The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-06


was to find stuffed figure .: d man un~
der my bed that night.
''Boys will be boys" thought, ano
'fore: larned is forearmed," SO | pre-
tended not to see any thing through my
specs, though l made up my mind to
show them that they weren't as smart
as they imagined, and that their wise
auntie couldn't be humbugged or scared
by any old clothes, no matter how much
they looked like a man.
Well, after the stockings We're hung
by the chimney with care" and the lit
tie folks retired to listen for the rein
deers on the roof and dream of the NOR
rows sugar-plums, sure to make them
sick, we, after attending to certain
work pertaining to Christmas-which l
have no right to mention here-went to
bed, too.
Twas shown to my door at the far end
of hall in an extreme wing of the
house and with lighted candle, en-
tered.
1t was large corner apartment, pur-
poscly secluded from the household SO
it's guests might enjoy quiet and pri-
vacy. On one side CHEEKY coal fire
glowed from the CRATE between two
windows, at the back stood bureau,
then came a closet on the other side a
little way from the foot of the comfort
able bed which was to occupy.
At first | determined not to satisfy
my little mischievous friends by look
ing under it, but woman's curiosity
finally compelled me to take sly peep
and there, just as ! expected, lay the
stuffed figure pushed back against the
wall. 1t can stay there till morning
for all me, / thought, and when the
boys fish it out the laugh will be on
them. Besides it will completely
squelch the stories told in the family,
and out of it, too, that | can't go to
sleep before looking under my bed for q
man.
So / locked the door and, without
thinking, put the key in the pocket of a
sack 4 had ON and hung the garment in
the closet.
Then | wound my watch, saw it was
past twelve o'clock and laid it on the
bureau, took off my side curls and some
other things not necessary to mention,
and in night-cap and gown sat on the
rocker before the coy fire with my
trusty poker on my lap. After l had
sufficiently warmed my feet, which I've
been told is productive of sound rest
and health, l, first saying my prayers,
of course, by the bedside, jumped be-
meath the blankets and tried to go to
sleep with the poker on its blue ribbon
handy by ready for emergencies. But
the idea, which l couldn't vanish, of
that stuffed form under me kept me
wakeful and nervous.
Finally / began to dream of boring
red hot pokers into burglars hearts and
then all of sudden ] awoke oppressed
with that icy sensation of peril and in
tuitively feeling that some one was in
the room.
lay without sound or motion awhile,
with my eyes open but SO frightened
that / scarcely breathed.
The fire shed soft, dull light
through the room and l fancied saw
my dress, containing my pocket-book,
slowly being pulled from the chair at
the foot of my bed.
Perhaps a cat was playing with it.
AS still as death l lay watching, as
noiselessly in some invisible way it dis
appeared. Yes, was sure it was only
the puss. Just as was going to cry
scat! scat" my quick eye detected a
dim, shadowy form crawling like an
immense snake over the floor toward
the bureau. Frozen with terror l gaZed
unable to move or scream.
saw it get there and stop. Slowly a
long arm raised and the huge, black
hand of a negro began fumbling around
for my watch. Then knew what the
| figure l had seen under my bed was and
realized that my only chance of safety
consisted in pretending sleep and let
| ting the colored thief go away with his
| plumber. Soon the horrible form was
fiat on the floor again creeping without
sound to where l helplessly lay.
Instantly closed my eyes, praying
that all he wanted was to escape
through the hall. heard him squirm
past me and try the door. Then l re-
membered it was locked and the key
hanging in my sack in the closet.
think | tainted. Then | seemed as
in trance, but perfectly conscious that
the terrible negro was at my bedside
watching me. Every moment l ex-
pected he would discover my poker and
brain me with it.
| He must have thought l slept, for
after an agony of suspense, felt that
he was moving off to the windows.
In spite of myself opened my eyes
and gasped, saw him drop to the floor
and like a great toad spring behind the
foot of my bed.
Luckily l had no power of sound or
movement to break the awful stiffness
during the moments the black devil
was listening. Was he again crawling
beneath the bed? No! l saw the top
of the closet door quietly open and
shut. Evidently the fellow had chosen
the pantry for a temporary hiding
place and if so, for the present would
be spared.
A young person in my situation
would probably have been murdered in
cold blood by acting hastily. but l, first
cautiously securing my poker, took
time for reflection. l considered the
robber would wish to stay in the closet
as long as | was awake and not venture
! ont baforn tho ooac+ x.-aS ala,r Co.. b;,,,