Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-09

numerous, that they can scarcely be held
rs merely exceptions TO the rule.
The following story. exemplifying re-
markablc presence of mind in an old lady,
has never been in print. It is perfectly
true. She shall tell the tale herself:
ARoBBER UNDER THE BED.
"You know, my dear, was living in
the country at the time, my little grand
daughter being my only companion. We
had two female servants and man
servant, but he did not sleep in the house.
but in a loft over tho stable. One night,
late in the autumn. / went up to bed at
nv usual hour-ninc o'clock. | was
early, you see, for Fanny was only seven
years old, and did not care to sit up
alone after she was in bed besides, by
the time had read my chapter, and said
my prayers, and undressed myself, it was
fully ten O'Clock. Well, on this particular
night, went up rs usual. | first I'M
dressed tho child, and put her into bed
then made myself comfortable, and got
my Bible. and sat by the fret was very
cold for the season, and kept n fire in
nv room-and after had finished my
chapter, knelt down TO my prayers my
position as knelt was with my back TO
the fire and my face toward the bed.
had scarcely got on my knees when
caught sight Of something unusual under
the bed on looking mole attentively. |
could sec that it was mans foot. My
first impulse was TO scream, but fortunate
" restrained myself, and the first shock
over, | was able to think. had no doubt
that it was robber, and that if he found
that he was discovered, he might not stop
short of murder. | did rot dare 10 go TO
bed, and pretended did not know he
was there and yet how TO get the child
and myself ont Of the room without excit-
ing suspicion could not imagine. These
tn h,ughts passed through my brain in half
the time | have taken to tell you, and |
was about TO rise from my knees, when
suddenly recollcctcd that my doing so at
once might excite suspicion; for aught
knew ii might be some one who knew my
habits-perhaps even my own man
servant, though | had no reason to suspect
him. At all events, determined TO re-
main some time longer, rs il engaged at
my dcvotons need not tell you that
could not give much heed 10 my prayers,
but did ask for protection and guidance.
You know, dear, that | am slow,
mcthodical old woman, and that seldom
get through my prayers in less than u
quarter of an hour, so | now determined
not TO stir for at least ten minutes. What
an age those ten minutes seemed. never
took my eyes off the foot until just before
arose, when il was slowly Withdrawn
out of my sight. When | saw it move
felt faint with fright, for | feared lest The
man had suspected and was going TO come
out; however. he remained quiet and |
got up from my knees.
The next thing to be done was to get
the child out of bed without causing any
alarm. Speaking rs calmly rs l was
! 4 Ln, cha la gh
answered in II rather sleepy tone, but
aroused herself rs | continued speaking.
Fanny, dear" ! said, Il have left my
KEYS below stairs"-I felt little uneasy
at the falsehood, but hope it was mol
wrong-"and cannot undreSs without
them don't like going down by myself; I;
would you mind getting up, my love,and
coming with mc?" She jumped out OF
bed in n moment, and having wrapped a
shawl around her, pushed her before
me: then. when opening the door, |
managed to take out the key and put ii
in the other side. then shut the door
and locked it. and then, my dear, could
no longer contain myself shrickcd
several times ut the top oI my voice. and
tainted. After all, poor Joseph, the
coachman, was faithful. for one OF the
maids called him in. and, armed with n
pitchfork, he secured tho robber, who was
irving to get out OF the window
Here was an instance OF retention OF
presence of mind in The lace OF apparent
danger, and the loss of scli'con,rol when
danger had passed. Habit has much to
do in the preservation of the cerebral
equilibrium, rs we see, for instance, in the
sailor who goes aloft without feeling any
inclination to come down "by the run,"
and in the matador in the bull-ring, whose
fate depends on his GOODNESS. Education,
also, no doubt, assists in keeping the brain
in order Yet here, again, We have
numerous instances of presence of mind
in The humber and less educated ranks OF
life.
MURDERER DETECTED.
One example--also a true story, tho
It has appeared in this very Journal nan-
| H., c,,n, o,J In tho uuisp of fiction.