Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-23

| hRl1e now DOiu grew aJ once. re
hearsed all that / should do in case Bid
dy ceme TO me in the night, saying
"Missus, there's some one in the eel
larl"-all l should do If / found am
body in the wardrobe when l retired
and l had the satisfaction of feeling
that l was prepared. might wake uI
TO find the spoons gone--I might bt
murdered in my bed but it would moi
be unawares, and they would inscribt
upon my tombstone the words: "She
showed her presence Of mind TO the
last" felt quite self-possessed and
happy, though l was certain
yes, morally certain-that something
remarkable would happen before morn
ing that l should be, as it were, weighed
in the balance and not found wanting
before the sun arose. / did not feel like
retiring early, and sat by the fire until
the clock struck eleven. Then, Just rs
the last stroke died away, Biddy came
down from her bedroom like a red flan-
mel ghost, with eyes and mouth wide
open, and something of importance evil
IDENTIFY on her mind. l put baby down
in her cradle and arose, drawing myself
up to my full height, and feeling that l
was the only one to be depended on in
this awful emergency.
Bridget" said |, chow many are
theyP Is it one or moreP"
"MumP" " said Bridget.
"The thieves | mean,n said /.
"Oh, it isn't thaves, num-" said Bid.
dy. "It's only that thafe of q wind
that's took the roof clane off the chick
en-house, and there's the wee bits iv
chicks a stharvin TO death wild cowld. ~
"And in this dreadful rain, too, :" said
l.
ats clared off fne," said Biddy,
"and the moons up"
So it actually was, and began to feel
very brave.
1--WE must go out and put them in the
wood-house, " said /. And so saying,
tucked baby up in his blankets, and
wrapping a shawl over my head, went
out into the night air. 1t had grown
very cold, but it was clear, as Biddy
had said, and we padded round in the
mud catching the poor little chickens.
We had them all at last, except one,
and we heard its little voice-S1Cee, S1Cee,
su suce-somewhere, and of course could
not be so heartless as to forsake it. And
at last there it was, tangled up in some
dead vines, and as cold as lump of
ice BY the time we gave it to its
mother, who was very glad to see it,
the clock struck twelve. Baby had been
alone three-quarters of an hour.
"Muzzer's darling! sound asleep
yetpn said, as l went to the cradle.
Merciful powers! shall l ever forget
that momentP Baby was not there!
In a moment the truth flashed on my
mind. Housebreakers had entered the
dwelling in our absence, and stolen my
treasure. Perhaps they were in the
house yet, or some of them. felt the
strength of a tigress, and, leaving Biddy
bowling in the dining-room, rushed up
stairs.
Sure enough, there was light in my
bedroom, and l peeped in. The mo-
ment did so, l felt was powerless.
The robber who had stolen my baby
was there, and the terribly muddy boots
of another were sticking from under the
bed; and, oh, horrors! another had got
into it, and had hidden, as he imagined,
under the quilts.
On my presence of mind depended
the recovery of my child and my own
life. In moment the plan flashed upon
me. There was but one door to the
room, and the windows were high and
barred, for l had contemplated the time
when baby should be large enough to
climb up and lean out. Noiselessly and
suddenly drew that door to and locked
it on the outside; then, with the key in
my hand, and trembling like an aspen
leaf, stole down stairs and cried to
Bridget;
"I've locked them in; they shall
give my baby back; come with mel"
and away went across the garden and
down the road to the first house
This was "Mulligan's Tavern" very
low place, indeed, Stunned by all re-
spectacle folk but l knew there were
always men there who were afraid of
nobody. The greatest brutes would not
refuse aid to woman at such a time.
As we came near saw light in one
of the windows, and heard voices and
loud laughter. 1t was no time for cere-
mony, SO | burst the door open and ran
in. There were four men playing
cards, and old Mrs. Mulligan behind the
bar.
sob! please excuse me-" l cried;
"but do come right away. There are
housebreakers in my house, and. they've
stolen my baby"
"Sthole the babyP" cried old Mrs.
Mulligan.
sob, do come," implored.
"Go, Pat" said the old woman ''nev-
er mind the game. It's Missus Jack.
man; more betoken she's the next
neighbors to us. Take yer pistols an
away wild ye, boys. An Missus, just
take drop o. screechin' hot whiskey to
kape the life in ye."
OF course l refused the latter offer,
but in a moment the men were on
their feet, and felt like blessing them
those half-savage creatures who had
become my protectors.
don't know how we got to the
house or upstairs. 1 remember an aw-
full tumult, smell of gunpowder, oaths
and shouts. Then there was silence
then loud laugh.
"lt's thrue, boys!" said old Multi
gan's voice. 81 know Misther Jack
man, an it's himself. It's a great mis-
take-that's all.
"a singular mistake to enter q mans
house, and endeavor to shoot him in
his own -" said a voice l knew to
be my islands; and at that rushed
into the room.
He was there, and so was baby, for
he held her in his arms; and there,
also, was Mulligan and his friends and
their pistols, and half the furniture was
broken and the stove upset. But as for
the housebreakers, they / began to
see the truth. Mr. MulliOan was back
ing out.
"I'll lave Mrs. Jackman TO explain"
he said. "An' I'm proud didn't kill
ye, though it's out of friendship I'd have
done it; for if yer own wife took ye for