made q chorus as loud as Julien's. /
reached the door, however, swiftly and quietly
opened it, and just got outside in time to see
the old gentleman open his door with candle
in his hand. and come hurrying up the stairs.
Not moment was to be lost. There was a
wardrobe near where stood, and sprung be-
hind it. Up came the governor who reach
ed the door, opened it, went in, aud In the
meantime there was all sorts OF confusion and
inuniry down stairs as to what was the matter
Nobody else came up, though. and from where
/ stood heard every word of inquiry and ex-
planation in the room. OF course they couldn I
make much of it. The little darkey was toe
much frightened and too sound asleep at the
time to understand the truth. The upshot Of
the business was that they concluded she had
been dreaming; and the governor after Civ
ing her sound spanking, and explaining the
matter to the aroused neighbors, from the win
dow, went down to his room again.
So far SO good. now had to go dowr
stairs reach the back door, unbar it, get into
the yard, and make for my room, which wa:
In the second story of back building thai
stood unconnected with, and about dozer
yards from the main one. After giving every
body another half-hour to settle down again
started. Boys, did you ever try to get uF
or down pair of stairs at midnight withou
making noise You may try all sorts o
ways, but every step is sure to crack eacf
with peculiar noise of its own and loud g
nough, you are certain, to waken everybody
had gotten nearly to the bottom, when a lit
tie dog came trotting up the entry towards me
yelling furiously. A suppressed "Come her,
sir, you Zip," silenced him, for he recognis
ed me, but the cur started the mockinp-bird
and the dogs in the neishborhood having lear
ned TO take the cue, Of course all Joined tn