Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-05-05
RaIph's Midnight Adventure.
A Story for bOys-FOunded OF
Facts.

80 you think there's no great daT
ger, Polly
Not the least in the world, Nj
Cramer, you are only to be gone on'
night, you know.
l don't think myself there is any
danger, but it is quite sum to leave
unprotected still no one knows
have it but Andrill he's an unprinci
pied scoundrel, but not bad enough
for burglary; and Judge Crane
looked thoughtfully out of the win
dow, while Polly his hired girl who
had worked for him since his wife dice
some three years before, hustled about
the kitchen.
Well, Polly, see after the things as
well as you can. shall be home
again bright and early, if all goes well
and Dick comes on the first train as
he promised. Lam going in to say
goodbye to the children and then I'm
of.-Aud shutting the kitchen door
he went into the sitting room. As he
entered, his little three-year old son
ran towards him with outstretched
arms, and tears in his eyes.
Freddie want to 60 too, he cried.
Does he? said the judge, taking
him in his arms, and carrying him to
a window, where a boy of fifteen
sat reading. Well, he shall some
time, but papa is going to meet Uncle
Dick this time and will have to stay all
night.
Thus soothed, Freddie turned to
the window and fell to watching the
horse outside, who stood impatiently
paving, ready harnessed, at the door
while the judge, rising and buttoning
his coat, said TO the boy, Its time l
was going, Ralph. Tell Bell when
she comes that
Here he was interrupted by the
young lady in question coming in,
fresh and 1uddy, from long walk.
.Ah. here yon aro p"'l was lust
giving Ralph instructions you know,
both of you, as she came up beside
Ralph, that 1 received six thousand
dollars, yesterday owe that amount
to Andrlll over to Newton, | have
written to him, telling him that have
the money for him, but have got to
meet your Uncle Dick and shall be
away from home tonight, but If he
will be here tomorrow l will settle
with him. Now 1 want you, Ralph
to be sure and fasten all the outer
doors tonight, and don't admit any
Stragglers, on any pretense whatever,
for it was only last week Ratons house
was entered by burglars and all his
valuables taken.
Yes said Ralph. Just because Ra-
ton was such a coward he didn't dare
to crawl out Of bed, and get his gun
and shoot 'em, but lay there shivering
with fear and let them take all they
wanted, just as long as they would not
touch him.
You needn't worry, father, said Bell
If any one should break in here Ralph
would get his new gun you gave him
and defend us.
Yes, said Ralph, laughing. Let
them try once and III pepper 'em so
they will not want to again.
The judge smiled. I didn't know l
was leaving such brave hero in
charge l am afraid though your
courage would diminish if it were put
to the test.-But l must not stand
here any longer, so goodbye. Enjoy
yourselves while l am gone. And
the judge hurried out to his horse, and
jumping into his sleigh, drove away
at spanking pace, the three stand
ing at the window watching him I'M
til bendin the road hid him from their
view.
1t was cloudy, cold day i'll the
dead of winter, too cold to snow, Polly
had said but as the short day drew
to a close the feathery flakes began to
come down, at first slowly, and then
faster and faster, so that when Ralph
came in from closing the barn for the
night, he said to his sister, Polly says
we are going to have an old-fashioned
snow-storm, and believe it. Father
needn't have any anxiety about his
money l pity burglar that would
try to "crack crib" tonight.
Two hours later Ralph and Bell sat
before the glowing fire, deeply engag-
ed in a game of draughts, while Polly
sat in the corner knitting, with Fred
die doing in the chair beside her,
when suddenly there came a sharp rap
at the door. Freddie gave start and
jumped to his feet.