The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-01-16
A Boy. Derelio,ion OF Duty.

At the age Of Is | went to clerk in a
country store In Indiana, and among my
other duties was that OF sleeping in the
store nights ss protector. 1t was great
big barn ofa store, standing at cross >
roads. four miles from town, and the
owner lived about forty rods away. The
idea of my being OF any real value as q
protector was absured, but the understand
ing was that / wss TO sleep there, and
nid | had room up stars, one corner
being psriitioned of, and never got into
that bed that l did not cover up my head
aud shake and shiver with fear until sleep
got the better Of me.
One Saturday night, after several hun
dred dollars had been paid in, the proprie-
tor hid the roll 10 tea chest, locked up
the big safe, and went home. leaving me
TO close up. When this had been done, /
got to bed, but about midnight was awak-
ened by some noise down stairs. Afttr
listening for awhile | became sure tbpt
someone was in the store, and | creIt out
OF bed under the belief that the big, dark
floor room would be safer for me in case
any one came up stairs. There was
hatch or opening in the center of the room
and crept softly to this and looked down
upon the heads OF three men working at
the safe. They could not have known
that slept in the store. as no one had
been up, and as they were taking matters
IS cool as you please 1t was an old
fashioned safe. and they had stolen tools
from blacksmith in town to open it.
How much do you fgger on9 asked
one.
S400. replied another.
What is that apiece? asked q third.
All began to figure, and after ten min
utes they made it out that each would get
$3.50 This ticked them and they began
work, II was wonderful how the old safe
held out For three long hours they ham
mered and banged and pounded, taking
turns IS they tired out, and at about three
o'clock they got 10. They almost had
fight to see who should first pull out the
money, and when il was discovered tia
an old fashioned sixpence with crossed
marks on it and one dollar bill on bus
ted state bank constituted all the wealth
behind the iron door, there was moment
Of awfnl suspense Then they began at
each other, aud each robber, bis father,
mother, brothers and sisters had TO take
il. They called each Others liars, thieves.
ssindlers, barn burners, and everything
else they could think OF. and finally
three cornered fight began. In the sirug
Gle one OF them was knocked unconscious
and the other two left him and skipped
ont. 1t was getting daylight now, and
went down, found the fellow quiet aud
tied his hands and feet with clothes line.
| had Just concluded when be opened bis
eyes, realized the situation. and worked Q
sweet smile TO bis face as be said:
Say, hub. I'm awful glad to see you
I'm the Rev Stephen Baker Of Lafayette,
you know, and have wandered out here
ia my sleep. and got into this place som.
how. often walk 10 my sleep, bn, hat
ly ever go as far as this My but whst
will my congregation say II I'm not bach
on timel Just throw the ropes of. bub,
and I'll be going as fast ~ | can. The
L ,rd and me love little boys Can't yon
c,me 10 my Sunday SCHOOL,
But ran and told the merchant, and
The REV. was ultimately land q in Stare
prison. As reward for my Efforts the
owoer Of be store saii to ne. As be tur
veyed the rnibed sale
Look at that wreck. aud it's all your
fsult, Whist 10 tbnnaer do | pay you
81 a month for, except 10 keep robbers
ID, aud here you've vent and let two
EN- 81, away