The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-03-12

ana as we had four miles TO walk.
told John we had better be poipg.
80 we stepped out upon the porch, ,
put just as we did 80, the sky was
III 10 by lightning, and one tremen-
dous thunder peal rolled AMONG the
mountain sides. It's echoes had no,
died out in the far of wales until the
ram began to pour from the garner
ed iuliness of the pent up clouds.
we waited for 1t to stop until were
all sleepy, when the Iris said we
should go to bed in the i,ttle room at
heSd of the stairs which led out of
the kitchen as their father did not
get up early, we could go home be
fore the old folks got up. So after
bidding the girls sweet good night
and hugging them a little-and
wishing them pleasant dreams, and
promising to come again the next
sunday night, we started for bed.
We didn't have to 90 far, as the
bed stood near the head OF the stairs.
John was soon in bed, but as was q
little slow, and full of curiosity l set
about to look around the room.
AT last l thought would sit down
on chest which was spread over
nice white cloth, while I drew off
my boots. So down l sat. when
stars OF the east, I went plump into
a custard pie !
L thought John would die laugh.
ing, for he said l had smashed that
pumpkin pie all to thunder, and the
plate right in two.
You see we had to be awful quiet
or the old gent would hear US.
l was now ready to get in bed, so
put out the light and picked up my
boots, thinking to put them in a con-
venlent place, when down one leg
went into q pipe.hole, which had
been covered up with paper, up to
my hip.
Now one part of me was up stairs
while the longest part of me was In
the kitchen. AS my leg was very
long it reached shelf which was
occupied by dishes, pans, coffee pot,
ETC., turning it over with a tremen-
dOus crash.
The girls had not yet retired, and
we could hear them laugh fit to kill
themselves.
l felt awtully ashamed, and was
scared until my heart was in my
mouth, for / expected to see the old
man every moment.
l extracted my leg from that con-
founded hole justin time, for the old
woman looked out from her room
door, asked, "what all that noise
was about ?'
The girls put her off as best they
could, and l went to bed, while John
was strangling himself under the
bed-clothes to keep from laughing
out loud.
We soon went off into the land of
dreams, with the hope of waking
early. l wish | could tell you my
dreams, but it would take me too
long. One moment l would fancy
myself by the side of Sadie, slipping
nectar from her heaven-bedewed lips,
and The next moment | would be fly
ing from the old, man and he would
be brandlshing his cane above my
head.
This all came to an end by Johns
giving me kick.
On waking up and looking round
| saw Johns eyes ;.s large as soup
plates, and the sun was shining in a
the window.
What to do we couldn't tell, fol
we heard the head of the house hav.
ing family worship in the kitchen.
John looked out of the window
and said we could get down over
the porch roof.
sect up, and dress as soon as pos
sible," said he.
So in my hurry my foot got fasten.
ed in the bed-clothes, and I tumbled
head foremost, turned over, and
down the steps l went until l struch
the door, which was fastened by 6
wooden button, and it giving way,
rolled in front of the old man.
He threw up his hands and cried
out, "Lord save us :" for he thought
/ was the devil.
The old woman screamed until she
could have been heard a mile.
/ was so scared and bewildered
that l could not get up at once. i
was warm weather, and l didn'
have anything on but my shirt.
When l heard the girls snickerine
it made me mad, and jumped up
and rushed out of the door, leaving
the greater part Of my shirt on the
old iron latch.
Off l started for the barn, an6
when half way through the yard the
dog set up howl and went for me.
When 1 got to the barn had to
run through a flock of sheep, and
among them was an old ram, who
backed up and started for me. With
one bound l escaped his blow, spranl
into the barn and began to climb the
logs into the NOW, when an ole
mother hen pounced upon my legs
picking them till they nearly bled.
threw myself upon the hay, ant
after John had slid down the porch
into hogshead of rain water, b.
came to me with one of my boots
my hat, one leg of my pants, and m,
coat.
He found me completely prostra.
ted. Part of my shirt, my hat, one
leg of Lay pants, my vest, stockings
necktie and one boot was left be
hind.
l vowed then and there that
would never go to see another girl
and I'll die before / will.
Rules for the care>ef Canary Birds.