Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-05-30

THURM0NT frederick County, Maryland, Thursday May 80 1885,

| 0uu IduCy WOAhs OodlUokoVA0A A4"oo0AS .
were looking about as black and gloomy
as they we'll could
THE carpet in her little sitting room
was very threadbare, the chairs old and
ricKety. and as for the table, it could
scarcely support the few cracked dishes
her frugal meal required her to put up
on It,
occasionally Aunt Judy had lady
visitor, and then with what mortifica-
tion the poor woman was compelled to
set before her caller Clipped cups and
saucers and to warn her not to bear too
heavily on the chair she was sitting,on.
| Iy few of her acquaintances knew
Willy she said one evening to the
little girl she kept more for company
than anything else, tomorrow when you
go down to the grocer's see if he won't
give you another soap box. We must
save the chairs for our callers. "
This evening after the Fourth she
was feeling very down.hearted, indeed.
It looked as though she would have to
openly appeal to charity, and this she
had meyer been driven to before. 1t
was 80 hard to do it, so hard.
"A little after 8 she and Tilly retired
to their chamber up under the caves,
and soon they were fast asleep
About 10 o'clock, when all was dark
and still, a wagon drove up, and turn
ing out from the road stopped on the
other side of Aunt Judy's back yard
fence. Here it lay completely hidden
both from the house and from the
street.
Three minutes later Ted and l poked
out our heads above the boards, and
seeing that no one had been disturbed
we climbed lightly over and crept up to
the back door. AS we expected, it was
only on the latch, for if there was any
thing that Aunt Judy had no occasion
to fear it was the midnight thief
Once inside the house We drew down
the blinds and lighted our bullseye Ian.
tern. The old cat looked up at US in
surprise from the kitchen hearth, and
then, evidently considering the idea of
burglars too absurd to entertain for a
moment, again dropped off to sleep
Nm the kitchen we quietly removed
our shoes in true burglar fashion and
crept forward. The scene of our oper-
ations was the sitting ROOM
"Hist r whispered Ted, gently, now.
If we are discovered, we are fonnd.'
The situation lent the chestnut fresh
pungency. And it was as much as we
could do to keep from bursting into a
roar of laughter. We got our. risibilities
under control, however, and set to work.
Gathering up as many chairs as we
could bear off without noise we car
ried them to the back door. After that
we took the table, and then with much
difficulty we lugged the old SOFA Next
we took a couple of armfuls each Of odds
and ends, and finally plucking up the
threadbare carpets by the roots we bore
it off, chuckllng to ourselves for we had
completely denunced the ROOM
Pulling on our boots we now car
ricd our booty out to the wagon and
then-well, half all hour later Ted and
l were along the road on our way back.
MA ha ha ! l roared as soon as
we were out Of earshot, that's the great
est lark out. Oh, but won't the old
lady be surprised thoughT'
Ted was more serious. He evidently
felt his responsibility as originator and
hacker Of the affair. u say, Bob, he
whispered, what do you suppose they'll
say if we're found outT'
The only reply could make was an
other scream of laughter.
When lilly came down in the morn
ing to light the fire her eyes almost
popped out OF her head with amazement
AS soon as she recovered herself, she
rushed upstairs. On reaching the first
flight, however, she paused as an idea
entered ner mind, and stood leaning
against the banister. Then witha broad
grin, for her decision seemed to amuse
her greatly, she ran up and burst into
Aunt Judy's room.
>>Oh, missile! missier she cried, TITS
all gone, missie. The robbers have
tooken all your furniture. It's all gone
missile, even to the carpet and spoons
and everything
Poor Aunt Judy was sight to be-
hold. In trembling haste she threw
on her wrapper and hurried down stairs.
Pushing open the parlor door the ex-
cited old lady received shock which
we'll nigh took her off her feet. There
before her was brand new set of fur