Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-15
MRS. AND MRS. TODDLES.

OF SnOWy-White c0untefpane and Its
upper border of taSseIed night cap, and
had the peaceful appearance of an i'll
nocent babe. Even the gentle shores
that ut regular intervals came from it
sounded as pleasantly as the contented
puIring of q petted cat.
Mrs. Toddles, large in mind and BODY.
was dreaming in the back bed chamber
but her snores-or, properly speaking,
snOrts-Were far from being soothing to
a listeners nerves.
But, as they didn't awake the bOunc-
ing twins, sOundly slmnbering in their
cradles on the other side of her bed,
1t Is certainly nobody's business whether
they were musical or otherwise.
Save for the ticking of the alarm clock
and the knawing of an adventurous
mouse and aforesaid shores, al was still
still in the upper part Of the Toddles
mansion.
But not so fast on it's first floor Sounds
of stealthy footsteps and now and then
slight noises apparently made by lifting
or upsetting things had been going Oh
for some time
At length these noises seemed to
somehow have gotten mixed in Mrs
Toddles' dreams, for her strong and yet
good-lOOking features gradually assumed
an uneasy expression while various
gasps and tWitchings showed that some
kind Of u nightmare was distrese'-g
her
Suddenly both eyes wide opened and
she sat bolt upright III her bed, ap-
parently fully awake but frozen with
some nameleSS terror.
AS soon as she was able to cOmpre-
bend anything, she began to listen and
her narrowing dream of burglars in the
house caused by the noises below be-
came an awful reality.
Her first thought was to rush to the
window and yell ''police.r' but she
feared that might bring the robbers
Immediately upstairs to choke her in
to silence and kill her dear little hlIS-
band and the twins before a policeman
(who might not be about anyway could
come to the rescue.
Finally she decided to wake Mr.. Tod
dies and let his superior wit plan Il
means of salty.
Shivering with the worst fright q
woman can feel and threatening to lose
her self-contol and faint dead away
at any moment, the large-SiZed lady
very cautiously emerged from under
the bed clothing and like an immense
White-robed CHASTITY ghost, she glded
past the sleeping twins into the front
room where her small but actice hus-
band lay happily unconscious Of the
horrible danger ut hand.
The smile on his placid face sug-
gested that angels possibly were WhiSp-
ering to him while he peacefully reposed
and it took several violent shakes be
fore his earthly angel could, by whisper,
ing in his nearest ear make herself I'M
derStOOd
"Timothy! Wake up. There are
burglars III the house"
Most any other man would have leap
Ell ont of bed on the instant and display
ed som" sort of courage before the
woman he had vowed to protcct-even
if he was more frightened than she,
as generally is the case under such I'M
pleasant circumstances.
But, MIR Toddlcs wasn't that kind
Of Il man.
Slowly opening one eye and the half
of the other, he drOWsily gaZed at the
terrified object bonding over him and
sleepily mumhling," of course, my dear"
he mCanly turned over and re-enterCd
the land of dreams.
Wake up. Burglars downstairs,
Robbers! Wen be murdered! Get
your pistol! Quick" family gasped
the scared woman while she shook the
little man again and again
This time he caught on and came TO
his senses. How do you know they
are| he serenely asked, without the
slightest alarm or movement to rise.
Listen and youIl hear them. Oh,
what shall we do? Where's your PTS
toll" whispered the trembling wife.
Mr. Toddlcs leisurely lifted his night
cap from his ears and listened. 4 don't
hear anything, my dear" he calmly
replied
Just then came Il sound of something
falling in the rooms below.
Mrs. Toddles, grasping her little hus-
bands arm, sank almost in collapse
on the edge of the bed. ''Oh, my" she
feebly squeaked, hear that"
We'll, it does sound as if a mouse or
something was down there" quietly
remarked Mr.. Toddles, slipping Il
pair of small but courageous legs out of
the blankets, but as for burglars
pshawi They don't make Il noise when
they call on business. However, Betsey
my dear, l shan't have you disturbed
even by Il mouse. | shall Immediately
put a stop to it."
The Grave little husband at once step
ped out on the floor and in Il provOk-
ingly slow manner began to put on his
trousers.
He succeeded in getting one leg into
them only when his fear-stricken wife
grabbed him about the neck and Rugged
him with both arms to her capacfous
bosom.
"Oh, no! no! Timothy. You shan't
risk your precious life and leave me and
the twins alone. Stay here and shoot
your pistol out of the window"
'Womanr spoke the born hero of
husband, sternly, yet lovingly, Il shall
brighten that mouse, or cat or rat away
or perish in the attempt. finland me
instantly"
Mrs. Toddles unhanded him. Now"
he mildly said, finishing the putting on
of his trousers, I shall proceed to duty.
Do you remain with the twins and, if
necessary, awaken them so their bowls