Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-03-27
Aunt POIIy's Adventure.

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 a
breth of a breeze flying about-noth-
ing more; but by the time l had fair
ly pumped upon the pillow, the gale
was going it mad When first
came to this western country. / used
to be surprised at the quite, uncere-
monious way storms had Of coming
upon people-half the time, it seemed
to me, out of clear, innocent looking
sky.
In my old home / prided myself
upon reading the signs of the sky
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 the'd 90, and the
sun would shine out as though it was
in high glee at having fooled me. So
| gave up being a 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 |
lay would be blown through the side
of the house. l know Tn a foolish
old woman, but at the thought |
couldn't help setting my ruffled night
cap straight, and smoothing back my
hair, because if / should 90, there was
Deacon Albees house opposite, and
but Lord bless me, what am | say
ing?
Well, naturally l was lonesome
enough, without chick or child to
speak to, but I did very well until
somehow got it into my head that
burglars always choose 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 | got much rest.
| didn't stop to reason that there
was very little in my poor house to
tempt evil doers. | know had forty
dollars and eighty cents laid away in
poor departed Jason's old wooden
chest and felt that to lose that would
be a terrible thing to me
The house was a 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 ad
joining. So my eyes went first from
one door to the other, lingering,
must say, with more dread upon th'
one leading into the hall.
"If should be robbed of that fort,
dollars and eighty cents said l t.
myself Just then a blind went whack
and springing up in bed, l began t.
say the prayer my mother taught mi
-''Now lay me down to sleep,
though I'm sure it looked good dea
more as though 1 was sitting up t.
sleep than lying down.
"What an old fool you are, Poll,
Quimby!" | began to say, aloud, try
ing to get up my courage by the sount
of my own voice. At that momen
| was sure heard step in the littl
hall, and before | had time to NOV
, from my place, the door latch lifted
the door swung back, and there h'
stood, the very object that had beer
} dreading. Mr.. Burglar himself
"Good evening, ma'am," he said, il
, such polite way, that l found mysel
in the motion Of bowing back and say
ing good evening, too.
He was a middle-aged man, will
moustach and whiskers, and he haC
the brightest eyes | ever saw in per
sons head. The hair on the temple
was quite gray. All in all, he locke,
like respectable Christian gentleman
and not midnight thief.
'Quite windy evening, ma'am" h
; went on. as he stepped into the room
, "You must be lonely here by youl
self. "
Somehow this touched my temper
forgot who was speaking, and l ar
swered back as tart as could be.
81 perfer to choose my company
sir!'
He laughed and shrugged up hi
shoulders.
, "You do, indeed! So do /. L
: this case l have my preference-no
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