Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-07-16
MY ONLY ADVENTURE.
BY A DENTIST.

bry: for though have stayed in
arly every town in England Of any
= I have met with none. Railways
re nut haunted chambers out Of FASH
/. Fancy ghost being bold enough
venture into one Of our vast hotels
here is not a sin gle hite-rohed Gus
ner that would have the impudence
do it. Ghosts lived in old coaching
Tvs and dwell. in the quaint wayside
rs and / was never lucky enough to
I'VE my bed curtains disturbed by IN
s;hlc hands: but l am ashamed to
vn that I once had a terrible fright.
In nv early days II, like some OF my
rofession, travelled from place to place,
Isl remaining lin each long enough
pocket ali the spare cash the inhab-
ants were willing to expend on dental
rnamonts. Sometimes l made large
own the center of my operations, and
chained in it for months, visiting the
User ones in the neighborhood on sta.
ed DAYS. It was in one of our large
manufacturing towns in the west OF
England that | met tn the adventure
am going to give you.
I had been uncommonly successful
md had made Il long stay in the place
bn that acc ount-indecd, I had spent
some months when it happened. L had
excel!cnt,lodgiugs, and occupied three
hpartments-a sitting room, and sort
De reception room for patients. on the
ground floor, and a first floor bed room
all facing the street. | always worked
in the last named apartment, and lald
the necessary tools and materials on a
little bench near the window. Here
generally took my station, and spent
the time from six to seven in the even"
ing till midnight, as | was less liable to
interruption. t.. ,
Nv apartments were all furnished
with gas burners, and before winter set
in. addict stove to my bedroom,
that my working there might cause no
needless trouble or expense to my land
ladv. One evening, being very busy,
sat later than usual, and when at
length my task was done, drew my
chair close to the steve, and sat half
an hour reading before extingulshlng
my light.
You are aware that we make use of
gold plates and ware, in fastening artl-
fetal teeth and, in consequence Of my
numerous orders, l had been partlcu-
larly we'll supplied with the precious
metal in this form, ever since | came
to this town. Moreover, / was by no
means deficient in those pieces which
bear likeness Of our most gracious
Sovereign. Being particularly weary,
and intending to recommence my labors
early in the morning, | did not trouble
myself to put away my materials. But
l was careful to examine the fastenings
Of nv door; and this duty done, | ex-
tinguishcd the fire and light, and got
into bed.
fell asleep instantly and had a some
what ludicrous dream. l fancied my
self keeper Of the Geological Gar
dens, which had visited few days
before, and while handing some food
to my especial charges, (the bears, |
oyerbalancel, and was tumbled into the
pit among the grizzly brutcs, when the
shock awske me. ca ts.r
Again | dozed off, but only to get
amongst the bears once more tho't
a tremendous specimen, perfect Ursa
Major, had just been purchased, and
that to me was entrusted the task Of
tanning the monster.
No pleasant thing, even in dream,
particularly at that moment, and in the
incomprehcnsiblc manner only to be ac-
complished in sleep, the scene shifted
to my bed room. and found myself
standing, en- chemise, without any
means Of defense against the precious
creature advancing open mouthed. !
thought leapcd on my bench, seized
the blind roller, and as he advanced,
dealt tremendous blow at him.
But, alas he eluded it with the dex-
terity Of an accomplished fcncer, and
losing nay balance, l toppled head first
to the ground The brute sprang upon
me. lie tugged-and so did with
might and main. was getting the
worst Of it, when suddenly recollecting
that any sort Of an attack is, lawful,
and that one may be permitted to waive
ceremony with bear, seized the crea-
ture's car between my teeth, and bit the
piece completely out. lie dropped me
like hot potato. The ludicroas, pit
iful howl, and the way he, applied the
paw just taken from my waist, to the
woun led ear, were too much
I burst into perfect roar of laugh
ter. and SO much noise did l make, that
it awokc me. .
I was still laughing at this whimsical
vision, andwondering if it had any ref
erence to an apprentice who was to come
under my care on to morrow, and who
was, truly, as uncouth a looking cub as
any gentleman need have to lick into
shape, when l heard, nota ghost-they
make no noise-but sort of uneasy
grunt, then q yawn, such as a person
emits when disturbed from asound 81 ep.
Ilistenel attentively, lying perfectly
still, and, in a moment, distinctly felt
something move below my bed. knew
10 one could have entered after | laid
down, as am a light sleeper, and the
door W1s too: well secured to be opened
/ srifh5 81 . noise. I therefore felt sure
ne they had been under the bed before
t3mnaenced working, and, having fall
d IS; boon awakened by the bois-
laughter which had dispelled my
n Ms 10 do? I feared the mo-
Ss al. 81 the floor should be