The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-11-21


about-nothing more: bat by The time
had fairly pumped dpou the pillow, the
gale was going itlike mad When Grsl
came 10 the western country | used to be
surprised st the quick unceremonious
way storms had Of coming upon people
halt the time, Il seemed 10 me, out Of :
clear, innocent looking sky.
In my old home prided myselfupon
reading the signs Of the sky; but here,
goodness me, when thought il would
snow, i, was sure te rain, and when |
could have taken a solemn oath that the
clouds were a going TO pour, why, whisk
they'd 60, and the sun would shine out
as though 10 high glee at having fooled
me. So gave up being weather prop
het, and took il just as il come.
That night everything out Of doors
seemed TO be ia commodon. The loose
shingles on the house clattered up aud
down, the windows shook, the blinds
ratified, aud half the time il seemed to me
tha; the bed on which lay would surely
be blown through the side Of the house. !
know I'm a foolish old woman; but at
the thought, couldn't help setting my
ruflled nightcap straight, aud smoothing
out my hair, because if should go, why
there was Deacon Albee's house opposite
and-but Lord bless me, what am | say
ing
Well, naturally, was lonesome enough
without chick or child to speak to, but
did veiy well until somehow | got il into
my head that burglars always chose just
such nights to do their mischief in Af-
ter that started at every sound and a.
there were thumps and catters on al
sides, and in every direction, ii isn't TO be
supposed that got much rest.
| didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor house TO tempt evil
loers. | knew had forty dollars and
eighty cents laid away in my poor depart
ID Jason's old wooden chest, aud | felt
hat to lose that would be terrible thing
10 me.
The house was cottage, with hall
running the length Of its two rooms-an
L being built beyond. Ny room was at
he back, opening into the hall and the
'front.' room adjoining. So my eyes went
irst from one door to the other, lingering
must say, with more dread upon the one
eading into the hall.
If should be robbed of that forty dol
ars and eighty cents--- said to my
elf. just then blind went whack, and
pringing up in bed, | began to say the
prayer that my mother taught me-Now
lay me down to sleep, though I'm sure
t looked great doal more as though
vas sitting up to sleep than lying down.
What an old fool you are, Polly Quinn
'yl began to say, aloud, trying to get
p my courage by the sound of my own
oice.
AT that moment was sure | heard
oice in the little hall, and before | had
ime to move from my place, the door
wung back, and there he stood, the |
cry object | had been dreading, Mr..
Burglar himself.
Good evening, ma'am, he said in such |
polite way, that | found myself in the |
notion of bowing back, and saying good |
vening too.
He was middle-aged man, with mus
ache and whiskers, and he had the
rightest eyes that ever saw in per-
on's head. The hair on his temples was
ute gray. All in all, he looked like a
christian gentleman, and not
midnight thief
Quite a windy evening ma'am, he went
n, as he stepped into the room. You
lust be lonely by yourself.
Somehow this touched my temper,
'rgot who was speaking, and answered
ack as tart as could be.
lprefer to choose my company sirl
lie laughed and shrugged up his
lonlders.
You do, indeed! So do /. In this
ase have my preierence-not you.
Then he sat down lcisurely in my rock
* chair, and stretched out his feet, as
lough he INTENDED to stop while.
win yon be so kind, sir, as to 60 about
our business? What do you think Of
ourself, sir, to be iutruding upon the
riyacy Of my room at this time of the
ight, srl
He leaned his head back upon my
right worsted tidy, and laughed fit to
Ill himself.
No harm is intended you, my charming
oman, he said. swear it--no harm is
llended you,
And saying this he laughed louder and
niger than ever.
Do you come into my house TO make
anne Of me before my very eyes? ask
/. my temper very much stirred up. NJ
% were a gentleman, sir 4
This was too much for him.
A gentlemany Oh,aw-thapst too good
| professed to be gentleman, you'd
and a cool chance Of getting your
roat cut without so much as by your
ave ma'am, to begin withs A gentle
ans with all my faults, thank Heaven
al is not among them,
You needn't have gone on that way to
owe IL, | said tariiy.
Wei, you are a sharp old danseI aren't
,u! turning bis big eyes opon me, aud
gisiing up bis mouth 10 comlcal way.
hieh ! shall never forget, swear you'd
pretty good looking, If you didn't
ear such a wide rufile on your nightrap
,liy. isn't il a lunkcr-big enough for
ayeyard fence.