Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-09-12
AUNT POLLY QUIMBY's BURGLAR.

AUNT POLLY QUIMBY'S BURGLAR.
Oh, my, but didn't the wind blow
When | went around the house that
night, locking doors and windows be-
fore going to bed, there was just
breath of breeze signing about-noth-
ing more; but by the time | had my
head fairly pumped upon the pillow,
the gale was going it like mad. When
l first came to this Western country, l
used to be surprised at the quick, I'M
ceremonious way storms had of coming
upon people-half the time, it seemed
to me, out of clear, inngcent-looking
sky.
In my old home l prided myself
upon reading the signs of the skies
but here, goodness me when | thought
1t would snow, it was sure to rain, and
when | could have taken a solemn
oath that the clouds were going to pour,
why, whisk they'd go, and the sun
would shine out as though it was in
high glee at having fooled me. So
gave up being weather-prophet, and
took it just as it came.
That night everything out of doors
seemed to be in commotion. The loose
shingles on the house clattered UP and
down, the windows shook, the blinds
ratified, and half the time it seemed to
me that the bed on which l Law would
be blown through the side of the house.
| know I'm foolish old woman, but at
the thought l couldn't help setting my
rutfied nightcap straight, and smooth
haI j
go, why, there was Deacon Albee's house
right opposite, and-but, Lord bless
me, what am | saying
Well, naturally, | was lonesome
enough, without child or chick to speak
to, but l did very well until l somehow
got it into my head that bul glars al
ways chose just such nights to do their
mischief IN. After that | started at
every sound, and as there were thumps
and clatters on all sides, and in every
direction, it isn't TO be supposed that l
got much rest.
l didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor little house to
tempt evil-doers. | knew | had forty
dollars and eighty cents laid away in
my poor departed Ja.on's old wooden
chest, and | felt that TO lose that would
be terrible thing to me.
Inc mouse was cottage, with hall
running the length of lis two rooms
an L" being built beyond. My room
was at the back, opening into the hal
and the front room adjoining. So my
eyes went first from one door to the
other, lingering, | must say, with more
dread upon the one leading into the
hall.
"If should be robbed of that fort,
dollars and eighty CENTS l said K
myself. just then blind went whack
and springing up in bed, began to say
the prayer my mother taught me
"Now l lay me down to Sleep" though
I'm sure it looked great deal more a
though | was sitting up to sleep thar
lying down.
What an old fool you are, Poll,
Quimby p l began to say, aloud, tryiny
to get up my courage by the sound o
my own voice.
At that moment | was sure | heard
step in the little hall, and before l hat
time to move from my place, the door
latch lifted, the door swung back. ant
there he stood, the very object l ha,
been dreading, Mr.. Burglar himself.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, il
such polite way, that l found mysel
in the notion of bowling back, and say
ing good evening, too.
He was middle-aged man, with mus
tache and whiskers, and he had tn
brightest eyes that ever saw in pei
sons head. The hair on his temple
was quite gray. All in all, he locke
like respectable Christian gentleman
and not midnight thief.
"Quite windy evening, ma'am," b
went on, as he stepped into the room
"You must be lonely here by you
SELF
Somehow, this touched my tempe
forgot who was speaking, and answere
back as tart as could be-:
81 prefer to choose my compan
sirr'
He laughed, and shrugged up h
shoulders.
y s. You do, indeed So do l. In tt
case, l have my preference-not you
Then he sat down leisurely in \
rocking chair, and stretched out l
feet, as though he intended to stop
while.
aWill you be SO kind, sir, as to
about your business2 What do y
think of yourself, sir, to be intrudi
upon the privacy of my room at Il
hour of the night, s-r?'
He leaned his head back upon /
bright worsted tidy, and laughed fit
kill himself.
"No harm is intended you, my char
ing woman" he said. ~ swear it
harm is intended you'll"