St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-01
jim AND I
copyright. 1903, by G. B. Lewis.1

summer Kitchen.
We had been at the old farmhouse
for, week, having good time gener-
ally and nothing happening out of the
usual routine, when l woke up one
night just as the clock struck / and
found myself all a-tremble. 1t was
bright starlight outdoors, and I could
discern every object in the room as
sat up and looked about. The window
referred to was on the north side Of
the room, while the bed was on the
south. All the curtains were up. ~.
After minute thought I heard a
movement on the kitchen roof, and l
drew the bedclothes over my head and
began kicking Jim. He uttered grunt
or two and turned over. After another
minute popped out my head, and now
1 saw man with his face pressed
against the glass of the lower sash of
the window SO as to survey the room.
l tried to utter yell, but could not
make sound. I tried to kick Jim, but
my legs were paralyzed. could not
even draw the sheet over my head
again. ,@f,a4
With my eyes wide open and my
heart in my mouth watched the fel-
low gently lift the sash and fasten it
up with a wedge. He could have en-
tered any door or window below, but
perhaps he feared that some one might
be watching. 1t was three feet from
the window sill to the roof. The man
drew himself up and paused for mo-
ment in the opening.
What I did deserve no credit for,
because it was born Of terror, and
was an involuntary actor. / jumped
out of bed to run downstairs. Then l
remembered Jim and would not leave
| him. The bureau was close at hand,
| and by accident I touched gourd that
we had brought in from the garden to
fashion into a dipper. Picking it up,
l hurled it with all my might at the
man in the window. 1t was ripe and
| as hard as brick, and it struck the
man right between the eyes. The
shock and the pain caused him to loos-
en- his hold and fall backward on the
roof. In trying to recover himself he
fell off the edge of it.
AS he went out Of the window l
yelled and brought Jim on end, and
next instant we were flying down
stairs and whooping like savages in
chase. In about five minutes the
household was ready to investigate.
While we believed the man made of,
we yet thought it wisest to look out
side. We had scarcely got outside the
kitchen door when we found him. Un,
Gle Joe had few days before placed
cider barrel under the caves spout
and coming down at the corner Of the
shed roof. 1t was an old barrel and
about one-third full of water. In going
off the roof the man turned over and
fell head first into the barrel, and the
first thing we caught sight Of was his
heels kicking the air.
There was water enough to have
drowned the fellow, and it was really
wonderful how he could have pumped
into the barrel without doing himself
great injury. By pushing his hands
down to the bottom he could keep his
mouth above water, but he could mo-
lift himself out of the barrel.
When he heard us about he began
shouting and cursing and kicking, bu
we realized that he was in fix an(
were not at all frightened. Jim seizet
one of his feet and the other, Will
Uncle Joe trotted around and got
piece of clothesline to tie them togeth
err. When we had him securely lashet
Aunt Mary was given the candle t.
hold. and the other three Of us go
clubs and tipped the barrel over. Th
rush of theawater almost strangled tn
robber, and while he was gasping ant
suffering we drew his arms behin'
his back and tied them there.
He was an ugly chap and no mistake
We got knife and revolver off hin
while tying his arms, and when b
finally got his breath he knew that b
was helpless. Had he professed PEN
tence and begged forgiveness l thin
Uncle Joe would have let him 60. Aun
: Mary, with her big heart, had alread
begun to find excuses for the prisone
when he suddenly opened on u.s.
have heard some tall cursing sine
then, but nothing to beat his recort
He threatened, bluffed, commando
and demanded, and Aunt Mary had
flee and Uncle Joe to pretend that
didn't hear.
1t was half a mile to the neare
neighbours, and Uncle Joe didn't fe
like asking us to go or going himsel
Neither did we want to remain GU
doors until daylight. We solved tt
, problem by dragging the man into I'll
kitchen. He continued cursing fl
some time after; but, finding that b
: made no impression, he finally coole
off and became quite civil. Just at da.
light team passed by. and we SCI
word to a constable, and an hour late
the robber was on his way to the coul
7 ty Jail.
| When he reached that institution
= was identified as an escaped convi
for whom a reward Of $500 had bee
offered. He had, as he admitte
planned to rob the house, and by b
. being armed 1t, was reasonable to co
! | clllde that he would not have stoppt