The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-12-14
POLLY7S ADTENTURE WITH
THE BURGLAR.


o, my : didn't the wind blow? Whel
I went around the house Chat night
locking doors and windows before goiat
to bed, there was Just breath of breez,
signing about-nothing more; but by
the time had fairly pumped upon tn,
pillow, the gale was going it like mad
When first came to the Western coun
try used to be surprised at the quiel
unceremonious ways storms had of com
ing upon the people-L-- e time, il
seemed TO me, out Of clear, innocent
looking sky.
In my old home prided myself upon
reading the signs of the sky but there
goodness me, when I thought IT would
snow, it was sure to rain, and when
could have taken a solemn oath that the
clouds were going to pour, why, whish
they'd go, and the sun would shine out
as though it was in high glee at having
fooled me. So gave up being a wealth
er phophet, and took it just as it came.
That night everything ont of doors
shingles on the house ratified up and
down, the windows shook, the blinds rat
tied and half the time it seemed to me that
the bed on which I lay would be blown
through the side of the house. l know
Tn foolish old woman, but thought
couldn't help setting my rufiled night
cap straight, and smooth back my hair,
because if should so, why there was
2 I)o-.s.ss- Ali,aa's t--llse Oppasit.a er,d--
but Decon bless me what am / saying !
Wellnaturally, was lonesome enough
without child or chick to speak 10, but
did very well until somehow l got it
into my head tlfA e allpssz is spse
Just such nights q, Nh - tskin.
After that / stares.1 - : ,ps b I. n
and as thel were thu}hS ea9
on all sides, and in every direction, u
isn't to be supposed that got much
rest.
didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor little house tc
tempt evil-doers. L knew 1 had forty
dollars. and eighty cents laid away in my
poor departed Jason's old wooden chest
and ] felt that to lose that would be
terrible thing to me.
The house was a cottage, with hal
run4ing the length of its two rooms-ar
IL" being built beyond. My room wa.
at the back, opening into the hall, ant
front room adjoining. So my eye:
went first from one door to the other
! lingering, / must say, with more dreat
upon the one leading into the hail.
eff 1 should be robbed of that fort,
and eighty cents said to myself
Just then a blind went whack, am,
springing up in bed, began to say tn
/ prayer my mother taught me-" Now
4 lay me down to sleep though Tn sIfr
it looked great deal more as thoz
was sitting up to sleep than la, q
down y
"What am old fool you are Poll,
Quimby?1 began to say, aloud, try
ing to get up my courage by the Soun'
l-of my own voice.
/ At that moment was sure / heard
step in the little hall, and before 1 ha,
time to move from my place the doc
SWUNG back, and there he stood, tn
object that / had been dreading, Mr.
Burglar himself.
GOOD evening, ma'am, he said, il
such polite way, that / found mysel
in the motion of bowling back, and say
He was middle-aged man. wifi
moustache and whiskers, and he ha,
the brightest eyes that ever saw in
persons head. The hair ON his templ,
was quite gray All in all, he locke,
like respectable Christian gentleman
and not midnight thief.
Quite windy evening, ma'am. h.
went on, as he stepped into the room
/" You must be lonely by yourself.
: Somehow, this touched my tS,anar
I forgot who was speaking, and answered.
back as tarta as could be.
II prefer to choose my company ssisr !,
He laughed, and shrugged up..sls
shoulders.
You do, indeed! So do /, In Ms
case have the preference-not you.9
Then he sat down leisurelv in nv
rocking chair, and stretched ont his feet
as though he intended to stop a while.
@Wih you be so kind. sir, as to go
about your business? What do YOU
think of yourself, sir, to be intruding
upon the privacy OF my room at this
hour of the night, sir?
He leaned his head back upon NV
bright worsted tidy, and laughed fit to
XIII himself.
. No harm is intended you, my charm
ing woman, he said. II swear it-no.
harmSs intended your F8k y
And saying this, he laughed louder.
and longer than ever. -s
Do YOU come into my house to make
game of me before my very epes % L
asked, my temper very much stirred up,
If yon were a gentle man, sir,
This was too much for him.
"A gentleman Oh, aw-that,s too
good! professed, to he q p
'''''n' you'd stand a. un
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