The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-03-05
MY FRIGHTS.

uh NA0LLA W
~ There are some who aver that they
have never been frightened. As l am
far from being strong-minded woman,
cannot say as much. Perhaps [ am
too easily alarmed. am, for instance,
afraid of COW. 1t may be very silly
but can't help it. All the pleasure of
country walk through fine landscape
has often been spoilt for me because of
cattle in the field. Ii pass through
them without being tossed or gored,
the recollection that have got to come
back again remains with me the rest OF
the day. As for bull, | would rather
never see the country than run the
chance of meeting with such creature
A dog is thought to be very harmless
ANIMAL domestic animal--and the
"friend of man." He is not, however,
the friend of woman-or at least nerv-
ous woman like me. should be afraid
10 write down how often L have been
prevented from calling at a friends
house by the presence of little poodle
or terrier upon their doorstep. should
ns soon have thought of disturbing an
adder. The Romans "a people quite
remarkable for Their cournge) used, L
am told, to paint CaUc caneno, "Be-
ware of the dog" at their front doors;
but such a warming would have been
unnecessary in my case. I am always
fully "beware OF it. Every farm
yard in the country has dog, and that
is why don't like farm yards.
My widowed sister-in law (the fat
cne) and myself once lived in such a
place whole summer, during which
time l lost more flesh than If I had been
all the time in q Turkish bath. From
sunset to sunrise was in a perpetual
fright, from fear of robbers and when
the days grew shorter, aud the nights
longer, the place became insupportable,
and fed from it. The usual nightly
programme was as follows My sister,
in-law, who occupied the same apart
ment as myself, would fall asleep as
soon as her head touched the pillow, and
leave me, rs it were, alone, prey to
my terrors. She always reminded me
of the irritating bed-fellow described
in ghost stories, who will not wake
while the apparition is poeping through
the bed curtains at you, and who, when
all the dreadful things are over, cannot
be persuaded that they actually occurred.
Next to ghosts themselves l dislike peo-
Pile of this cast, and would as soon
almost have no companion at all. Ii
the wind was up at once began to pic
ture to myself band of rutlians effect
ing forcible entry into all the rooms
below stairs, and giving shouts OF
triumph at the ease with which they
accomplished their purpose. We conld
not afford to keep man servant, and
even if we had done so I should have
always imagined him the accomplice of
the burglars, or coming up stairs npon
his own account with carving knife
concealed in q scuttle of Goals, es | had
once read of in book. Our house
pretended no means of resistance, and
l always placed the plate-basket and its
contents upon the landing of the stairs,
in hopes that the gang might take what
they came for and 60 away without ask
ing for my money or my life. On a
particular occasion, being unable to
sleep, | fancied / heard the approach
Of robbers up the stairs. Being no
longer able to contain myself, l with an
effort reused Charlotte, who, however,
pooh-poohed the whole affair, and
dropped to sleep again, leaving me to
my fears. ..tI-.,- J..E
However, one very wet and dark night
she got pretty fright herself. 1t was
a little past midnight. The drip, drip,
drip of the rain WAS ceaseless, but for
all that, as / lay awake, I could hear
mems steps, as the wretches walked
tho house looking for the most conven-
lent point OF entry. Then l heard the
back door " go lit burst open with a
sort OF mufllad violence, like the sud
don outpoar of a waste -pipe-and then
that "pit-a pat ;" knew SO we'll, of feet
.lning up the stairs. Then pause of
frightful Significance.
"Char'oHe ;" cried T, in an agony,
They are rally here. They are re-
ally are, this time. Wake, wake p"
Rubbish, "oried she. 81 am wide
awake, and I hear nothing" -.E E.
They are Just outside the door"
key-hole. Harkl"
Il certainly hear caves dropping, 3"
was her heartless answer (she was a Wo.
man who enjoyed q joke, and her fat
sides wobbled with mirth at this onel !.
"but it's only the rain from the roof )
~ tell you," said I solemnly, "there
are robbers in the"
Here something fell in the drawing.
room beneath Us with q hideous crash.
In an instant, and before could recoye.
from the sor of collapse into which
this shock h. thrown me, Charlotte
had Topped ou5 Of bed, seized the lamp
and was abon, 20 hurry from the room.
"Np," said sb", pausing in the door.
way cit Is " tier that they should moi
sec ne, b.t It I should see them"
r vac "; ~ much hstter, oonsid.
sring Chsfldt. 8 very slight attirb, thai
ihs Iohbefs ghaui1 aoi sec hel hH'