Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-10-03

~. the county is noised over every
part OF it, and that the affairs of every
person in the county are intimately
known to every other.
In one of the fifty parishes, which
shall not be named, because to name il
is unessential, lived a youth named
Joseph Samuel Wardley. He was the
son of blacksmith, was an able
bodied. fne-looking fellow, broad
shouldered, broad breasted, with light
red hair, and eyes that seemed to have
fallen into the copper when his mother
was washing, and to have had the colol
boiled out of them, SO light were they.
Joseph Samuel Wardley was-if vir
tue consists In series of negatives
most exemplary character. He didn't
swear, he didn't drink, he didn't quab'
ble with his fellow-men. If, however,
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wardley was distinguished for
h's virtue; for, as matter of fact, it
would be hard to say what Joseph
Samuel Wariley did that was good
dc vas slow in his movements, slow in
taking in ideas, slower in making use
of them when he had received them
into his brain.
He had worked with his father at the
forge, but his father feared that he
would never make blacksmith, as he
tired the horses ont and made them
restive before he had shod all their
four feet. Then Joseph Samuel was
sent to work on farm, but he was so
la H.
would not retain him in their services
1t was said that Joseph Samuels was
always asleep. This was not exactly
true. Joseph Samuel was SO drowsy
and indolent over his work by day,
that he was never sufficiently exhaust
ed by his efforts to enjoy sound sleep
ct night. He was half asleep by day,
he was half awake by night. There is
nothing so conducive to all-forgetting
sleep as the exercise of the full ener-
gies by day. Joseph Samuel did not
put forth even one-half of his energies
by day. The other half remained to
consequently he was a light sleeper,
and sometimes it was as doubtful
whether he were asleep at night, as it
was doubtful whether he were awake
by day.
As he was dismissed from the pl,w-
tail, he returned to his father, Who
employed him to work the bellows
which kept his fire going III the forge.
But" as the farrier said, "a chap
can't go on all his life blowing bel
lows. 1 must find some profession or
trade for which he is suited"
Accident or Fate seemed to give the
requisite indication. The father OF
Joseph Samuel had been an industri-
GUS man all his life, and it WAS believed
that he had amassed money. He had
no dealings with the bank ut Oakham
that was well known. Where, then lid
he keep his money? 1t was whispered
that, singularly enough, whenever he
had received payment of a heavy bill,
Mr.. Wsrdley was observed to mount q
ladder ts put straight, as he said, one
of the tiles in his roof that WAS out of
place and let the water through. That
the coincidence was noticed, and was
q matter of discussion, never oc-
Cured to the blacksmith. The last time
he brought in his bill to the Squire it
was for the sup Of five-and-twenty
pounds and soMe odd shillings. No
sooner had he received the money than
it was remarked tile was again loose
in his roof.
One night that Joseph Samuel la
awake, unable by any means to induce
sleep-such as by counting sheep GO
ing through a gap in the hedge, re-
peating his catechisrn, listening to the
snores of his parents in an adjoining
rOon-he thought he heard sound on
the tiles, as if some one was engaged
repairing the roof He got out of bed,
peered through the window, and saw
by the light of crescent moon that
ladder was set against the house, and
that pair of legs were visible on thu
ladder.
As Joseph Samuel was inclined for
activity all night, and was prompt then
in his resolutions, which WAS not the
case by day, he stole downstairs on
tiptoe, and opened tho back door
softly. He was in his robe de mutt.
That did not matter. The air was cool
but not frosty, and no rain was falling.
lie was at the back of the house-the
opposite side to that at which the
lder was set mp, and where he had
ervei the legs. He knew where
Senr - ladder. He wsn:
barefooted to the spot, removed the
ladder planted a. the back of the
house, climbed up it without causing
the smallest noise, and succeeded in
making his way cautiously up the tiles
all he reached the ridge of his fathers
oof. Holding to the ridge tiles, he
leaved himself up by both hands
reast high above the ridge-piece.
Then he saw what wss being done on
ihe further side.
Two men were there. One was on a
adder and held another by the ankles
who had scrambled onto the roof.
The latter was lifting tile after tile and
ceiling under each, obviously expect
ns to find and carry of tho farrier's
tnre of savings.
Joseph Samuel Wardley did not hes
tate for a moment what to do. With
perfect presence OF mind, and great
energy as we'll as courage, lie said,
"Bo!"
The robbers were staggered. They
looked up, saw a selni-white figure ris.
iug above the roof, glowering at them.
Their nerve gave way. Hewho was On
the ladder let 80 the ankles of the man
on the roof; the latter slid down, and
fell on the man with his feet on the
ladder rungs, and both were precipi.
lated to the bottom.
Joseph Samuel now aroused ths
house, and the burGlars were arrested