, 1876-07-30

Bed" 1y Eugene !. Httlk.
THE SPARE BED.
The spare bed stood within room
As chill und humid as tomb.
The rain that fell on roof decaycd
Dripped through the chinks that time had ma
And On the whitcWashcd walls ran down
In wOndrous frescoes tingcd with brown;
Cold was the mating on the floor;
Cold blew the breeze beneath tho door;
Cold were the straight backed chairs OF wo
Cold WAS the oaken stand that stood
Gu spindliny legs. that looked us chill
As lone, bare pines on some bleak hill.
High wus tic bed DER things below,
Like some tall iceberg capped with snow.
HOW AN OLD MAID GOES .ro BED.
But Aunt Rcbccca watched In vain
The curling smoke above the crane.
She nodded, dozcd, began to snore,
And dropped her knitting on the ilooF:
Awake-her cyelids Aeavier grew
Arose-and silently withdrew.
Along the creakiug stairs she crePt
To the lone chamber where she slept,
And close the winlow-curtains drew,
To shut the darkness from her view.
She stuffed the keyhoie OF the door;
She sat the candle Oh the floor;
Looked meath the valance, half-nfraid
To lind man in auabuscade.
Then, sitting down, aside with care
She laid her garments on chair;
Put on her cotton robe Of white;
Slipped on her shoes; blew ont the light,
Then, in the darkness, from her head
l.eN0Eed her zig, nnd-crept to bed,
Curled up her shFunken sllanks and thighs,
And, shivering, shut her drowsy eyes,
Poor single souls that live alone,
The night wind hath dismal tone
TO your lone ears. ion start with fear
= irhf r
When, late Ut night, with weary Aeads,
You creep into your lonely beds,
You long for fond, protecting arms
To closely clasp your faded charms;
Yet, shuddering, lie till curly morn.
And sigh to think that you were born.
ESTRAPpED.
She slept ut last, but soon aWOkc.
She haL friyhtfu1 dream thut broke
The spell thst sleep had Ger her thrown
Without, sue heard the night~wind moan,
While, on the window -panes, the snow
Was wildly beating. From below
The smothered sound OF voices came,
Where, still with Busby's social dame,
Their guest sat by the f',diny fire.
hut soon recollection came
That sent silver through her frame:
The sausage to be fried at morn,
The breakfast table to adorn,
Vas in the spare room, where their guest
outd J00n De sleeping.
Then, to herself, She quickly said:
Urn get it ere he goes to bed"
From out her creaking cot che crept,
Slipped on her shoes. and niu1oly stepped
Along the ball and through the gloom,
And reached at last the icy room.
Unseen, she crossed the chilly door;
Unheard, unlocked the closet-door;
Sndtched from shelf, in her firm hold,
\ bag Of sausage, stiff and cold;
Then, turning quickly, sought to beat
A sudden, safe, und sure Retreat
Too late! 4 light CLEANED on the wall,
And footsteps echoed through the ball
Then, to the room, came boldly on
The stalwart form OF Littlejohn.
She backward stepped and stood aghast
Then closed the door and held 1t fasr.
He threw his boots upon the tioor,-
Then, rising. tried the closet-door;
But Amt Rebecca, in alright,
ciung to the latch with all her might.
To look within, Lycurgus failed;
lie turned away, and thought it nailed.
Then, pulling down the snowy spread,
lie put his warm brick In the bed,
Took of his clothes, and slipped between
The sheets OF ice, so white and clean,
Blew out the light, and, with sneeze,
Close to his chin he brought his knees;
Beneath the clothes he drew his nose,
And tried in vain to find repose.
His brick grew cold; he could not sleep;
A strange sensation seemed to creep
Upon him; while, across the door,
He closely watched the closet door.
AN APPARrr1oN.
Was he but dreaming: Noi His eyes
Behe1d. with terror and surprise,
What they had never seen before:
There was q movement at the door;
1t slowly turned, and 10 his sight
Came, through the thin, uncertain light
4 hideous hand, that in its clasp
Some awful object seemed to grasp.
a crouching form. with frightful head,
Seemed slowly coming towards the bed.
He heard the rusty hinges creak;
He could not stir; he could not speak;
lie could not turn his head away;
He shut his eyes and tried to pray.
At last he Shsieketf aloud and shri]l:
The door turned back and Ill was still
That midnight-cry from room to room,
Resounded loudly through the gloom;
Adown the stairs it went to rouse :
The sleeping Busby and his spouse,
Who started from their cosy nest,
And came in bed-quilts guaintIy dressed,
With mingled wonder and alright.
They found Lycurgus out Of sight,
Who, deep within the feather-bed
Beneath the clothes had drawn his head,
And. full Of fear, lay gasping there,
With throbbing heart and bristling hair.
Then Aunt Rebecca shrewdly saw
The moment fora coup d'efuf:
Ere he recovered from his fright,
She glided, like CLEAN Of light,
Forth from the closet to the hall,
In Mrs. Dusby's Sunday shawl
Still firmly graspfng. like wise,
The sausage in her hand OF ice,
Away from sight, without word.
She dew like an affrighted bird.
Without a moment OF delay,
The mystery cleared itse!f away.
RETRosPECTION.
Again the snow CLEANS on the ground.
Again the sleign-be gaily sound;
Again On Ailler's Hill We hear
The shouts OF children, loud and clear.
But in the barn is heard no more
The Tapping tail upon the floor;
The house is down, its inmates gone,
And tall Lycurgus Littlejohn
Il now an old man, worn with care,
With STOPPING form and silver hair.
When, IN the merry Winter-time,
His children's children 'round him climb.
He gladly tells them Of his fright
On that far-distant Winter-night;
And. after they are put to bed,
When by the fire, with nodding head,
He sits and sinks to slumber deep,
And quakes and shiVers in his sleep,
Alas! he is but dreaming still
OF that spare bed on Mille1's Hill.
LAX PARK, Ill.
(which
Detroit Free Press.
yesterday morning boy entered Wood
I'd avenue drug store, bottle in hand, an
d he wanted 10 cents worth Of "aruaky
ny.", The druggist had him repeat the woff
, or three times, and said.
Now, do you mean arnica or ammonlaan
I dunno,'' was the reply.
What is it torln asked the druggist.
III be licked II | tell" replied the boy
bright idea, and turned and said: