The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-06-13
The Double Bed.


of poverty struggling with heavy o.
stacles; where the wolves run the
mail in ahead of time, and night is
made hideous by tailor practising on
a Aute-this is good place to keep
away from.
Into such town as this, and during
court week, l once rode on horseback
at the end of a weary day, passed into
a continuous mud d.hole, studded with
stumps and ornamehted with logs,
that benighted country called road.
Night had already 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 aud disagreeable. l found
the landlord shut up in corner pen,
dealing out liquid insanity to his Gus
toners. To my request for supper
aud bed he responded that | could
eat my fill, but there was not ped
unengaged or not occupied in the
house. persisted until the miserable
wretch informed me that there was "a
feller" in No. 6 occupying a double
bed, and l could "roll IN there" if SO
minded.
was dismal, bu. my only hope so,
after the evening indigestion, climb
ed the rough stairs to No. 6. was
told by the landlord to walk in with
out knocking, and did SO.
1t was cherries room, without
carpet upon the floor, or curtains to
shut out the black night Of the windows,
that seemed to stare blindly in on ore,
and wink as the candle ffared in the
| wind.
l found my companion measuring
of his dreams by snores. and, undress-
ing, g,"rolled in, as the landlord had sug-
gcsted. My stranger turned over, with
something between growl and a
grunt, as 1 crept to his side.
Tired as | was, / could not sleep.
The oed.tick felt as if it were stuffed
with grasshoppers, and the pillows
were of the sort to slip up ones nose
in the night, aud be sneezed out some
time during the day. Besides this, my
bed-ieilow snored aboninably. II
sounded like a giant trying to blow
"Old Hundred" through a tin horn
without knowing exactly how. / bore
this intliction as long as | could, and
at last gave my friend dig in the ribs
exclaimlng at the same time:
81 say"
"Hillo-sh-what is it?" he asked
in confused way.
81 am sorry to disturb you, but
think it my duty to inform you that
walk in my sleep"
"n ell, walk"
"My Christian friend, l am vel
aware that this is free country, anC
if man wishes to walk in his sleep
there is no constitutional provision tt
prevent him. But | wish to remark
that if do walk, you had better mo-
interfere with me"
! 80, walk; won't say word abou
I it,"
swell, don't. When addressed o.
interiered with, 1 am apt to get furious
| nearly Drained poor man with ,
dog-iron the other night"
"The deuce you did,"
"Yes, | did"
"Well, I'll be blowed That's rath
er disagreeable. A fellow m ght, un
der au impulse, blurt out something
to YOU"
"No, l should think not"
A long pause followed this. At las
the now wide-awake lodger asked, alb
ruptly:
"Did you notice my hat on tn
Aoor?"
IL believe did"
"lf you walk, you know, I'd rathe
you would not step in it,"
"Ill bear that in mind"
After another pause he again asked
did you notice that door on tn
left ?"
81 saw door on my left"
, "Well, if you walk, I'd advise yor
not to go out there. 1t opens OH
porch, only the porch hasn't bee
built, and it's twenty feet down int
r the stable-yard."
81 don't believe shall walk out c
that door"
, Don't think l would if Wake
much"
/ | supposed my inquisitive frien
, was dropping into a sleep, when h
again broke out:
81 say, you did really brain a ma
, with og-irOn p
Il tried pretty hard"
I Then came in silence that was nc
' broken. After little while l hear
: my bedfellOw creeping softly from til
: other side of the bed. | could hea
5 him feeling about for his hat and hi
: clothes. Then | had the satisfactio
of knowing that the door had close
-, softly on my retreating tormentor.
rolled over and slept the sleep of il
nocence.
The next morning, on descending
breakfast, found an old friend seate
!. at the table. We had not met ft
}, years. After a cordial greeting,
y = said:
2 "Are you stopping here?"
= ~ have been trying. But l a
]