Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-10-18
5fiscellamu.
Aunt Polly's Adventure with the
Burglar.

Burglar.
o, my, didn't the wind blow? Wher
| went around the house that night, lock
ing doors and windows before going tc
bed, there was just breath of breeze
sighing about-nothing more but by
the time | had fairly pumped upon the
pillow, the gale was going it like mad
When first came to the Western coun.
try | used to be surprised at the quick
unceremonious way storms had of COM
ing upon people-half the time, it SEEM
ed to me, out of clear, innocent look
ing sky.
In my old home / prided myself up
on reading the signs of the sky but
here, goodness me, when | thought it
would snow, it was sure to rain, and when
/ could have taken solemn oath that
clouds were going to pour, why, whisk
they'd 60, and the sun would shine out
as though ii were in high glee at having
fooled me. So | gave up being wealth
er 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 rat
tied, and half the time it seemed to me
that the bed on which / lay would be
blown through the side of the house. l
know I'm foolish old woman but at
the thought, l couldn't help setting my
ruffied nightcap straight, and smoothing
back my hair, because if | should 60,
why there was Deacon Albee's house op-
posite, and-but Lord bless me, what am
l saying
Well, naturally, | was lonesome
enough, without child or chick to speak
to, but did very we'll until somehow l
got it into my head that burglars always
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 house to tempt
evil-doers. / knew l 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 terri
BILE thing to me.
The house was cottage, with hall
running the length of its two rooms-an
"L" being built beyond. NJ 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, / must say, with more dread
upon the one leading into the hall.
"If | should be robbed of that forty
dollars and eighty cents" said | tc
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 as though
1 was sitting up to sleep than lying
down.
"What an old fool you are, Polly
Quimby! p / began to say, aloud, trying
to get up my courage by the sound Of
my own voice.
At that moment was sure | heard q
step in the little hall, and before | had
time to move from my place, the door
swung back, ahd there he stood, the very
object that had been dreading Mr.. Bur,
glar himself.
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, in
such polite way, that l found myself
in the motion of bowing back, and say
ing good evening too.
He was middle-aged man, with mus
tache and whiskers, and he had the
brightest eyes that / ever saw in per
sons head. The hair ON his temples was
quite gray. All in all, he looked like q
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 speaking, and answered
back as tart as could be.
al prefer to choose my company sir Y
He laughed and shrugged up his
shoulders.
"You do, indeed So do 1. In this
case have my preference-not you"
Then he sat down leisurely in my rock.
ing chair, and stretched out his feet, a;
though be intended to stop while.
"Will you be so kind, sir, as to &C
| about your business? What do you
think of yourself, sir, to be intruding up
on 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 tc
kill himself.
"No harm is intended you, my charm
ing womau," he said. "I swear it-nC
harm is intended you!"
And saying this, he laughed louder