Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1869-07-27
From the Terre lIaute tIndl Journal !
Singular Metamorph0sis.

a ssnEsEIs,7t4,s,- 1fhfpEH kVVANts IN ------l
sfonNINn AND FINDS HERSELF A MAN
STRANGE FREAK or a BoRGLAR.
A few nights since the residence OF
nromnent citizen was entered by burglar,
and some valuable iewelry and other pro-
nerty stolen and carried away. But before
leaving the house, it appears he paid visit
TO nearly every apartment in II. Traces oil
him were found above and below stairsi
wherever, indeed, it was probable any valu-
ables could be obtained.
II so happened that one member OF the
family belonged to that much abused and
very excellent class OF society called "old
maids. She is free-hearted, generous LADY,
intelligent and refined, and the only lear
that her well. balanced mind had ever known
is the apprehension that in some evil hour
Satan will lure her affections into the keep
ing of that abominaton oi her mind, man.
The good lady prays every day that no such
evil NAV belall her, and that she may live
and die in maiden meditation fancy free.-
Now, whether the burglar knew tins peculI,,
arity of the lady's mind or not, he at all
events determined TO play her very practi-
cal joke. ,r..,
10 this end he carefully removed from the
chair on which she had neatly joined ana
laid it, all her wearing apparel, and snbstl-
from another room, complete SUIT oil gen
tleman's clothes. Then taking off huge
paIr OF false whiskers, he carefully adjusted
them 10 the face of the sleeping lady. Ol
course he could not wait 10 see the deaoue-
4nent. but that pleasure was reserved Tor the
family the next morning. Awakening at an
early hour, the good lady proceeded to the
mirror Can invariable practice with ladles)
TO enjoy look at her face. The hrst glance
peirified her with horror Was she, indeed,
: man. .
yivinp. she imagined that Satan had been
playing her horrible revenge for her ami
mostly 10 the male creation. She staggered
, TO a chair, and, almost broken hearted, con,
cluded to dress and send for barber. Bu'
/ now she noticed for the first time that hei
:, clothes too were gone, and gentleman''
outfit was substituted in their stead. Sht
,, was certain now that the metamOrphosls was
connlete, and resigning herself to the sltua
tion, tried to don the apparel. But naYlhi
no experience in the adjustment oil this new
. tangled apparel, and habit being stIonge
G Than instinct, she found that every time sh
e mt the pantalouns over her head she en-
= eountered an impndment that defied all he
e efforts TO overcome. In short, the pant
) wouldn't go over her head.
At last, in despair she rang for assistance
and her maid appearing at the door, sl
= cried out "Don come in, Betty, for | al
= a man now; hut just please step in and as
Il my brother if he usually puts his hreecht
on over his head, or commences ieet for
= most"
e Il is needless TO say the message aston
d ished the household 1t was some time b
u fore the lady would admit to her apartmen
1i any one OF either sex, for fear she mig
~ maks mistake; but one OF them, howeye
: more adventurous than the rest, rush'
s. omen the door, and convinced the sore
e, tried maid that she had not forsaken h
= estate, hut was yet one Of the angels OF Il
earth.