Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-06-17
HOW HE FOUND SLEEP.

how TO DO II without waxing dnyoouy up
and getting away between midnight and
dawn, when the cops are most drowsy.
While was doing job thought of
nothing except my work and was both
cool and watchful. wasn't one ofthoSe
blokes who scare people to death or who
are ready if necessary to add murder to
robbery. The truth is never liked the
prospect OF facing either charge.
AS was saying, while engaged at my
work, however dangerous, | was steady
as a monument, but when danger had
passed and had nothing to do but think
went down hill very fast. What bothered
me most was that couldn't sleep nights
that is, when comfortably slowed away
in bed. once took nap in a gentle
mans parlor and was only awakened by
the sun coming up and shining in my
eyes. just got out in time to save my
self. But when lying on soft mattress,
with warm covers and no chance ofbeing
disturbed, sleep wouldn't come to me. |
lay awake thinking of that time when !
would hear prison doors clang behind me.
The thought was dreadful. Pm afraid |
was too fine grained for the business.
Month after month my hours of sleep
grew less and less till feared insanity.
One night woke up at midnight after
having slept two hours and knew there
would be no more slumber for me till the
next time went to bed. was so des-
perate that got up with the intention of
going into some house where | had no
right and there snatch another couple of
hours sleep. had crib in view, a
house with not much in it. But ! was
looking for sleep, not plumber. went
there, took out pane Of glass, entered
and went upstairs to find place 10 settle
down. stood in dark hall looking
into room where night lamp was burn
ing. In the room woman was in bed
with child, both asleep. The child was
on the front of the bed, very
near the edge. He was boy and, |
think, about five years old.
On narrow lower bed, close beside
the other, slept another child, girl of
about three. She was sleeping in the
center of her bed on her side and her
chubby fist up against her fat cheek. 1t
was hot summer weather, and none of
them except the woman had any covers
whatever.
What interested ME was that the boys
head was hanging over the side OF his
head and so much of his body, too, that
il looked to me as if he was about to fall.
He was restless, and knew he would be
over very soon. Somehow wanted to
see him fall, though kept in the dark so
that he wouldn't see me if he woke up.
The next kick he made sent him over.
He fell couple of feet, but didn't wake
up. He landed partly on the little girl,
but she didn't wake up either Iexpected
she would, as she moaned once or twice
in her sleep and turned over, but finally
she slept as peacefully as before.
1t was such a delightful picture to one
suffering from insomnia that kept on
watching the children. The boy con-
tinued his kicking and crowded the girl,
pushing her with every move to the front
edge of her bed. 1t must have been half
an hour that he kept this up, when there
was thump, and the girl lay on the floor.
But she seemed to be as comfortable there
as on her bed. AT any rate, she showed
not the least sign of waking.
Meanwhile, heard the muttering Of
distant thunder, and while was looking
at them, there came one terrific crash loud
enough to wake the dead. The mother
turned over, but neither of the children
moved. Then followed one crash after
another, and | expected that al least the
mother would wake up and take look at
her children. But she slept on. She
must have been very tired or had lost
great deal of sleep, or she couldn't have
slept through those terrible bolts. Never
had heard such thunder before.
The only effect the storm had on any
of them was TO increase the restlessness
of the boy. He rolled and tumbied in his
sleep like ship tossed by the waves,
sometimes lying for few minutes close
against his mothers bed, then rolling
over to the outer edge OF his own. was
sure he'd in time tumble out of this bed
as he had out of the other, and was
bound to see him do it. Sure enough,
before expected it, he gave lurch, and
landed plump on top of his sister.
Neither of them awoke.
reckon women know in their sleep
what's going on with their children, for,
now that the storm was over and every
thing was still as the tomb, the mother
sat up in bed, glanced at her children,
got up and put them in their proper places.
Then she went back to bed herself and
was asleep in moment.
"Well," said to myself, "ifthat what
a clear conscience will furnish Pm going
to have clear conscience" Iwent back
to my room resolved never TO enter any
mans house again but my own, at least
not for plunder. went to bed and slept
like top for twenty -four hours.
kept my resolution, found honorable
employment and prospered. But didn't
forget the family that converted me. The
mother was widow, and having hard
f;rna 70 oref on made her acntfainfance