Nantwich, Sandbach & Crewe Star — 1891-08-14 ()

HOW TO STEAL A FEATHER-BEPO' Stopping for a glass of cider at a village Piliwe house in North Devon I beard a story in collate, with the above recondite subject which umuseajog A rustics who had spent all his money in get tipsy at the rival establishment, came up S•re landlord Of The Crooked Billet and asked hiM top him some liquor—about the height of all pols.pet insult to-it publican and so he of The Crooked PI Da seethed to think. But the tipsy one was not t.lO, put- Off in a hurry, he continued his importuil",.ts and for a pint of"cider he said he would iiret`het most, valuable secret. The landlord seemed taloa to prick up his ears at this, and at length cortoe,,t, to bestow a half-pint, on condition of hearing s"Ject thing to his advantage, and the liquor was over and drained by the applicant. nai`i " Now, sir," said he with a confidential airrtais a • stentorian whisper, "next time you da veather-bed, mind you goo downstairs wi' fl' wards." a Great was the host's indignation at this se: tte affront, but greater was my curosity to kn° meaning of the phrase employed, and en9tider of a farmer in the inn, I obtained the folloo"' plan ation There was, it seemed, at a village some (1.5005$ off a surgeon who prided himself upon his 011, o'l and continually boasted that he had never boel' Now it happened one day, that a scamp 1Cil°10o1;•; by his wits was lurking about the house on tile ,fed,; cut for plunder, and having noticed the 50r:4CP wife set off for market, saw presently the B'ool himself go out, as he supposed, to visit his Him, likewise, he watched off the prentis°i: 01" then finding the coast clear, stole in throug 'a; 01,1 front•door and walked upstairs to lay 11ecte; whatever seemed most eligit le. The booty" tittea was the best feather-bed,t his he took on 11„100°,f and began descending the stairs, with the pre h' of coming down- bet. ckwards. Ile ' had got *boll t way down when in came the surgeon again 4 0111 ‘! Hallo, my man, where are you going i.gl bed?" " Goan upstairs wi un, sur. There's 3 C 0 "to down to The Rose and Crown, sur, as saYsnoirldi frend o' yours just come from Inger, and e'reseti,er stop wi' you, sur—and comun up hisself P,Des3' wi's luggage—and he've sent I up, sur vie " bed." to "I shall not 'admit it—l shall not v47;0111011 don't know any such person, and I'm lOyetp•-"%elf be imposed upon. Likely thino,,suppose any stranger can come and quarTgo on me with a title like that? No, no, yo colorole and take the bed along too, and, give 1116° ments to the gentleman and say he's „„ so Mistake, and I don't know him.' • ~d Iv"; "Well, Sur, 'tis Warm day, stir,. no drill:- to bold, sur, I hope you'll allow me soniat 'ts 005,4; "Very well, I don't mind giving 3,00 g 0 be rid of the business. There—now I? oci" and say as rye told yon."ice Off walked- the rascal with his burdeirs by returned Mrs. Surgeon, and went ill's"- r tiols off her bonnet. Down she came agaill„,; gilte-it,looo Now, my dear, always making on 6 yott without consulting me, and what with that new feather-bed?" Mani "Oh, murder! " said the wretcliesee it all." , tstil Prey, what do you see, my degf „,s repu-,nov But enough. Of course the surge%'he for sharpness was gone, and that watl,bourbo° way to steal a feather-bed in this nelb 11 I iOi&IIL '1,11114, , icing w. rig but one spur, said that if ffir.tt the horse went on, it was not t woulil stay behind.