Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-25

~ tio I'll CStA 1etA i-tSACs q AIuAssA AGIOtA1
lecturer would have gone into ecstacies
at the thought of possessing such a sub
jeet to exhibit before an appreciative au-
dience as unique specimen Of total de-
prayity.
Whether Mr.. Jedediah Brown, at that
precise moment, had a realizing sense of
his true condition, it is uncertain. The
air was AeeuIy cold, and 1t may have
been that which moved him. Certain
II is, that he appeared at length to come
to the conclusion that justice to his own
self demanded that he should find some
more attractive quarters.
Accordingly, he assumed as erect an !
attitude as possible, and, by marvellous
stroke Of good fortune, succeeded in
reaching and grasping the door-knob.
Then from his pocket he produced a
latch-key, and set about effecting an en-
trance.
To form determination to do thing,
and to effect the = consummaGon devout-
ly to be wished are two distinct affairs.
So Jedediah Brown discovered on this
occasion.
The door was large, and the key-hole
was small; the night witbal, was otone
of the lightest.
This is a sing'lar1 thing muttered Je-
dediah. in a very thick tone of voice,
and with exceedingly long intervals be
I tween some of his words " this is a
dreadful sipg'Iar thing I think, I real
/ II think, that on the whole, its about the
most sing'Iar thing that ever I knew,
where the key-hole has gone and hid IL
sell. I know I left it here when I went
away, I'm sure I did-and know where
/ it is"
lie ceased from his endeavors to find
the missing oriace for few moments, as
if the last sentence he uttered had awak-
ened weighty thoughts in his mind
Then he made another futile attempt 10
discover Ii.
ITS gone, sure" he said; ; the key
hole amt there. P'rhaps somebody's
stole tit was brass key-aole, and
somebody may have took it for gold, and
stole It. Or else he mused, as faint
idea Of a wrong perpetrated against him
on the part Of bis wife crossed his con
, fused mind, or else she's took It inside
with her to keep out; shouldn't won.
der at all
= Concluding to make one more effort
| he this time succeeded in finding wha
he had searched for so long.
! Well, WELL" he muttered, this i
, a 60 the key-bole was there all tn
while. Jedediah Brown, If you WASH
such a respectable person as I know yoI
i, to be. I should be tempted to say yol
. were drunk -
}, He entered, and after stumbling owe
G a hall table, and upsetting the hat stand
: he managed to grasp bold Of the stai
: banisters. Then, with q fresh exertior
:. he gained the parlor door.
: The fire was still burning brightly i
the CRATE, and Jedediah Brown though
e ii fieked up reProachfulIy as he adran
n ced into the room. So he turned his bac
% to the blaze, and steadied himself with
j chair-back.
.e Happening TO raise his eyes, be Va
: astonished to behold the figure Of a ma
g at the further extremity Of the apar
ment. The thought of thieves at ono
entered his mind.
e; Who're you ?" he inquired, sternl,
i The mysterious person preserved
profound silence.
ly " Who're you, L say cried Jeded
N alb, in . louder key.
Still the imPOrtuned said not word.
d" Now, look here, you vill'nous, THE
BIT ing, ugly-looking scoun'rel, if you dor
r. answer my question, I'll sacrifice you.
,i-iwill. Do you hear: What busine
ID have you in my house, at this time
r. the night =
sh As the last inquiry elected no repl
be Jedediab, moved by his rising passio
IN without further expostulation. seized
to foot-stool, and employing all his streng
T. in the effort, threw II at the head of Il
I'd faneied burglar.
n The tremendous crash Of broken gla
IT. which followed, awakened the delud
ke man to the important fact that he h
N shivered into fragments his Bife's co
iliest mirror, and that the imaginary ihi
.er was simply is reflection Of himself.
= Before he had time, however, to maj
many reflections upon the matter, he V
bis startled by the cry Of Thieves! BIZ
" der, Police p and a variety Of 9th
- frantic serssrns IN the shrill voice Of !