New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1862-07-04


yourself into a consumption yet. Your nerve.
are on: Of order, and you ought to take some.
thing to prevent being 50 restles. valerian
tea, Or assfetida is good for the nerves. Why
don't you take some q
1t isyou who are restless replied Nancy
always on the move when you are asleep
and making such loud cries that wonder the
people in the house or the watchmen haven't
complained before this often tremble for
fear they will break the door open and come
in and then should certainly give up, and
die Of fright and shame'
He, he ! laughed Betsey Il should laugh
to see them make such fools Of themselves
You eat too much, and that's what gives
you the nightmare. lfyou keep on eating 50
much, you will die in it'
4 must eat what want when Pm hungry
declared Bstsey. You mustn't be afraid of
your victuals, neither. ] pay half. Now,
you do not eat enough. You should moro, and
exercise, and you would be as stout and well
as am
4 know you are fatter than am,' said
Nancy; "tain't the fattest people that can
stand the most. don't believe it is healthy
fat. Yeu mustn't blame me for being worried
about you, betsey but am afraid that if you
keep on eating 80 much, and having the
nightmare, you will some time be carried off
in your sleep, and shall wake up and find
you dead by my side and, perhaps DO charg-
ed with murder, and hung, when it is all
your own eating.'
:Ha, ha No danger Of my dying and your
not knowing it. For you're always awake
as awake as a mouse, and not half so bold:
Besides you talk in your sleep, some
times, and might tell secrets, added Nancy,
wishing to frighten Betsey by further pruden-
tial considerations. But Betsey was impreg-
nable, turned her back, pshawed mildly, fell
asleep again, and snored.
Nancy, now, not only heard that, but
heard or fancied she heard, another noise,
new to her timorous hearing. Betsey had
compared her to mouse, and now-dii she
she thought she heard mouse. A mouse
It was slight rafting sound. She listen
ed. Her heart beat violently. Again she heard
it,ar Il must ha~ a rnouse--a thiauinn, pais.
ohieyous, mcrcenary mite of thing, come
perambulating after provender, and she was
horri6ed. She thought that as there was
plenty Of food, she should hereafter be con-
stantly worried by another nightly torment.
Afraid to get up in the dark, and afraid of
the mouse, she again awoke her impatient
chum, announced the arrival of q new terror.
and begged her to rise and strike light, and
search.
Dear me wha! Poodyv expostulated
the sleepy Betsey. what harm can come
of a mouse 2
4 wouldn't sleep with mouse in the room
for worlds =
why not f? They won't bite,
4 think Eve heard Of people running mad
from the bite Of mouse. Do get up
Nonsense }! A rat-bite is poisonous; but
a mouse can't bite, more than canary bird.
Some folks make pets of them. I'd as Ii ief
have a little tame mouse in bed with me, all
night, as not
o you wretch How can you tease me
sos Do get up, if you amt afraid, and
hunt
1T isn't q mouse; folly, can't be. There
ain't any holes here.'
How do you know, when you haven't
looked know if you should strike light
and lsok sharp yon'll find one. There's the
noise again. Hark
fdon't hear anything. But to please you,
will get up. l amt afraid of twenty mice. !
There are things worse than mice in this
world to torment folks. Pooh
Betsey got up and lit a lamp, and COM
menced fumbling about the room, receiving
anxious directions, as she proceeded from the |
Miss Poody, who, during the re-
eonnoisance, leaned on her elbow, general
and sentinel, at her bed-post.
Look little more, do. Here! There
Over yonder Under the bed Under the
stove! Wash-stand-lounge-the corners
in the drawers. Thought heard him, just
then.
But Betsey. having trod on a tack, jammed
a corn, bumped her head, and bruised shin,
with sudden expression Of scorn and con.
tempt, blew out the light jumped into bed
again, and vowed she would hunt no more.
4 won't get up again, even ifa rat should
come! If you want to catch a mouse, you
must get cat, or trap. Watch for your
SELF yor are 90 tcnd Of keeping awake and
will not even trust for care and protection
from God, tho great Author Of our being, and
Governor Of the Universe. I'm gsing 10 sleep,
and don't you dare to wake me up. Ifyou do, !
I'll bite you myselfp
And 80 Miss Poody was left to her fate, |
and lay quivering till daylight. /
~ 4 =