The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-12-06
Mi sceIIaneous
AUNT POLLY'S ADVENTURE WITH TIL
BURGLAR:

O,my didn't the wind blow When 1
went around the house that night, locking
doors and windows before going to bed,
there was just a breath of breeze signing
about-nothing more but by the time
had fairly pumped II pom the pillow, the
gale was going it like mad. When l first
came to the western country / used to be
surprised at the quick, unceremonious way
storms had of coming upon people-half
the time, it seeme' to me, out Of a clear,
innocentlooking sky.
Iy my old home prided myself upon
reading the signs Of the sky; but here,
goodness me, when l thought it would
snow, it was sure to rain, and when I 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
I gave up being a weather prophet, and
took it just as it came.
That night everything out of doors SEEM
ed 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 / lay would be blown through
the side of the house. / know I'm a foolish
old woman, but at the thought couldn't
help setting my rufled nightcap straight,
and smooth back my hair, because if l
should go, why there was Deacon Albee's
house opposite, and-but Lord bless me,
what am l saying
Well naturally,l was lonesome enough
without child or chick to speak to, but l
did very well until somehow got it into
my head that burglars always chose Just
such nights to do their mischief in. After
that l 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.
I didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor little house to tempt
evil doors. knew had forty dollars and
eighty cents laid away in my poor departed
Jasons old wooden chest, and felt that to
lose that would be terrible thing to me.
The house was cottage, with hall
running the length of its two rooms-an
81 being built beyond. My room was at
the back, opening into the hall, and the
front room adjoining, So my eyes went
first from one door to the other, lingering, l
must say, with more dread upon the one
leading into the hail.
lars and eighty cents"- said l to myself
Just then blind went whack, and spring
ing up in bed, l began to say the prayer
my mother taught me-"Now lay me
down to sleep,"-though I'm sure it look
cd great deal more as though was sit
ting up to sleep than laying down.
''What an old fool you are Polly Quinn
bywI began to say, aloud, trying to get
up my courage by the sound ofmy own
voice.
At that moment 1 was sure heard a
step in the little hall, and before had time
to move from my place the door swung
back, aud there he stood, the very object
that l had been dreading, Mr.. Burglar
himself.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, in such
polite way, that found myself in the
motion of bowling back, and saying good
evening too.
He was middle-aged man, with NOUS
tache and whiskers, and he had the bright
est eyes that l ever saw in persons head.
The hair on his temples was quite gray.
All in all, he looked like respectable
Christian gentleman, and not midnight
thief.
"Quite windy evening, ma am" he went
on, as he stepped into the room. "You
must be lonely by yourself.
Somehow, this touched my temper.
forgot who was spanking, and answered
back as tart as could be.
81 prefer to choose my company, sir !"
He laughed, and shrugged up his shout
ders.
"You do, indeed So do 1. In this case
| have my preference-not you"
Then he sat down leisurely in my rocking
chair, and stretched out his feet, as though
he intended to stop while.
"Will you be so kind. sir, as to go about
your business What do you think ofyour-
self, sir, to be intruding upon the privacy
of my room at this hour of the night, sir {
He leaned his head back upon my bright
worsted tidy, and laughed fit to kill him
SELF
mo harm is intended you, my charming
woman" he said. II swear it--no harm is
intended you"
And saying this, he laughed loud and
| longer than ever.
DO you come into my house to make
! game of me before my very eyes4" ! asked,