Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-07


there-any of them, in fact-would die for us
if necessary, my father would declare to
Northern visitors; and Cesar. behind his
chair, would grin and show his white teeth in
confirmation of the boast.
80 matters went until the time ! speak Of.
when | was about fifteen. One day had a
sick-headache / used to be troubled with
them occasionally, and they always brought
on a little fever and made me nervous and ex-
citable. My head grew easier toward night,
and went down to ten, but | could not eat.
Caesar and Augustus waited as usual, and
Maum Classy went in and out with hot cakes
aud things. She had made n dish of rice
cream that evening. Diana was the regular
cook, but now and then Maum took it into
her head to make some special thing, and we
were always glad, for she was n real genius at
cooking; nobody equalled her Rice-cream
was one of her specialties. 1t was a delicious
dish. have never seen any thing like it at
the North
We'll, every one ate of the rice-cream ex-
cept myself Maum Classy was quite distress
cd that l would take none. She brought the
dish to my side more than once, and coaxed
and urged. a mosseld do you good, Miss
Lilly-just little mossel, she pleaded. But
was cross with pain, and would not let her
put it on my plate.
You're "A nuisance with your rice-cream.'
"A spoonful of dis d make my chile feel
better maybe" she persisted.
" No, not one grain. | don't know what
made me so obstinate, for was Il yielding lit
tie thing enough in general but it was lucky
for us that it happened so.
I'VE broke up early that night Every
body seemed to grow drowsy at once and by
ten O'Clock Caesar had turned out the lamps,
and We were on our way to bed. But though
| tried, could not sleep. Feverishness made
me restless, and after lying awake long time
| lit a candle and looked at my watch. 1t was
nearly one. thought | would read a while,
but my book had been left below in the par
lor. 1t was Thaddeus of Warsaw, l remem-
ber. People laugh at il ow-a-days; but fifty
years ago we found it mighty interesting l
can assure you. | decided to go for it, and
putting on my wrapper and slippers. crept
down stairs softly, candle in hand.
II was very light in my movements-not a
stair creaked under my tread. just as
reached the lower hall my candle gave a sharp
flicker, and went out l did not mind this
much. for l recollected exactly where the
book lay; so, setting the candlestick down.
groped my way into the parlOr, and in half
a moment had my hand ON what wanted.
As turned to go, l saw long bar of light
streaming through the folding-doors which
led into the dining-room and which had been
left lite way open.
1T was an old-fashoned house three rooms
deep, so | saw the light across wide space of
blackness made by the middle room. which
we used as a library. After minute or two
| was conscious of voices speaking in mufiied
tones-several voices there seemed to be
whispering together. ! wonder | was rot
more frightened but Twas fearless child, and
I Al
alarm. At all events, did a daring thing-a
thing should never have counge to do now ;
| went softly across and looked through the
crack of the door
"Oh. madame And what did you see 2"
Madame Lally paused a moment before she
replied, and gave a little shiver She had
turned quite pale.
Il saw what even now | can not bear to re
member Ny dears. in that room were all
our servants-Ciesar. Augustus Diana. Maum.
Classy. Rosa and Lucy. the house-maids Al
bert the coachman. even little Scipio. who
blacked boots and ran errands. There they
all were, with 1--WE or six others whom rec
ognizcd as slaves belonging to our neighbors,
and white man and woman whom had nev-
er seen before. and who seemed to speak a
sort of French pdtOis. rs nearly as | could
catch their whispers. The buffet stood open
and the party were noiselessly packing the sill
vor taken from il in baskets. Our silver was
rather famous in Baltimore-there WAS Il great
quantity of it, and it was valuable. As they
worked they talked and | gathered enough Of
what was said to understand that this was
an organized plan of robbery. Worse l
caught "A sentence about firing the house ,
Caesar uttered it Caesar. who had carried me
in his arms when was little child He mad
done fetch de light wood he said, and put it
on de top ob de coal-bn right under de hbre-
ry floor, and he guessed it was sure to cotch.
| can't tell you what a sense of horror it gave
me when / heard this | turned sick and
faint, and could not move.
In minute my courage came back. Some
instinct told me that to alarm the neighbor-
hood was my best hope. and as quickly and
quietly as possible. | made my way to the
hall, As passed through the parlor it flashed
across my memory that a check for quite a
large amount had come by the evenings mail,
and had seen mamma tuck it carelessly into
the work-box. They shan't have that at all
events. thought and cropping my way in
the dark to the table, felt out the box, seized
the check, and holding it tight in my hand,
went straight TO the front door Lo! it was
open. which accounted well enough for my
candies blowing out as | came down stairs.
"A faint moon was struggling through
clouds, so that l saw my way pretty well down
the street. In the next house to ours lived
the Lees. They were distant relations and
near friends so naturally went TO them first.
Seizing their bell-handle / rang loudly once,
twice, thrice. The sound echoed back from
far inside, but though l waited and rang again,
and yet again, no one reused or answered,
and at last, desperate with impatience, l flew
down the steps and on TO the next house.
There the same fate met me. / rang. |
called. screamed. tried another house and
anothor-it seemed as if the whole neighbor-
hood had supped on poppies As my hand
was on the knocker of the fifth house.. the
door opened suddenly, and a black servant
fully dressed made his appearance. 1t did not
occur to ne at the moment to wonder how he
came to be there at that hour. and l said,
Please run right up stairs and tell Mr.. Bing-
ham that Mrs. Meredith's house is full of rob-
bers, and beg that he and Mr.. Charles will
come at once to help us-dt OHce. mind.
Yes, missy said the fellow, obediently,
shut the door, and vanished, while | ran on.
My next appeal was answered by the opening
of a window above, and the appearance of Il
laght-capped head which knew must belong
to old Mr.. Lasalle
"'Oh, Mr. Laselle,' l cried, won't you
please call up your servants and come and
help US I'm Lilly Meredith. There are rob
bers in our house Please be quick
'fresehI my compliments 10 MIS-. Mere
dith, replied the old gentleman, in a formal.
confused tone which made me suspect him of
being still half asleep. L shall do mvself the
honor of calling tomorrow to learn how she
and the family are Thereupon, Mr.. Lasalle
shut the window. wrung my hands in des-
pair. How should l ever manage to make
people comprehend our situation?
However to cut long story short, after a
while did succeed in rousing family who
lived at the far end of the block, and they
walked Others so that it was with an escort of
dozen gentlemen that at last went home.
The door, which had been open half an hour
before, was tight shut, Not gleam of light
appeared at any of the windows, and for a
long long time our rings and knocks and
poundings received no attention whatever,