The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-01-28

Pa EsEgCE OF mEgp.

The following story, exemplifying re-
markable presence Of mind in an old lady.
is perfectly true. This old lady-but
| stay she shall tell the tale herself, as she
used TO tell it to me, her little nephew
"1ou 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 SER
want, but he did not sleep in the house.
bot IN loft over the stable. One night,
late In the autumn, l went up to bed at
my usual hour-nine O'Clock. | was
early, you see, for Fanny was only seven
years old, and | did not care to Sit up
alone alter she was in bed by the time |
read my chapter, and said my prayers,
and undressed myself, it was fully ten
O'Clock We'll, on this particular night I
went up as usual | first undressed the
child, and put her into bed then | made
myself comfortable, and got my bible,
and sat by the fre-it was very cold for
the season, and | kept fire in my room
and after had finished my chapter, |
kneit down to my prayers my position
as kneit 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 my bed:
on looking more attentiYely, l could sec
that it was a mans foot nv first i'm
pulse was to scream, but fortunately |
restrained miself; and the hrst shock over!
/ was able to think. | had no doubt tina,
1t was a robber, and that if he found he
was discovered, he might not stop short
OF murder. L dared not 90 to bed, and
pretend l did not know he was there aud
yet, how TO get the child and myself out
ot the room without exciting suspicion. [
couldn't imagine. These thoughts passed
through my mind in half the time | have
taken to tell you and | was about to rise
from my knees, when | suddenly recol-
lected that my doing so at once might in
itself excite suspicion; for ought know.
1t might be some one who knew nv hab.
IFS, perhaps even my own man>servant,
though had no reason TO suspect him.
At all evonts, | determined to remain
some time longer, as if engaged in my de-
yotions. | need not tell you that could
give much heed to my prayers, bat l did
ask for protection and guidance. You
know, dear, that am slow, methodical
old woman, and that I seldom get through
ny prayers in less than quarter of an
hour, SO now determined not TO sir for
at least ten minutes What an age those
ten minutes seemed | never took my
. eyes of the foot until just before / arose
when 1t was slowly Withdrawn out of my
sight. When | saw il move, I felt faint
with fright, for | feared lest the man had
suspected, and was going to come out
however he remained quiet, and then l
got up from my knees. The next thing
TO be done was TO get the child out of bed
without causing any alarm. Speaking
as calmly as | was able, | asked her if
she were awake; she answered in rather
sleepy tone, but aroused herself as |
continued speaking Fanny. DEAR l
said, Il have left my keys below stairs
| felt little uneasy at the taIsehood, but
L hope it was not wrong-'and | cannot
undress without them | don't like going
down by myself would you mind getting
up, my love, and coming down with me?'
She jumped out of bed in moment, and,
having wrapped shawl round her, l
pushed her before me, then, when opening
the door, | managed to take out the key
and put it on the other side / then shut
the door and locked It; and then, my dear,
l could no longer control myselt-I Shrek,
ed several times at the top Of my voice,
and tainted. After all, poor Joseph. the
coacEnan, was faithful, for one of the
maids called him in, and, armed with a
pitchfork, he secured the robber, who was
trying to get out of the window -