The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-19
And civin, him two or three nartiur cut,


time it is? It's nino o'clock! wouldn'
think Of going over there tonight; they'll bc
all locked up, and abed md asleep, like rs not.
Wal, s'pose must do as you say, replied
Mr.. Ducklow, glad Of un excuse not to CO.
Miss Beswick's visit having left him in extreme
ly low spirits.
Accordingly. after bedding down the horse
and fastening the barn, he returned to the
kitchen; and soon the prosperous couple retired
to rest.
why, how res less you be = exclaimed Mrs
Duckow, in the middle Of the night. Whats
the reason yc can't slecp?'
Il don't know groaned Mr.. Ducklow. q
can't help thinkin' o. Miss Beswick. never
was so worked at any little thing
We'll, we'll forget it, father; and do 60 to
slccp!'
Il feel ought to have gone over to Reuben s
And | should have gone, it't hadn't been ior
you? -,
'Now how unreasonable to blame moi said
Mrs. Ducklow. 'Ye might have gone; only
reminded ye how late /, was
Mr.. DucklOw groaned, and turned over. lie
tried to forget Miss Beswick, Reuben, and the
bonds, and ut last he fell asleep.
'Father!' whispered Mrs. Ducklow, awakine
him.
whats the matter"
u think-l'm pretty sure-hark! | heard
something sounded like somebody Citing into
the kitchen winder =
sIt's your narvousncss.' Yet Mr.. Ducklow
listened for further indications OF burglary.
'Why can't 20 be quiet and 80 to sleep, US you
said to mc?'
I'm sure I heard something! Anybody
might have looked through the blinds and seen
us putting-you know-under the carpet
Nonsense! 'ta'n't ut oil likely
But Mr.. Ducklow was more alarmed than he
was willing to confess. lie succeeded in quiet
ing his wile's apprehcnsions but Mt the same
time tho burden OF solicitude and wakefulness
seemed to pass FROM her mind only to rest upon
his own. She soon alter fell asleep; but he
lay awake, hearing burglars in all parts of the
house for an hour longer.
What now?' suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Duck
low, starting up in bed.
Il thought might us we'll git up and satisfy
myself, replied her husband, in low, astated
voice.
lie had risen, and was cropping his way to
the kitchen.
is there anything?' she inquired, after lis.
tening long with chilling blood, expecting ut
each moment to hear him knocked down or
throttled.
lie made no reply, but presently came gliding
softly back again.
Il can't find nothin'. But never in all my
life heard the floors creak so could have
sworn there was somebody walkin' over 'cm y
Il guess you 're little excited, ant yo!
MOL got over that; but l did hear noiscs' y
Mr.. DucklOw, returning to his pillow, dis
missed his fears, and once moro composed his
mind for slumber. But tho burden OF which
he had temporarily relieved his wife now re-
turned with redoubled iOrco to tho bosom of
that yirtuous lady. 1t seemed as if there was
only n certain amount of available sleep in the
house, and that, when one had 1t, the other
must 20 without: while at the sainc time q
swarm Of fears pcrpetually buzzed in and out
Of tho mind, whose windows wakclulncss left
open.
Father = said Mrs. Ducklow, giving him o
violent shake,
.Hey? what?'-arousing from his FIRST sound
sleep.
Don't you smell something burning?
Ducklow snufIcd; Mrs. Ducklow snuifcd !;
they sat up in bed, and snufied viyaciously in
concert.
NO, II can't say I do. Did you?'
jest as plain as ever sinclt anything in my
life But don't so'-snuf, snuff-'not quito
so distinct now.'
Seems to me do smell somethin',' said Mr..
Ducklow, imagination coming to his aid. 1T
can't be the matches, can itY
Il thought of the matches, but certainly
covered 'em mp tight
They snuiIed again,-irst one, then the 9th.
er,-now series of quick, short snufls, then
one long, deep snuff, then snuff by both to.
gcther, as IL by uniting their energies, like two
persons pulling at rope, they might accom-.
pish what neither was equal to singly.
Good heavens = exclaimed Mr.. Ducklow.
'Why, what, father?'
'It's Thaddeus! He's been walkin' in his
sleep. That's what we heard. And now he's
got the matches and set the house aiiro!'
lie bounded out of bed {; he went stumbling
over the chairs in the kitchen, and Gathering
among the tins in the pantry, and rushing
blndly and wildly up the kitchen stairs, only
to find the matches all right, Taddy fast asleep,
and no indications anywhere, either to eye or
nostril, of anything burning.
Twas all your Imagination, mother' J
MY Imagination! You was jest as fright
ened as ] was. l'm sure can tell what it
was smclt; can't smell it now. Did you
feel for thc-you know what"
Mrs Ducklow seemed to think therc wcrc
evil ones listening, and it was dangerous to men
tion by name what was uppermost in the minds
of both.
Iwish you pouid Jest put your hand and
see il they're all right: for I've thought scv.
eral times heard somebody taking them out.
Mr.. Ducklow had been troubled by similar
fancies; SO, getting down on his knees, he felt
in tho dark for tho bonds.
Good gracious!' he calculated.
what now?' cried Mrs. Ducklow. 'Thcy
amt gone, be they? You don't say they're
gone!'
'Sure's the world NO, here they be! !
didn't feel in the right place.
How you did irigh,en me! My heart al.
most hoped out of my MOUTH Indeed the
shock was sufficient to keep the good woman
awake the rect of tho night.
Daylight the mex. morning dssipated their
doubts, and made both feel that they had been
made the victims Of unnecessary and foolish
alarms.
Il hope ye won't git go worked up another
night, said Mr.. Ducklow. 'lts no use. We
might live in the house hundred years, and
never hear Of robber or fire. Ye only ex-
cite ycrseli, and keep me awake
Il should like to know IL you didn't Git e1.
cited. and rob me OF my sleep jest rs much Us
did you = retorted the indignant housewife.
You began it; you fust put i into my head
But never mind; Il can't bc helped now. Let
3 have breakfast Us soon rs ye can, then Ill
run over and 500 Reuben
why not harness up, and lot me ride over
with YEP
very well; mabby that1l be the best way.
Come, Taddy! 20 must wake up! Fly
round! You'll have lots O chores to DO this
mornin'!'