The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-09-13
AUNT POLLY OUlMBY'S BURGLAR.

AUNT POLLY QUIMBY'S BURGLAR.
Oh. my, but didn't the wind blow |!
When l went around the house that
night, locking doors and windows be-
fore going to bed, there was just a
breath of o 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
| first came to this Western country,
used to be surprised at the quick, un-
eeremonious way storms had of coming
upon people-half the time, 1t seemed
TO me-, out OF a clear, innocent-looking
sky.
In my old home l prided myself
upon reading the signs of the skies
but here, goodness me when | thought
it would snow, it was sure TO rain, and
when could have taken q 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 weatherprophet, and
took it just &c 1t came.
That night everything out of doors
seemed TO be In Commotlon. The loose
shingles on the house clattered up and
down, the windows shook, the blinds
ratified, and half the time ii seemed to
NE that the bed on which | lay would
be blown through the side of the house.
know Pm foolish old woman, but at
the thought couldn't help setting my
ruiiled nightcap straight, and smooth
ing back my hair, because if | should
go, why, there was Deacon Albee's house
right opposite, and-but, Lord bless
me, what an | saying
Well, naturally, | was lonesome
enough, without child or chick TO speak
to, but did very well until 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 |
got much rest.
didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor little house to
tempt eyil.doers. | 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 mt.
The house was cottage, with a hal
running the length of its two rooms
an I" l. y 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 tn,
other, lingering, must say, with NOR,
dread upon the one leading into tn,
hall.
"If | should be robbed of that forty
dollars and eighty cents | said t
myself. Just then a blind went whack
and springing up in bed, l began to sa,
the prayer my mother taught me
"Now / lay me down to sleep" though
Pm sure it looked great deal more q
though was sitting up to sleep thar
lying down.
What an old fool you are, Poll,
Quimby !" | began TO say, aloud, tryinj
10 get up my courage by the sound o
my own voice.
At that moment | was sure | heard
step in the little hall, and before | ha,
time to move from my place, the door
latch lifted, the door swung back, an,
there he stood, the very object | hat
been dreading, Mr.. Burglar himself.
GOOD evening, maam," he said, il
such polite way, that 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
ike respectable Christian gentleman
and not midnight thief.
"Quite a windy evening, ma'am," h
went on. as ne stepped into the room
"You must be lonely here by your
self.
Somehow, this touched my temper
forgot who was speaking, and answere
back as tart as could be:
81 prefer to choose my company
sir ~
He laughed, and shrugged up h
shoulders.
"You do. indeed So do |. In tn
case. | have my preference mot you.
Then be sat down lesurely in IN
rockingham, and stretched out h
feet, as though he intended to stop
while.
"Will you be so kind, sir, as to g
about YOUR business? What do yo
think of yourself, sir, to be intrudin
upon the privacy of my room at tn
= 1ur of the night, s'rY'
'e leaned his head back upon m
bri.A worsted tidy, and laughed fit t
xiii hin 1self.
aNnh orm is intended you, my charm
IN, 80, y he said. I" swear it-n
harm i inte uded you y