The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-03-20
MutuuruMs Sketch.
~
THE SMITHS
OF a~
SMITHVILLE,
AND
THEIR ADVENTURE WITH
A ROBBER.
BY PAUL CRAYoN


long time been very much annoyed by
the depredations of some unknown in
dividual, whose confused IDEAS con-
corning the rights of property led to
frequent abstraction of divers goods
and chattels from the premises of said
Smiths in furtive and mysterious
manner. Bags of wheat and oats van
ished from the granary, pork from the
celler, and corn from the crib in one
night sheep that had been slaughtered
coolly trotted away, and on another
occasion several gallons of maple syr-
up evaporated in the night time
Milking stools went off on three legs,
and Mr.. Smiths best axe was found
to have "cut sticks" Long chains
became rattlesnakes and crept off, iron
wedges made splits in the Smith prop
erty, boots walked away, and "jack "
rode off on the "saw horse"
Vain were all the efforts of the elder
and younger Smith to discover the
mystery Of these disappearances, and
to entrap the offender. Despairlng OF
ever bringing him to justice, the
Smiths found they could do nothing
more than to take measures to secure
the safety of their property. Accor-
dinghy they built anew granary, with
strong walls, and narrow grated
window, and heavy oaken door, to
which was attached a formidable pad
lock. The prison-like portion of the
barn was sufficiently large to allow the
Smiths to lock up with the grain
great deal of portable property, such
as they thought likely to tempt the
cupidity of thieves.
After the granary was finished,
month passed during which time the
depredations of the robbers were con-
fined to the orchards and hen-roost,
when, late on Sunday night, the elder
Smith as he was sitting tipping against
the kitchen wall, smoking his pipe,
preparatory to retiring, bethought
him that he had neglected to lock the
grauary before leaving the barn.
This was by no means singular cir
cumstance, considering that the gra-
nary was usually locked by the young
er Smith, who had that night gone a
counting.
1t was a moonlight evening, and
Mr. Smith. on approaching the barn,
was considerably startled at seeing
the large door ajar. Certain of hav-
ing shut the door an hour previous,
Mr.. Smith thought Of robbers. His
suspicious were confirmed, when, on a
near approach, he plainly heard a
movement in the barn. Too cautious
to endanger his life by boldly attack
ing the robber, Mr. Smith, with con-
siderable trepidation, resolved to
watch his movements and discover
who he was.
Looking through, a crack on the
east side of the barn, he saw dim,
ghost-like figure glide across the floor
toward the granary. A happy thought
entered Mr.. Smiths brain Stealing
into the barn, he crept silently along
the now until near the granary when
clap The shut the door, adjusted
the paddock, turned the key and was
off for his life.
It was impossible to say what made
Mr.. Smith tremble so. 1t might have
been The snothering cry of alarm that
issued from the granary wall in way
fully calculated to awaken suspicious
fears. Bnt Mr.. Smith never lwned
he was as white as ghost, or as white
as they are supposed to be.
what is the matter 2" cried Mrs.
Smith.
I've caught the robber !" ejac-
ulated Mr.. Smith in breath. He
is locked up in the granary Give me
my boots"
u 1877. 49,.