Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-03

l
two years of age in her arms. The father ca
ressed it kindly.
| And now said the mother. "give the
stranger your hand.'
| But the half-sleepng infant was frightened,
and concealed his curly head behind her neck.
"That is now my only treasure said the
father, raising the boy in his arms the saints
took girl to themselves
"Silence, Nicolo," interrupted the woman.
swell, well" he continued, rocking the boy:
light the stranger to his room: Tommy will
readily stay with me-"
:" have no other light but this said the
woman, taking up small piece of wax-candle;
"it is holy taper. Come, signor, your room
is ready"
The scene with the child had traquilized me
| little, as it was evident the people were not
altogether without some kind of feeling.
therefore prepared to follow the woman com
| posedly; but my gun, pistols, and porumantcau
were to accompany me. This occasioned at
| first little confusion, but on my host calling
"Teddeo," the youngest of the foresters sprang
forward, seized the whole bundle, and carried
| ii up stairs The woman followed with the
light, and closed the procession.
A wide landing-place led to a large, DESC
late-looking apartment. There said my
hostess, :" is your bread and wine as before,
here is water, yonder is your bed, and here is
| the light placing and earthenware candle
stick with small remnant of wax-taper on
massive and old-fashioned table. "And now
sleep well, and pleasant dreams to you. Come,
| Teddeo." With this she departed, her COM
panion also wishing me good night, which
returned in the same tone, as lie left the room.
The stone stair, as they opened the door,
was light as day. looked out with surprise.
"Do you think am going to fall, Nicolo,
that you have brought such flaming torch to
| light me down."
"Can't tell" said the man, who, with the
child in his arms, was standing on the stair
with the brand in his hand.
| | shut the door of the ROOM but to bolt or
bar it was out of the question, for it had only
latch therefore took off one of the straps
of my portmanteau and secured it as well as
could with so feeble substance Mynext bust
ness was to examine my quarters. Two glass
less windows in the gable end were closed with
shutters, still in tolerable condition and a
small chimney was too narrow TO admit an in
truder. The bed consisted of an Indian-corn
straw mattress, covered with coarse but clean
linen, and stuffed coverlid. The ancient ta-
BILE, and nm equally ancient, massive, and now
10 nd nf tt.,tb
straw -bottomed chairs, the furniture of the
apartment; in corner of which bundle of
Indian corn-straw was also deposited.
drew the table near the bed to serve as an
entrenchment, laid my gun upon it, and placed
my pistols on a chair within reach, but should
certainly not have thought of going to bed had
not my holy taper warned me that time, or light
at least, was scarce. Throwing off some ofmy
clothes, therefore, lay down on the rustling
mattrass, and had not been many seconds on
my pillow when the last rays of my candle van
ished and left Inc in utter darkness.
Though would willingly have remained
awake for some time, nature exercised her
power over my exhausted frame, and fell into
half slumber from which n rustling among
the lndian-corn awakened me. The noise was
evidently caused by mice, and sumber again
closed my eyes
might possibly have passed half an hour in
this manner between waking and sleeping,
when | was startled by noise close to my bed.
awoke, and remained quietly listening.
heard two voices whispering very near me- and
| the sound seemed to come from under the floor.
| sat up and seized one Of my pistols at the
same time that ray of light passed along the
ceiling of the room and disappeared again.
now removed the chair that stood before
my bed as quietly as possible, and went into
the middle of the apartment my heart beating
up to my very throat. The voices were close
under my feet, and were evidently those of
mine host and his wife. "If you do not cease
| talking said the husband " you'll awaken the
man up there" The ray of light again passed
into the room stepped back mechanically,
trod upon an iron ring, and perceived by the
| light through the crevices that | was standing
on tIap-door "Get ready and come up"
said the man, and heard steps ascend stair
or ladder slight blowwas also struck against
| tne trhp-uOur, Wnich ulhue strhnSt tlHuliun
thrill through my nerves. But soon recover
ed myself seized the ring, raised the door, and
pistol in hand, called out;
"What is going on here?"
Half suppressing a scream, the woman, who
in the lightest possible night-dress stood close
before me, darted under the coverlid of the
hymenial bed down into which found, to my
utter amazement, that was looking. Like
many others in the country, it was raised to
close beneath the ceiling, in order to leave
more open space in the small room in which ii
was placed.
ADO you see, you simpietonP said the man
laughing; ~ told you that you would waken
the gentleman out of his sleep. 1t is the wife's
fault" he hecontinued, addressingme, "she should
have told you that we were near neghbors.-
But you have nothing to fear; my gossip and
hurt nobody"
at was curious mistake Isaid but ludi-
crous as the adventure certainly was, could
not yet command laugh. Fortunately the
happy couple had also been a little startled
and had not observed my pistol. l therefore
bade Nicolo good night; he thanked me in
friendly terms; but the wife remained speech.
less under the bed-cothes. lowered the trap
door as gently as possiblei and while | wa
finding my way back to bed, ! heard hol
drawn across it from below,
All foor ranara;nn, my, nne;t;an ha;a.. 49,,