The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-07
A MAN UNDER THE BED.
How My Search of Forty Years
Was Finally Rewarded.

am an old lady who never was
married and l feel as young and am
nearly as active as ever.
] suppose not having the care and
worry of husband has preserved my
health and strength and-I was just
going to add-my beauty, for l still
have more than most women of half
my age with twice my experience.
And, while I'm in the humor, I'll men,
tion that I've seen siXty-fve summers
though l know from my sprightliness
YOU wouldn't believe it.
Like every other spinster I've always
looked under my bed before retiring
for the night. Of course l never ex-
pected to find man there, and
wouldn't have been afraid of one if
there was, but somehow L got in the
habit of doing so and kept it up uncon-
sciously. Likely the story of the old
woman who found one after searching
forty years in vain started me.
AS a wise precaution, however, | al
ways have weapon in my hand while
making my nightly examinations.
This weapon is solid brass-handled
and heavy iron poker about two feet in
length, straight and pointed at the end
and tied with a blue ribbon to hang by
my bedside either at home or where /
make visits, for never travel without
it. Although you may smile at the
poker-or at me-still it is a wicked
affair and liable to make a man more
crack Drained than before if his head
should come in contact with it, espe-
cially if its far end was heated to a
white glow and then pointed straight
z4 his nose, as have often dreamed of
doing.
Now. as you know what dangerous
old lady l am, I'll commence my story.
was on a Christmas visit at my
nephew's home in a country town, The
house, originally of good size, had been
added to from time to time until ii
grew into large and rambling struc-
1nre in which it was difficult for a
stranger TO find the way, even in day
right. After dark it was a mystery not
20 be explored by any one outside OF
those who lived there. 1t stood alone
among gloomy fir trees some distance
from the road, and seemed so hidden
that | wondered how Santa Claus ever
found it.
Beautiful in summer, it was more SO
IN winter, set off by the snow and the
esEcrgreens through which the winds
ssoughed so drearily at night when all
was cold and black without
Z arrived in the dusk on Christmas
eve, and the dozen or so of merry chill
dren gathered from city relatives were
!zsying a lively racket, and making {
rGDost delightful change from the ordi
nary stiffness of the place.
When supper was announced and We
all walked into the dining-room, dom
know what possessed me to lift a corner
tgf the cloth and peer under the table
before sitting down; for nothing Ger
calmly could have been there except tht
eat But / did so-from force of habit
oJf course, for | was quicll-witted as any
sof them-and that little unconscious ac
set them all to joking at my expense
about women looking under beds fo
robbers and men and other thing
equally as foolish.
/ didn't mind their fun a bit, anC
Laughed as heartily as the rest when m,
nephew wanted to know if l hat
gzought the poker with its blue ribbon
ia case l woke up in the night ant
found Santa Claus filing my stockings
Then, good-naturedly, inquired wha
i3e knew about poker and how much
cost him at the club, and he was gla,
enough to drop the subject before hi
<Sife became inquisitive concerning
-aInG asked questions.
But the boys, particularly the bi
ones, thought it was very funny and
suspected from their glances and whis
Eering together after supper they wer
going TO pl ~ trick on their old aunti
10 spite of her bringing a trunkful O
pretty Christmas gifts for everybody
And, when escorted by servant mai
60 my room (which / never would hav
Sound alone) TO see to bringing tn
presents downstairs, / found the littl
Easeals in the hall by my door looking
very demme and very guilty and havin
n lot of big coats and trousers in thei
possession. 1 concluded at once that
was TO find stuffed figure of man ur
der my bed that night
Boys will be boys" / thought, an
1sforewarned is forearmed," SO / pre-
Ieended not to see any thing through m
specs, though / made up my mind
show them that they weren't as smar
as they imagined, and that their wis
anntie couldn't be humbugged or scare
by any old clothes, no matter how muc
they looked like a man.
Well, after "the stockings We're hun