Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-06-11

The fire was still burning brightly in the
CRATE, and Jcdediah Brown thought it aicked
up reproachfully as he advanced into the
room. So he turned his back to the blaze,
and stoadied himself with a chair-back.
Happening to raise his eyes, he was aston
ished to behold the figure of man at the
further extremity of the apartment. The
thought Of thieves at once entered his mind.
Whore you ;" he inquired. sternly.
The mysterious person preserved a pro-
found silence.
"Who're you, | say" cried Jedediah, in
louder key.
Still the importuned said not word.
"Now, look here, you viii nous, thioving,
ugly-looking scounrel. if you don't answer
my question, I'll sacrifice you, will. Do
you hear What business have you in mn
house. at this time o. the night p
As the last inquiry elected no reply, Jede-
diah, moved by his rising passion, without
further expostulaton, seized foot-stool, and
employing all his strength in the effort, he
them it at the head of the iancicd burglar
The tremendous crash Of broken glass which
followed, awakened the deluded man TO the
important fact that he had shivered into frag
ments his wife's costliest mirror, and that
1.-The imaginary thief was simply its reflection
Of himself
Before he had time, however, to make ma
ny reflections upon the matter, he was start
led by the cry of Thieves Murder Po-
lice and a variety of other frantic screams
in the shrill voice Of his wife, who, awakened
suddenly by the noise, had arose and thrust
her head from the bedroom window over
head.
Again it rang out upon the still night air.
Whats the muss; cried a vigant guar
dian of the public safety, as he made his ap
pcarancc.
burglars !" screamed the lady in white,
hysterically.
"Whcrc :"
Below in the parlor-I hear them now
Help, quick '
Another policeman at this moment arriving,
the door was forced open, and the two en-
tered.
Mr. Jedcdiah Brown, becoming alarmed az
the manifestations he heard, was reeling to-
wards the door.
"Hs here he is" cried one Of the officers
triumphanty.
Nab him " exclaimed the other
"Why, blow me if he aint drunk. He's
been below among the wine
"Stand off cried Brown, assuming what
he intended should be dignifed attitude
Stand off DO you take me for a thief
"Well, now, l shouldn't wonder at all,
said policeman number one, in an ironical
tone, "if we did take you for thiof-as far
as the stauon-house, at any rate.
Whats that; Arrest me in my own
house - drag me from the bosom of my
nmily;'
1T won't do, old feller you must come
along with us.
"Never say neyer-no, never
"llaye you caught the monster Where's
he = cried the trembling voice of Mrs. Brown,
as that courageous female made her appearance
on tho stairs, and pccrcd over the banisters
into the room.
Its all right, ma am, said the officer
"he's safe enough now
just then her eyes isll upon her husband,
and from him they glanced around the room
till they rested upon the ruined mirror. She
compgeAended at once what had occurred,
and the dircst Indignation against the un-
lucky Jedodiah arose within her breast.
She was about to vent her wrath against
him, when brilliant thought struck her. She
would not recognise him The officers be-
lieyed him to be a burglar, and she would not
undccoiye them. 1t would be a glorious re-
yenge.
"What horrid looking man he is she
said, in tone of apparent alarm. Hold him
tight-don't let him get away
He Is rather a hard 'un, that's fact, re-
piled the officer but don't be frightened,
ma am, he can't escape
"What blessed thing it was you came as
you did. | wouldn't have had him found me
for the world What should | have done if
he had -
Jedediah gazcd at his wife with open amaze
ment pictured upon his countenancc. lie
became a little sobcred by what had transpir
ed and was sensible enough to wish himself
well out Of the embarrassing position he was
in.
"Why, Mrs. Brown he stammerod, "its
me-Jedediah -
"Why, the horrid wretch, he knows my
name = screamed the lady.
Know your name Well, l rather think
Id ought to know your name, seeing as how
| gave it to you
"Oh, you wretched man
Now, look a-hore, Mrs. Brown, don't you
come it TOO strong; don't pretend that you
don't know who am.
"EIow should know Thank goodness,
l don't keep company with such as you"
"Ain't / your husband =
"Oh, take him away, do - the scandalous
creature
Come said the officers, grasping him by
either arm, you can remain here no longer
come along
The injured Brown resisted this appeal as
well as he was able
II tell you you're are wrong he cried,
grasping the door with both hands,
"Oh, Of course we're wrong-of course we
arc but never you mind, and come along
with us, and it will be all right
"But this is my house, say, and that is
my wife, and she knows it"
The officers, however, were not inclined to
credit his words, and insisted more strongly
than ever that he should accompany them
But only by carrying him bodily along could
he be removed.
"Tell en- they're mistaken in the man,
implorcd Jedediah, appealing to his wife,
when he found that he could not otherwise
convince them of the truth, "Tell 'em who
am, and they'll let me 60
But that good lady only shrunk back, and
uttered q small scream, as if shocked at what
she heard.