The Irish standard., 1890-04-12

Is one of th e ,eflb
lages of2 the East i 81
5boasting 81 over q the sand inh a bitants.S
Unlike man others, II has Tour roads
which are dignihed with the name of2
street or gate lain street, Beck street
Church street and Nethergate. e ss 4
1 Down one Of these narrow streets or
lanes, in low, long fronted that chedS
| cottage, fully two hundred yards from q (
the nearest house, resided old John
Smith, the village tailor John had
made suits for the fathers and grand
fathers Of the then present generation.
| Though Johns cut was not very stylish,
his services were in constant requisi-
ton. The greater part OF his work was
| done at the houses Of his employers; his
remuneration being is. cd. per day and
| his food. On this scanty pittance John
had brought up a large family respecta-
bly,; but they had all got married, left
! their paternal home, and were busily
engaged in the great battle of Life.
| Notwithstanding the poor remunera.
ton for his services, and the expense OF
bringing up his family, John had man
aged to save over forty pounds. This
I was about the beginning Of the present
century, when so many banks we're fail
ing, and few were considered safe. John
therefore thought the wiser plan was to
+! be his own banker-though he would
! lose the interest he would secure the
! principal.
| Smiths treasured savings caused him
| many anxious hours. In the village he
heard the reports Of the daring highway
robberies and burglaries Of Dnnhill and
his dreaded gang. A suspicious charac-
ter, singularly n1isnamed Samuel Good
man, who resided in the village and
seldom did any work, was believed to be
one of the fraternity. This man was
treated with sort of cool respect, no
one venturing to offend him through q
fear Of the consequences. Smith would
frequently lie awake for hours, devising
plans of defense should his dwelling be
attacked. For this purpose he purchased
gun and plentiful supply of ammuni-
ton
One dark night, shortly after Christ
mas, lying awake, he distinctly heard
heavy footsteps at his back door. Eie
sprang out of bed, though age and In
| frmi.ies had partially enfeebled his
frame, with somewhat of the activity OF
his youthful days. He CROPPED about for
the r-box-there were then no Luz
offer matches-struck light, lighted d
candle, seized his gun and hurried down
stairs. Though the burglars in the
stiffness of the night might distinctly
hear all Johns movements, they were
not in the least daunted. What was be
to do? The burglars were evidently en-"
deavoring to burst open the door. Skel-
eton keys were unknown to them. Be-
sides, the door was secured with two
bolts as we'll as O. lock. He spoke to
them, attempted to dissuade them from
their wicked purpose, and, finally, told
them that he had his gun ready loaded.
and if they did not desist he would fire,
| which would probably be the death Of
one of their number. His threats were
in vain and not word could he get in
reply. Again and again did he warn
them, but all to no purpose.
Smith now saw that all attempts at
parley were useless. The wretches.
knew he had money, and they were De-
termined to have it, He stood behind
The door, raised the gun to his shoulder.
pulled the trigger, and whizzing went
the bullet. Now came the crisis. The
thieves had evidently provided them
selves with some kind of a gathering.
ram, and in flew the rickety old door,
and the door-frame also. knocking poor
Smith down beneath it fat on the floor.
L
now be on him, taking vengeance for
the slaughter of their dead comrade. II
an agony of despair Smith now cried
out: ooh! take my money; but for Gods
sake spare my Efe!'' He lay on the
floor, with the door pressing heavily
upon him, anxiously dreading the muir
derous attack, as there were no means
of preventing it. He felt certain that
they would avenge the death of one Of
their number. Gasping for breath, his
hair standing on end, and his heart
throbbing SO violently that he could
| hear every beat, he awaited the dreaded
agony of despair, but no one came near.
He peeped from under the fallen door,
but all was still as the grave, save the
violent beatings Of his own heart. This
was mysterious. He could only account
for it by conjecturing that they had
gone to convey their slaughtered COM
panion to a place Of security-perhaps
to bury him.
| Minute after minute and hour after
hour passed away, but the burglarz
never again put in an appearance. Poor,
Smith sat shivering in the cold, the east
wind coming in gusts at the open door
way. He dared not to venture out, fear
ing that the burglars might still be lark-
ing in the neighborhood.
The long and horrible night at length
came to an end, and morning dawned
without any further adventure. Smith
now ventured to the village and gave
full account Of the burglarious attack.
The news spread like wildfre. Men
gathered at the corners of the streets,
and women gossiped from house to house
to discuss the matter; and many, with
bated breath and knowing shake Of