Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-01
THOUGHT 1T WAS A BURGLAR.
The Trouble Caused in a Butte House
hold at the Dead of Night.

On Upper Main Street, not far from Cop
per, there lives a couple who have Away
known the bliss Of domestic peace. TIL
husband and wife have, until the event W.
are about to record, never had a difference
or unkind word, and as their disposition
were compatible, their blissful relation
promised to continue during the rest O
their existence.
The husband was a man OF good habits
and generally remained at home after biz
days labor. But day before last he be
came quite jubilant over I oole's renomina,
his friends. He departed for home about
Z o'clock considerably under the weather,
and when nea the corner Of Quartz Street
he met an old acquaintance, 1--WE will
name him Mr.. Az and stopped to con.
verse with him for a while. During the
conversation the old acquaintance drew
from his pocket a bird, and made a present
OF it to the man of good habits (whom we
will call Mr.. j. Mr.. A. told Mr.. J.. that
the bird was a fine singer, but that he war
bled only in the daytime, and slept all
night.
Putting the bird into his pocket, Mr.. J..
wandered home. When he arrived there
his spouse was in bed, and, after lighting a
lamp by which to undress and placing the
bird carefully on the table, he turned in
also.
A short time afterwards the wife was
awakened by a mysterious noise that
seemed to come from the window which
opened into the yard. The thought that
burglars were trying to effect an entrance
Immediately entered her mind. She
quickly aroused her husband, and told
him of what che had heard.
Mr.. j.. listened. All of q sudden q violent
rapping was heard in the direction named,
as if some n was prying the window
sash.
Mr.. j. tumbled out Of bed, and, cauti
ously raising the blind, peered out. The
was moonlight, and Mr.. j., after
carefully scrutinizing the yard, turned back
toward the bed with the remark, 1T must
have been rats"
this remark than the same noise made be- |
fore was heard this time almost 1T his feet.
1t seemed to come from beneath the door. |
J. was frightened and amazed. He did
not believe in ghosts, but his belief in them
was now thoroughly shaken. He opened
door, but could see nothing.
For a moment the noise ceased, and Mr..
J.. finding his search for burglars unavall-
ing, went back to bed.
Hardly la he settled himself for a sound
than he heard a ghouli> b chirrup close
TO his ear, and felt an object touch his
In his terror, Mr.. J. could neither move
nor utter a sound. Recovering himself
awhile, he arose, lighted a lamp and
vent on a tour of inspection. After search
ng the house from kitchen to parlor, he
about to give up the idea of finding the
of the mystery, when his eye rested
IN an oh ect on the floor, which for the
startled him.
It was the bird. Perched on the edge of
stool. winking and blinking it's big round
yes and looking as solemn and dignifed
10 a Judge, was an owl. the cause of all the
rouble, and the very bird given to Mr.. J.
" his acquaintance as a singing bird. '
1t appears that Mr.. A. had presented Mr.. ,
:. with the owl "a night owD just for a !
While the room was dark the owl {
'as in its element, and the noise made was =
aused by its picking at the carpet and
he wall trying to catch flies. =
Mr.. J.'s troubles did not end here. He =
ried to chase the bird out. but, like a Re- 1
ublican office-holder, it did not want to
Around the bed, into the kitchen, over
he chairs and under tables, Mr.. J.. chased
be owl; but the entlcing opening of win. F
ows and doors would not charm the bird +
ON the house. Tired out at last, Mr.. J. G.
nut the windows, and, getting the owl into g
ne kitchen. he shut the door on it and c,
into bed. I,
Al the first streaks OF daylight peered in .,