The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-02-27
LODGE NIGHT.
The Painful Experience Of Mr.
JOskins.


been AN unusual press of very impor-
tant business, which had kept Mr.. JOS
kins out much later than he had antic-
ipated. He came home, however, in
apparent good order and well condi-
toned. Mrs. Joskins, knowing. the
Trustworthy character, and reliable
habits of her husband, had not waited
up for him, and when he crept into
bed he was met with n very sleepy IN
auiry in regard to the hour, and the
reproach conveyed in the question was
so slight that Mr.. Joskins instantly re-
pented him OF the lie he had intended
TO tell, and only told little one, only
an hour and a quarter long, saying.
with offhapded carelessness that he
guessed il must be pretty near Il, when
he knew il must be II: Is. And sleepy
Mrs. Joskins, with her weather-eye on
the sitting-room clock, which she could
see through the open bedroom door,
inst before Joskins turned out the hight
knew il also, but didn't say anything
Mr.. Joskins, although he breathed very
heavily, did not 60 to sleep immediate
ly. He soon began TO hdget. hrs
breath appeared to come with some dif-
fculty; he actually gasped.
"Good land !" he exclaimed, 'isn
this room awful close
Mrs. Joskins didn't know. She was
avful sleepy, and she said the air OF
the room felt very comfortable TO her.
"By George" said Mr.. Joskins, after
a few minutes OF restlessness, sits
close IA vault TO me. Wouid IL nurt
YOU if / open one OF the windows -.
His spouse drowsily replied that 1t
wouldn't give her cold, and he might
yentilate the room all he wished. And
with this permission she went to sleep,
and Mr.. Joskius got mp with great de-
! liberation and proceeded to raise the
window.
at is up little ways now, he said;
az can't get my fingers under 1t.
And he caught grip on it. and gave
n tug at il. but il didn't come. MIR.
Joskins was surprised. 1t never stuck
that way before, he said. Then he got
A fresh hold under it, and lifted as II
he would pull that side Of the house NJ
by the roots, but il didn't come.
"Well, Iii be blowed, mnttered Mr.
Joskins, with a heavy accent on The
'be." And then he caught hold again
and showed his fingers as far under M
thew would reach, and braced himself
for a lift that would have shamed der
rick.
ugh, Umph! mp! um-m-puh! !!
and with final grunt Mr.. Joskins sanl
back exhausted.
"Well You can eat my boots" b.
muttered, with some warmth, ''if
don't lift this window up, or I'll pul
a. ma
he caught hold aud tugged an
lifted aud strained until he was sur
that every succeeding tug would eithe
lift the side Of the house or pull hi
feet through the floor. He pause
again for breath, with his head so ful
OF blood that his feet were cold.
"Jocks," lie snarled, "ld give $40
600, 600 il / had the carpenter hei tina
; put in that window. I'd bet I'd hi
him, the wooden headed idiot. Now
then"
And he stopped down and caught
, fresh hold on the window, and shu
his ewes and held his breath and put hi
whole soul and body into his arni
, As lie began to straighten up he coul
hear a sound like the cracking OF tin
bers, and it inspired him with renewe
81 re myth. = Something coming
gospel sure" he said, and redouble
his effort.
At that instant he became aware OF
glimmer OF light ia the room. II
e rasised his closed lids and beheld Mr.
a. Joskins standing behind him like
white robed ghost, with lamp In h'
: hand. At the sight Of which appal
ition, Mr.. Joskins ceased lifting, br
held his grip.
e whats the matter 2" he asked.
]" His wife said nothing, but locke
u steadily and severely into his inquirin
n ewes. Mr.. Joskius felt troubled und'
her steady gaze.
>. "What is it ?" he repeated. "Whl
did you get out OF bed for?
A. She looked him straight in the ey,
for q moment. John Joskins," sal
she solcmnly. ego back to bed. I wi
raise the window for you. Don't 80
!, !, a word to ne, Tomorrow We will Ia
4 about any constitution Of these LODI
nights" Speechless and confused, NJ
Joskins eyes fell, and as they did so,
beheld his hands. The window vi
shut as tight IA wax, aud he had
death grip on the window sill.
"Well anyhow" he thought as
er crept back under the blankets, "tbers
on or one thing certain: II she hadn't got l
ne when she did, I'd a had the who
a window casing, sill and all, show,
Of Of half way up the side Of the house
We another ting"
rs Which was very poor consolation I
what he knew was coming, but It W
the hest he had II Huntingdon Haw
n. eye.