Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-09-01
A Night of Horror.

claimed from the wilderness where the
houses are few, mean and ugly; the
streets mud or dust, the trees destroyed,
and the general appearance one OF
poverty struggling with heavy obstacles
where the wolves run the mail ahead
of time, and night is made hideous, by
tailor practicing on fute-this is a
good place to get away from.
Into such a town as this, once rode
on horseback at the end of a weary
day. Night had closed in, and was
guided to the hotel by the thousand
and one boys of the place, and the
noise issuing from the bar-room, no less
beastly and disagreeable. [ found the
landlord shut up in corner pen deal
ing out liquid insanity to his customers.
To my request for supper and bed, he
replied that | could eat my fill, but
there was not bed unengaged or not
occupied in the house. I@perslsted,
until the wretch informed me that there
was "feller" in number six occupy
ing a double bed, and [ could "roll in
there if so minded.
it was dismal, but my only hope; so
after the evening indigestion L climbed
the rough stairs to number six. [ was
told by the landlord to walk in without
knocking, and did so.
1t was a cherries room, without car
pets on the floor, or curtains to shut
out the blank night or the. windows
that seemed to stare blindly in on me,
and wink as the candle fared in the
wind. [ found my companion measur-
ing off his dreams by shores, and I'M
dressing "rolled in" as the landlord
had suggested. My stranger turned
over with something between a growl
and a grunt, as | crept to his side.
Tired aS [ was, could not sleep. The
bed-tick felt as if it was stuffed
with grasshoppers, and the pillows
were the sort to slip up ones
nose in the night, and be sneezed out
during the day. Besides this, my bed
fellow snored abominably. 1t sounded
like giant trying to blow "Old Hun
dred " through tin horn, without
knowing exactly how. bore this in
Fiction as long as | could, 91d at last
gave my friend dig in the ribs, ex-
claiming at the same time:
~ say"
"Hillo-oh-what is it?" he asked
in a confused way.
" I am sorry to disturb you, but [
think it my duty to inform you that [
walk in my Sleep"
"Well, walk"
"My Christian friend, am we'll
aware that this is free country, and
if man wishes to walk in his sleep
there is no constitutional provision to
prevent him. But / wish to remark
that if / do walk, you had better not
interfere with me-"
ooh! walk; [ wont say q word about
it."
"Weli, don't. When addressed or
interfered with, I am apt to get furious.
| nearly Drained poor man with dog
iron. the other night"
{" The devil you did,"
eyes, did,"
"Well, I'll be blowed! That's rather
disagreeable. A fellow might, under
an impulse, blurt out something to
you"
"Better not"
"No, should think not"
A long pause followed this. At last
the new wide-awake ledger asked alb
ruptly:
ibid you notice my hat on the
foor?"
~ believe did"
If you walk, you know, I'd rather
you wouldn't step on it."
"I'll bear that in mind"
After another long pause, he again
asked"
"Did you notice the door on the
left?"
+" | saw a door on my left"
"Well, if you walk, I'd advise you
not to 60 out there. 1t opens on
porch, only the porch hasn't been built
and its twenty feet into the stable
yard"
~ don't believe shall walk out of
that door,"
"Don't think would if I walked
much"
l supposed my inquisitive friend was
dropping into a sleep, when he again
broke out:
g say. you did really brain man
with dog, iron?"
&c tried pretty hard"
Then came silence that was not
UIOhcu. AlCSI d. IlUClS WuIIc uedfu
my bedfellow creeping softly from the
other side of the bed. | could hear
him feeling about for his hat and
clothes. Then | had the satisfaction
that the door closed softly on my re-
treating tormentor. | rolled over and
slept the sleep of innocence.
The next morning. on descending to
break fast, | found an old friend seated
at the table. We had not met for
years. After cordial greeting I said
I" Are you stopping here?"
II have been trying. But | am
nearly dead. [ slept on a bench in the
bar-room amid lot of drunken brutes
who sang Bingo for wagers of drink all
night"
"Couldn't you get bed?"
eyes, had a double bed to myself,
when that stupid ass of a landlord sent
up crazy fellow, who walked and
struck out with dog-irons."
"Good heavens, Gillespy, was that
your"
"And, D., you don't mean to say
that you served me that Internal
trick %
1t was case that called for diplo-
matte explanation.
Narrow Guage i'm Russia.
Robert F. Fairle, the chief protector
of the narrow-gauge system in Great
Britain, i'll letter to the RaiEroad Ga
sette, of Chicago, says:
"The Imperial Livny Russian Mar
row 6 feet inch) Gauge Railway is
built and worked on the principle l
have for so many years advocated. The
line is 81 versts Us miles, in length,
and has very sharp curves and heavy
gradients. The worst gradient is | in
so for seven versts. The line and its