Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-02
''Did you ever read Alice in Wonder

'Well, had much the same sensa. tions as are described in that book, for, as slowly passed my hand along my baby's head, it seemed as if it was drawn out for yards. At last reached the end. What teeth he has, thought I.
 "Just then the teeth curled them selves up.
 Whether it was that motion or not never shall now, but in an instant was as w:de-awake as ever l was, and in the same second realized that the baby was not in bed with me, but that the heavy object that lay across my chest was the hind paw of large ami nal
 ''I had sense enough to lie perfectly still. How could have mistaken that hoarse breathing for the baby's foolish little snore? Just because l said to myself that it was the baby.
 II can't describe my feelings as lay there. First, I grew cold and my skin seemed to shrivel up in horror My nerves contracted so that it was posi- lively painful Then came the reaction, and the precipitation poured all over my body. It was pitch dark, and, to add to my horror, had forgotten the lay of the land My head didn't work just right couldn't locate the door Try as might, it was impossible for me to remember which side of the room my bed faced
 ''Of course, the only thing to do was to lie still until there was enough light to see the door, and Tn the meantime to pray that the object beside me might not be reused by any noise in the house. l had no idea what time it was had no idea at all except that some enormous beast occupied part of my bed and that a heavy, curly paw, with claws on the end, lay over my body
 II believe I was going crazy when l heard baby sob little. Yes, he was in my wife's room. How happy I felt when I heard that noise, for didn't know but the animal had made a meal of Buster before 1t lay down. Then l feared that the baby would cause the brute beside me to awake, but at that moment his mothers soothing voice quieted him. The words of Mrs. Paul never seemed so sweet, never so musical.
 But all was again still except the breathing of that beast At this time l had lain in one position, not even dar-
 
 fur of the paw 1t was growing cold, the early morning chill filled the air, and there 1 lay uncovered and in a clammy sweat. There was no more noise Of course l have no idea how long l remained. l counted one thou sand breaths taken by the animal, then, strange to say, felt slecpy-ex- haustion was doing for me. That must not be. I collected my faculties again and once more was in abject terror
 "A faint glow appeared at the side of the room. It was a glint of dawn that lighted the space at the window Only few moments morc,' l said to myself. Slowly the objects in the room began to stand out, and finally I could outline the door which was opposite the foot of the bed. It was standing half open. I waited a few minutes longer until more light came in, then seizing the paw threw it from me and with one bound l was out of the bed Another carried me into the hall, and with a bang pulled the door shut, and as I did so heard savage growl and a crash.
 Mrs. Paul can do better justice to the rest of the story, but as she is not here l will tell it as she has often re- lated.
 She was awakened by the most ter rife yclls interspersed by the growls of an animal, and the entire house was jared as if cannon balls were being hurled against the walls Running into the hall sine found me holding on to my door knob with both hands and jumping up and down. I had on only my short night shirt, and she said my legs moved up and down like pistons in and out of cylinder All the while l was yelling at the top of my lungs, and by this time Buster had joined in the chorus. Mrs. Paul thought me crazy, but fortunately had enough of my wits left to tell her to call the men, and in few minutes the gardener and the stable boy came in.
 ''I sent them for . rope, and in few moments we had the door fastened. There was a rife in my wife'S room, fortunately, and ordering the gardener to get ladder, 1 sent Mrs. Paul with Buster to the stable, for was fearful that the brute would bre ak through the partition. Then, without stopping to put on my clothes, which, by the way, could not have done, as they were all in my room, hurried around to the side of the house and climbed up the ladder to my open window, which was about six feet from the ground, and was more of porthole than any thing else.
 II soon caught sight of the brute's eyes and fired. There was yell and crash. The animal had jumped for me. Completely unstrung by the terrible hours had passed, fell from the lad der, and, knocking the gardener off his feet, we both rolled on the ground. He was certain that the animal had him, and his cries caused Mrs Paul to run from the stable, she believing that we were both killed. In my fall sprained my ankle, and when tried to get up tainted from the pain.
 "A half hour later found myself ly- ing in my wife's bed and doctor standing beside me. After had faint.