North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-11-28
gelert gtory,
LOOKING UNDER THE BED,

look under the bed before retiring tor the
night. Mrs Evergreen, my beloved wife,
INDUCES, if indulgence it can be called, in
this peculiar practice. | do not object to
it in the least So iong as she does not en-
force the performance upon myself; but
when, as is sometimes the case, she forgets
it until she has put out the light and en-
scouced herself under the comforter, then
it is hard that /, who am not troubled with
nervous, apprehensiveness, should have to
get ont in the cold and do it for her.
have often remarked to Mrs. Evergreen,
when have seen her prying under the
bed, that it was a silly habit, and that the
sooner she gave it up the better. To this
gentle admon'ton my better-half invaria-
bly, rejnins
La, Evergreen what harm docs it do {?
It's kind Of satisfaction to know that no
bodv'S under there, and then don't think
of such horrible thing after I'm i'll bed "
| think, my dear, you might just As we'll
pursue your Investigations further and
| look into the bureau drawers and the
clothes ba, krt"
Evergreen" she will rrioin, "dont men
ton the idea, or shall certainly do So -
| Come 10 think of it,a man could very easily
oct into the cIothe,baskct 2
"Certainly he could, my dear. quite as
easily as FaIstaff Yon should rtainly
include the clothes .bask t, aud by-the-by,
there's the C. imney; why not look up
| that as we'll Z"
NV Evergreen, you're laughing at me-
| But | cant |, ave off the habit and | nrv-
er will It's comfort for me to know tha,
there's nothing wrong about it, and | don
see whv you should deprive me of it,"
So under the bed goes the candle, nad,no
signs Of humanity being discovered, Mira.
Evergreen is able to repose in peace. But
AS already observed, this precautionary act
is sometimes forgotten, and / am myself
obliged to rise, light tn, lamp, and report.
I've done it rather more frequently Of late
than is agreeable, and have intima:ed as
much to Mrs. 4. She says:
"Very well, Evergreen, III do it my
self"
Dus .h;o procedure is almost as bad. for
she invariably let's the cold in on me both
in getting out and getting in. If it were
not tor increasing this mental idiosyncrasy
on the part of Mrs. Evergreen, by giving
her some good reason to apprchcnd da"-
rer T should relate to her what | am about
~ Law before the reader In this narration,
therefore. ask the public most particular
" TO bear in mind that Mrs. Evergreen is
of a sensitive nature, rather apprehensive
and slightly superstitious, and that what
have to say must under no circumstances be
impaired to that lady. If for two-and-
twenty years (that is the period of our
welded life, and happy years have they
been)-if / say, have for this long period
retralned from impar,ing the matter to the
beloved sharer of my joys and partaker of
INV sorrows. surely the public (Which, as
we know, always does keep secret) will
keep mine.
All Young men, suppose. have iove-af-
fairs before they eventually fix their affec-
t;ons on the one who is to bless their lot in
life I know that had =, and don't regret
il Regret it far FROM it Mrs. Ever
green is not present, and therefore / have
M hesitation in saving that if | had my
liE. to live over again Ia ike to 60 through
with the same sentimental experience, par
ticnlarIy if it was to be succeeded by again
leading to the hymeneal altar the present
, Mrs. Evergreen.
t was not bad-looking when | was in my
twenties. | think may 60 further, and
confidently say that :"Gus Evergreen" WAS
decided favorite among the girls of Oak
vile. and | really believed that / could
have anv of them "for the asking" AS |
I before remarked. Mrs. Evergreen is not
present. and | indulge my thoughts somr-
what more freely than would otherwise be
the case, don't think that | cared par
ticnlarIv for any OF the Oakville girls, how
ever. and might have kept my heart
whole to this day il it had not been for the
circumstance which am about TO relate.
Fred Evans, VII" had been my chnm at
school. came TO make M visit at Oakville
for "a dav or tvo,' as he said, when he
came but he made it a week or two easily
enough after I'd taken him about little
among the %, ou'g ladies'" When that
time had expired Fred said he really innst
90. as he did'ut know what his father and
mother would think of his long absence -
bu, it ended in his relieving their anxiety
by letter and sending for his trunks.
knew bow the matter WAS perfectly VIII
and that Belle Bronson had hrwitchcd him
cut of his five senses Fred tried to put il
on to the Country air and the quiet which
was benefting his health, etc." but it was
no use trying to deceive me, and told him
So. Then he owned up frankly, and
promised to help him all l could, if he re-
qnred any help in the prosecution of his
suit. never thought Belle flirt, or that
she would willingly distress an human be-
ing but she had way ofIooking in ones
eyes as if to captivate them, for her mere
personal amusement. AT any rate she had
larger share of beaux than the other girls,
but all their attentions came to nothing.
feared it might be so with Fred Evans, and
warned him accordingly; but Fred said
n ha'H q. haua bar h. oil his life that