The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-28
MisrrIlanrous.
GETTING ~ AT NIGHT.

The door was locked when got home, said
Tom, and how to get in without waking the gov.
ernor was the difficulty. l knew he would give
me particular fits il he knew 1 was out after ten,
and the clock had Just struck one. The back
yard was an impossibility. and but one chance
remained. There was porch over the front
door the roof of which was few feet below two
windows One Of them | knew to be fastened
down, and the other opened from the bedroom,
which might or might not be occupied. An old
maiden sister of the governors wife arrived on
The same day, and it was very probable that she
was in that room; but knew the bed was in the
corner furthest from the window, and hoped to
be able TO get in and through the room without
awaking her, and then would have compara-
lively easy time OF l.. So, getting plank from
the neghbering board pile, rested it against
the caves of the shed, pulled off my shoes, put
them in nv pocket and ''cooned.' All right so
far, but thought it necessary, in order not to
rouse suspicion in the morning, 70 remove the
plank; so dragging ii up threw it off the end,
and down it went with an awful chatter on
stray dog that had followed me two or three
squares and who immediately set up the most
awful whine dog ever gave tongue to. That
started half a dozen dogs in the neighborhoed
barking; mocking bird in the window above
commenced as if he intended to split his throat
at it, and woman in her light clothes appeared
at window across the street. l knew l was
safe as far as she was concerned, but if any one
came to our window the candle gave light enough
to have discovered me Nobody came, however,
and the lady, after peering up and down the
street for minute or two, popped in her head
and retired. The hooking bird still kept up his
eternal whistle, and it was full half an hour be-
fore he and the dog settled down and gave me
chance to move Creeping slowly along the wall
7 no I mt, apda fha
sill, sprang in and with my legs dangling out,
stopped to listen. Yes, she was in that room,
for | was sure | could hear breathing. After
waiting for minute cautiously drew up one leg
and then the other, drew them around, and put.
ting them down CT the floor, was just conscious
that l had epped on, something soft and yield
in~ and was withdrawing them when another
yell broke forth at my feet; the old maid
jumped from her bed,,crying murder !" and the
knocking bird started again. little darkey was
lying on her back under the window, and had
stepped on her face, and, Of course, woke her up.
decided in a moment what to do. The house
would be arous I'd and was caught to a certain
ty unless could .-ct to my room before the gov
ernor was up buS hadn't moment to lose,
for the little nigget was scleaming; so / started
for the door in three steps, struck chair, Stun
bled over it, OF oolrse making the awfulest racket
you ever heard in the hours of night in peace
ful house. The nj ger and the old maid scream
ed louder than ever; ne hooking bird whistled
louder than steam whistle and they fairly
made chorus as loud as Juians.
/ reached the door. however, and quietly and
swiftly opened it, and Just got into the hall in
time to see the old gentleman open the door,
with candle in his hand, and come hurrying up
the Stairs. There was q wardrobe near where l
STOOD and sprang behind it. Up came the
nlalt he pnI ,xl
In and in the meantime there wero all sorts of
confusion and inquiry down stairs as to what
was the matter. Nobody else came up, though
from where stood, I heard every word of in
quiry and explanation in the room. OF course
they couldn't make much of it. The little darkey
was too much frightened and too sound asleep at
the time to tell the truth, and the upshot of the
business was they concluded she had been dream
ing, and the governor, after giving her sound
shaking and explaining the matter to the aroused
neighbors from tho window, went back to his
own room again.
$50 far SO good" Inow had to go down stairs,
reach the back door, unbar it and get into the
ya,d, and make for my room, which was in the
second story of the brick building that stood un.
connected with, and about dozen yards from
the main one. After giving every body another
half hour to settle DOWN again, started.
Z VS., did You ever try to GO lp or down pair
of ST. at 7" dnight withou. making noise
You H. ~ it all sorts of ways, but every step
lis sure to creak each with peculiar noise of its
OWL, and loud enough, you are sure to wake
everybody had got nearly to the bottom,
when a little dog came trotting up the eRtry
toward me, yelling furiously suppressed
"come here, Zip" silenced him, for he recOg-
nized me In. the little fellow started the mock.
iiKg-b:rd. ..nd all the dogs in the Heighborhood,
r. Ia, Il b Il. = 4 -
the chorus for third time.
ran along the passage, reached the door, and
unlocked it just as tho governor aroused the
second time opened the door, and seeing man
escaping from the house by the back way, of
course cried "Thieves! thioves!" and made a
rush after me. / was too quick for him. though,
opened the door, sprang ont, made for the door
that opened in room below mine, and had Just
reacked it, when crash within foot Of my head
went brick, and a voice that knew belonged
to the next door neighbor, Tompkins joined the
governor in the c.y Of "Thieves! thieves muir.
.aer1 murder" I was safe though.
Running up stairs / ''shelled' myself quicker
than / ever d:i before on since, and was in bed
so-nd asleep in half minute.
Wasn't there row, though I never heard so
many dogs be.ore--tho hooking bird, of course
was outdoing all previous eforts-the chickens
began 70 crcw-Tomkins, next door, was halloo-
ing Thieves" and calling the governor. !
could hear screams and all sorts Of noises and
talking among the neighhors, until at length the
old gentleinen's voice was heard in the yard call.
ing "Toin, Toni"
lem was fortunately sound asleep, snoring.
humping from my bed I raised the window,
rubbed my cyes and looked partially frightened
(Which wasn't and asked:
"Why, father, what in the world is the mat.
teri"
"Ihere's thieves in the house." was the reply
'get your gun and come--be quick"
"Hes in the room below you.- hallooed Tomn.
kins Nl IN certni,l ~ Il I L..