Litchfield enquirer., 1860-12-06

Now, MT. Smith who was within, was ex ceedingly astonished at what he heard. H, certainly wished to be let out, but he has no desire to have the paddock smashed, with out first trying other means. Something like the truth flashed upon his mind, howev CT, when he reflected that the person wh, was breaking the lock had called him Joseph and that the voice was lnarvelously like tha of woman's. With great anxiety of minl he waited for the door to open.
 At length the lock was torn away, ant Mrs. Ferris whispered: ....... .-
 Come quick, Josephl There's DO tim, to lose! They'll be here in minutel"
 She caught somebody by the arm, and some body followed her out in the moonlight Then he caught her by the arm, and bott stopped, looking each other full in the face
 Mrs. Ferris screamed, turned palsr thar the moonlight, and dropped her hammer Mir Smith was scarcely less astonished; bat recovering himself, he said, rather coolly considering the occasion:
 You are out rather late tonight Mrs Ferris; allow me to see you home." l she saw that Ec was conducting her to hii house instead of her own, she had not the power to say word or make the least re sistance.
 The good lady's feelings, ou being brough, before Mrs. Smith, can be more easily lmag lned than described. ln her fear and con- fusion she confessed some startling facts and with tears in her eyes begged her "kind deur friends" to be mercful and not expose her. Mrs. Smith recovered from her amaze. i mcut, aud exciaimed-" 1 never! l never! nevcr!" and Nr. Smith. who WAS not the least excited of the three, indulged in some equally sensible remarks
 Meanwhile Joe Ferris, who was tile man that had taken the younger Smiths place in the granary, and give it up in turn to tic elder Smith. went bome by circuitous route wondering by what strange accident he hap pened to be caught and congratulating bim- self on his escope. He had reached his door, when hearing his name called by some three men going by.
 "Joe Ferris, is that yeu?" cried the voice of the younger Smith. "Come on if you are ready. Eve got Bill Hodges and MT. Blake, aud think we'll be enough for that one thief, but the more the merrier, 80 conie on, knew you would go in for the fun in spite ol your headnche.'
 Jce was as mucl. in the dark nov as when he was locked up !u tue gra'.ary; bat col,- ciudrd it would be best to put on boIi face cn tie matter, aHd accompany Increase and so he declared himself ready, and jump ed over the fence At first be Was afraid of committing himself, but tie conversation hy the way, showing him, as hr thought, exact ly how he ground lay, he laughed heartily at the queer manner i'll which tie thief WAS caught, and volunteered to be the first to enter the granary wkere iie was co..fned, and at the same time chuckling joyously st the anticipation of the younger Smiths dis may on fin,ling, instead of thief, his own father under lock aud Hey.
 With great glee the men proceeded al once to the grahary, where Increase pro- posed leaving his companions to go into the house for lantern, and see if his father had returned; upon which Joe Ferris laughed all to himself, and advised the younger Smith to be sure and bring the old man if he was anywhere to be found!
 C. Hallo!' cried Bill Hodges, :" the grana- ry door is open and the thief has broken out!"
 Increase came back filled with cousterna- ton and Joe Ferris was no less surprised.
 The strange events of the night were ill., volved in deeper mystery than ever, when the older Smith, having heard of tue ap, proach of Increase and his companions, made his appearance with light.
 "Hallo, ncighborr' cried Joe Ferris, /" what is all this hubbub about? Increase has been telling us of thieves"
 II declare, father" said the younger Smith, after you shut me mp shut up real thief, and left him in my place."
 "I know it; your mother has told me-" replied the elder Smith, and when I came to let you out"
 "Oh, see all!" groaned Increase; "he got away"
 Yes, and shut me np!"
 "Why, the thiers wife had the kindness to come and break the lock!"
 So saying, the elder Smith held the Ian tern up to the face of Ferris, who turned ghastiy white and trembled as if he had been in an ague fit.
 The whole affair was now explained, to the astonishment of everybody in general, and of Joe Ferris in particular, who was too muck astonished to make any resistance while Increase and his companions were ty- ing his hands behind him.
 Ferris md his wife were accommodated with lodgings in Mir. Smiths house that night, aud on the following day a search having been instituted and all sorts of goods found on Joe's premises, they were both committed to jail to await their trial.
 What the sentence was, when convicted of the crime charged against them, I have quite forgotten; but it is certain the good people of Smithville were troubled no more with the mysterious disappearance of their goods, and chattels. aHd that the Smiths re- member, with peculiar satisfaction, the man. ifold mistakes committed on the night of their adventures with the robbers
 KenEet, the snowman, has hippopotamus, which he has recently been exhibiting to the good folks of New Orleans They having been exceeding liberal in their patronage of his show, Kennel advertised that on the day of his de- parture he would lead the animal through the streets, en route for the depot. Vast crowds lined the way. Presently the shower and the showee made their appearance, to the great de light of the unwashed, who chsered and huzzah- ed most lastily; Hippopotamus, unaccustomed +o ,o nuhl;o o demonstration eyed first ono sido