The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-06-24

eY sALLIE MENpeEM.

having slept two hours and knew there
would be no more slumber for me till
the next time went tosted. was so
desperate that got up with the IN
tention OF going into some house where
I had no right and there snatch an
other couple Of hours sleep. had a
crib I'm view. a small house with not
much IN t. But | was looking for
sleep. not plumber. went there. took
out a pane II glass. entered and went
upstairs 10 find a place 10 settle down.
I stood in a dark han looking into a
room where a night lamp was burning.
In the room a woman was in bed with
a child. both asleep. The child wac
sleeping on the front OF the bed. very
near the edge. :le was boy and. ]
think. about five years old.
On n 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 had
her chubby fist up against her fat
cheek. Ii 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 bed and 50 much ~ his body.
too. that II looked Ia NE a. II he was
about 10 fall lie was restless. and
knew be would te over very soon
Somehow wanted 20 see him fat
though kept 10 tho dark so that he
wouldn't see me II LIZ woke up. Th,
next kick ~ riade sect him over l. 1.
fell a couple II feet hut didn't wa, !,
up. He landed parity un the little cir.
but she didn't wake az either. | eA-
pected she would. as Size moaned once
or twice in her sleep aal turned over
but finally she slept as peacefully as
before
II was such delightful picture 10
one suffering from insomnia that |
kept on watching the children The
boy continued his kicking and crowded
the girl. pushlng her with every move
TO the front edge Of her bed. II must
have been half an hour that he kept
/ this up. when there was a 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 look
Ing at them all 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 expect
ed that al least the mother would
wake up and take look at her chill
dren. But she slept on. Sire must have
been very tired or had lost a lot 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
ef them was 10 increase the restless.
ness Of the boy He rolled and tum.
bled In his sleep like a ship tossed by
the waves. sometimes lying for a few
minutes close against his mothers bed
then rolling over 10 the outer edge Of
his own. was sure he'd in time tum.
BILE out Of this bed. as he had out Of
the other. and was bound 10 see him
, do IT, Sure enough. before I expected
1t he gave a lurch and landed plumb
on top OF his sister.
Neither Of them awoke
I reckon women know In their sleeT
what's going on with their children
for. now that the storm was over and
everything was still as the tomb. the
mother sat up In bed. glanced at heI
children. got up and put them in their
proper places. Then she went back q
bed herself and was asleep In n mo
ment.
We'll" I said to myself III that's
what 4 clear conscience viii furnisl
I'm going 10 have clear conscience.
went back TO my room resolved new
or 10 enter any mans house again bu
my own. nj least not for plumber.
went 10 bed and slept Ike n top foi
twenty-four hours.
kept my resolution. found honora
bic employment and prospercd. But
didn't forget the family that converte,
me. The mother was widow. and
having a hard time to get on. ! made
her acquaintance and married her.
But none Of my family know that
had been a burglar or how ! came b
knew them