The Southern herald., 1890-08-15

perior electroplate--up to our bedroom
every night. There was nothing like |
proper precaution, as my wife sageSy
remarked. After awhile We got TO lot
the cook take charge OF the silver"
This shc did satisfactorily enough until |
the continued absence of burglars lulled |
her spirit into state of happy obliv'
iousness of the predatory tribe. Ru
mors of housebreaking at q distance oc.
casionally reached US, but they affected
us no more than do the obituary notices
Of people we don't know. All we did
was to talk vaguely OF getting dog.
This was the sleep; presently came tho
awakening. One fatal Monday morn
| ing our marital slumbers we're disturbed
at seven a. m. by the cook rushing into
our bedroom, and with pallid cheeks,
distended eyes and disheveled locks,
crying: "Oh, MN, there's been robbers
in the housel"
In less time than that brief pc
riod popularity known as "jiffy" my
wife and / reached the scene Of the
catastrophe. Never shall forget the
spectacle that met our gaze. The vii
lain had apparently confined his depre-
dations to the kitchen, but there ne had
wrought fearful havoc. All the doors
Of the cupboards, all the drawers OF the
sideboards were wide open, and such OF
their contents as had been left were
strewn upon the floor. On the rug were
fragments Of cold rabbit pie and cocoa
nut cake, apparently cast there out OF
pure superhuity OF naughtiness. On
: the table were the pie dish and cake
plate, both empty. There also stood 9
glass and Jug from which the ruftian
had evidently been drinking beer. Hard
by were some half-burned lucifel
matches and few shreds Of tobacco
showing that he had finished up com
d fortably with a smoke. Both The
kitchen windows and that Of the scnl
y lery were wide open-a fact %'hics
). thrust itself upon our outer conscious
ness, for the morning was raw ant
Q damp and we were thinly clad.
When we had recovered sufficient.
Q to take note Of our actual losses, thei
n indeed the iron entered our souls. Wed
ding presents are not always sourc
d of unqualified pleasure to either donor
or recipients. The former frequentl
ID regard them as little better than to
levied by custom; the latter occasion
or ally feel that Aunt Jane and Cousi
ar Peter might have done the thing rathe
more handsomely while they were abol
,rt 1t. But 1t is astonishing what wol
derful affection one feels for weddin
an presents when they have been stolen.
an AS we looked for this gift and tina
and found them not, the most tend
'rs chords were touched. remember ha
:. ing thought Uncle Sniffkin's pair
plated snuffers rather poor gift for
is something considerable in the cit
liy But, now that the accustomed peg kne
no them no more, saw those snuffers In
new light thought how uncle h;
ms probably walked miles to get them
was greatly addicted to second-hal
ier shop in the Mile End road-and so
all ened sadness stole over mo, and
longed to grasp his honest hand a
and hint at his buying us another pair. \
80. wife bore the trying ordeal Of seeki
and finding not bravely enough un
,gs' she made one dreadful discovery. Tn
she broke down, and, linging hers
w,v on my breast exclaimed through |
tears: 20 dearest, the wretch has a
,uld ually helped himself to some OF
-. we-e-dding cakel' d,
'i0' Eventually my burglar was captur
fora and had the pleasure Of personal
teryiew with him. He was thi
now set young fellow with a not unpleasi
AZ, air Of melancholy about him. By
' fession he was shoe-maker-that Is
ere say, he professed to follow that CALI
but tho pair Of boots he made for
Nj solicitor (who represented him at
trial) were misft, and were actua
rest being touched up at the moment he
arrested. In some respects he wa
VI man of careful and providential hab
,hief he banked at the postofice (a11 9s st
to his credit when he took my spoor
to and he kept diary. In the lat
-, were artless references to certain Ca
he had made, and particularly "rem'
( oil brances'' he had taken away with b
Joe-for so no was familiarly addres
woe by the police, who boasted quite a
,,oht ding acquaintance with him in PRIV
life-was rather offended when | as
II he had experienced much difficult
'N getting into my house. why"
soma said, ito crack a crib like yours
easy as kissing my hand" He furt
Who explained that he took the serva
"a -, stockings from the dresser drawer me
''' - Co put the knives and forks In. He
n for also taken volume of culinary reel
"My missis amt much Of cook,
m as said to me half apologetically.
,ovsu whole plunder he had wrapped VI
nv Inverness cape; and he actu
oil at used to wear that garment not
:. from my house when passing the
Aiu money for which he was primarily
bedl Had met the rascal in tho ST.
d." with what start OF surprise shot
have recognized the cloak.
asked him If he usually had 2
tne and sup in the houses he Wis
''Yes," he said. confldsntiallH
usually feels bit down when yc
lcini- finished Job" Poor fellow, he q
'w Of on skilly now, for he got seven yeai
tens' Perhaps / need scarcely add tina
am house is now sort OF combinatit
ping fortress and arsenal have had
mar kitchen and scullery windows ba
en- and the other windows secured
IL OF heavy shutters Strong bolts have
paid fixed on tho passage side of the dra
lis OF and dining-rooms, SO that II eth
The these were entered from withon
tches sphere of operations would be con
and to that one room. Then, on al
Is the back doors | have fixed bells
'acter springs. In the passage | every
mex chain up large and savage dog. l
We purchased double-barrel gun and
+ peo1 Volyer, and with tho latter | pract
Z "A 49, -