The Republican journal., 1882-09-21
A Night With a Ventriloquist.

was occupied by Miss Madonna, the sec
ond by Mr., Plumplee, the third 10y Nh.
Beagle, and the fourth by the servant,
Bat that in which Mr. Beagle slept was a
double bedded room and Valentine had,
therefore, to make his selection between
the spare bed and the sofa. OF course,
the former was preferred, and, as the
preference seemed highly satisfactory to
Mr.. Beagle himself, they passed the even
ING very pleasantly together, and in due
time retired
Valentine, on having his bed pointed
out to him, darted between the sheets in
the space of a minute, for, as Mr.. Jonas
Beagle faceti0usly observed, he had but
to shake himself and everything came
off; when, as he didn't 10y any means
feel drowsy at the time, he tanced that
he might as we'll amuse his companion
for an hour or SO as not. He therefore
turned the thing seriously over in his
mind while Mr.. Beagle was quietly un-
dressing, being anxious for that gentle
man to eXtinguish the light before lie
commenced operations.
"Now for a beautiful nights rest" OBJ
served Mr.. Jonas Beagle to himself as
he put out the gas with tranquil mind,
and turned in with great degree Of
comfort.
"AIew new" :" cried Valentine softly,
throwing His voice under the bed OF Mr..
Beagle
"Hish contound that cat. Y cried Mr.
Beagle. I'VE must have you out at all
events, my lady And Mr.. Beagle
slipped out of bed, and having opened
the door, cried "hish." again emphatical-
ly, and threw his pantaIoons towards the
spot as an extra iuducement for the eat
to ''stand not upon the order of her 90
ing when. as Valentine repeated the
cry, and made 1t appear to proceed from
the stairs, Alr. Beagle thanked Heaven
that she was gone, closed the door, ana
very carefully grouped his way again in
to bed.
"Alew new, new = cried Valentine,
Just as Mr.. Beagle had again comfortably
composed himself
"What, are YOU still there, madam y
inquired that gentleman in highly sar-
castle tone. II thought YOU had been
turned out. madam, DO you hear that
witch OF cat ?" he continued, address
ing Valentine, with the view OF confer
ring upon him the honorable office OF
tiIer for the time being; but Valentine
replied with a deep, heavy snore, and
began to new again with additional EN-
phasis.
"Well, don't have treat every day,
it is true but if this isn't one, why I'm
not in my reckoning, that's all, obsery-
ed Mr.. Jonas Beagle, slipping out OF
| bed. II don't much like to handle You,
my lady, but ii | did, I'd of course give
you physic." And he 'hished" again
| with cOnsummate violence, and continued
to 'hish" until Valentine scratched the
bed-post sharply--a feat which inspired
! Mr.. Beagle with the conviction of its be-
| ING the disturber of his peace in the act
of decamping, when he threw his pillow
very energetically towards the door
which he closed, and then returned t.
his bed in triumph. The moment, how
ever, he missed the pillow, which he had
| converted into an instrument OF Ven
| geance, and as that was an article
without which he could not even hope
to 90 to sleep, he had Of course to turn
out again to fetch it.
GLOW many more times, wonder" he
observed, ''shall have to get out of this
| blessed bed to night? Exercise certainly
is a comfort, and very conducive tC
| health but such exercise as this-Why
where have YOU got to?" he added, adj
dressing the pillow, which, with all the
sweeping action of his feet he was unable
to find. ''Oh. here you are, sir. are
| YOU :" And he picked up the object o
| his search, and gave it several severe
blows, when, having re-instated himsel
between the sheets he exclaimed in {
| Subdued tone: Veil, let's try it again.
Now, Mr.. Jonas Beagle was a man who
prided himself especially upon the even
ness Of his temper. His boast was thai
nothing could put him in passion. He
| did, however, feel when he violently
smote the pillow, that little ebulltiol
! partook somewhat Of the nature of pas
sion, and had just commenced reproach-
ing himself for having indulged in thai
little ebullition when Valentine cried
"Meyow! meyow pit. pit t.-meyow "
"'HalIoo :" exclaimed Mr.. Jonas Beagle
| 'Here again !"
"AIew" :" cried Valentine in a somewhat
higher key
"What another come to contribute It
/ the harmony of the evening! :"
'Meyow. meyow!' cried Valentine, il
a key still higher.
"Well, how many more of you?' in
! quired Mr., Beagle, ''you'll be able to ge
up concert by and by" And Valentino
began to spit and scold with great felicity
"Swe3r away, my beauties" cried Mr.
Jonas Beagle, as he listened to the volleN
Of feline Oaths. ~ only wish that | wa'
not so much afraid of yoI, for your sakes
At it again Well, this is a blessing
1 Don't you hear those imps Of cats?" ht
cried, anxious not to have all the fun tt
himself. But Valentine recommended
snoring very loudly. "Well, this is par
ticularly pleasant" he continued, as h'
sat up in bed Don't you hear? Wha
a comfort to be able to sleep soundly y
which remarkable observation was doubt
less provoked by the no less remarkable
fact at that particular moment the spit
ting and swearing became more desper
ate. "What's to be done My panta
looms are right in the midst of them.
can't get out now; they'd tear the yer,
flesh off my legs; and that fellow ther'
sleeps like top. Halo! Do you meal
to say you don't hear those cats, how
they're going it z"
Valentine meant to say no such thing
for the whole OF the time that he was no
engaged in meyOwing and splitting h'
was diligently occupied in snoring, whicl
had a very good effect to fill up the in
tervals eXcelently we'll.
At length the patience Of Mr.. Jona
Beagle began to evaporate, for the hos
tile animals continued to battle appar
entity with great desperation. He, there
fore, threw a pillow with great violenc,
at his companion, and shouted SO loudl,
that Valentine, feeling that it would b.
deemed perfect nonsense for him to pre-