Year: 1859

struck one. The back yard was an impoSsi-


bility, and but one chance remained There


was porch over the front door, the roof of


which was but few feet below the two win
dows. One of which | knew was fastened
down, and the other opened from the bed
room, which might or might not be occupied


An old maiden sister Of Tins wife had arriv-
ed there on that same day, and it was very
probable that she was in that room but
knew the bed was in the corner fartheSt from
the window, and hoped | should be able TO
get in and through the room without waking


her, and then | had a comparatively easy
thing Of it. So getting short plank from
a neighboring board pile, | rested it against
the cave of the shed, pulled off my shoes, put
them in my pocket, and then cooned up
All right, so far, but | thought it necessary,
III order not to arouse any suspicion in the
morning, to remove the plank. so drawing it
up, threw off the end and down it went
with an awful clatter on stray Cog that had
followed me for two or three squares, who inn
mediately set up the most awful howl q whip
ped hound ever gave tongue to. This started


half dozen other dogs in the ncighbOrho0d
barking a mocking bird in the window above
commenced singing as if he intended to split
his throat at it, and an old woman, in her
night clothes, with candle in her hand, ap-
peared at the window across the street. [
knew | was safe as far as she was concerned,
but if any one came to our windows, the can
die gave enough light to very probably dis
cover me. Nobody did come however, and
the old lady, after peeping up and down the
street for minute or more, popped her head
in and retired. The mocking bird still kept
up its eternal whistle and was fully half an
hour before it and the dogs settled down and
gave me a chance to move. Creeping slowly
along the wall, till | reached the window. !
put my hands on the sill, and with my head
and shoulders within, and my legs hanging
out, stopped to listen. Yes, she was in that
room, for | could hear her breathe After
waiting for a minute, cautiously drew up one
leg, and then the other, slowed them round
and putting down on the floor, was just con-
SciouS that | had stepped on something soft
and yielding, and was about withdrawing them,
when another yell broke out at my feet, the
old maid jumped out from her bed crying
Murder murder and the dogs and mock
ing-bird started up again. | saw through it
all | had put my foot in it more WAYS than
one A little darkey was lying on her back
under the window, and | had stepped on her
face, and, of course walked her up. | decided
in fash what to do The house would be
aroused, and | caught to certainty, unless I
could get into my room before the governor
got up. But hadn't moment to lose, for
the little nigger was yelling and the woman
screaming. | started for the door, went three
steps, and struck a chair tumbed over made
the awfullest racket you ever heard of in the
dead hour Of night in a peaceable house the
nigger and old maid screamed louder than
ever, the mocking-bird whiStled like a steam
whistle, and the dogs fairly made chorus as
loud as JuIIien'S


| reached the door, however, swiftly and
quickly opened it, and just got out in time to
see the old gentleman open his door with
candle in his hand, and come hurrying up the
stairs. Not q moment was to be lost There
was wardrobe near where | stood and |
sprang behind it. Up came the governor,
reached the door, opened it, went in, and in
the meantime there was all sorts of confusion
and inquiry down stairs as to what was the
matter Nobody else came up though, and
from where | stood heard every word of in.
quiry and explanation in the room OF course
they couldn't make much out of it. The lit
tie darkey was too frightened and too sound
asleep at the time to understand the truth,
and the upshot Of the business was that they
concluded she had been dreaming, and the
governor, after giving her sound spanking,
and explaining the matter to the aroused
neighbors, from the window, went down to the
room again.


So far, so good | now had to 90 down
stairs, reach the back door, unbar it, get in,
to the yard, make for my room, which was in
the second story of back building that stood
uncOnnected with, and about dozen yards
from the main one. After giving everybody
another half hour to settle down again, | start
ed. Boys, did you ever try to get up or down
a pair of stairs at midnight, without making
noise? You may try all sorts of ways, but
every step is sure to creak, each with a pecu-
liar noise of its own and loud enough, you are
certain, TO waken everybody. | had got near
ly to the bottom when little fste dog came
trotting up the entry towards me, yelling -fu-
riousy. A suppressed Come here, Sir, you
Zip" silenced him, for he recognized me but
the fste started the mocking bird, and the
dogs in the neighbOrhood having learned to
take the cue, of course all joined chorus for
the third time.


" | ran along the passage, reached the door
and unlocked it, just as the governor, reused
the second time, opened his door and seeing a
man escaping from the house by the back way,
of course cried Thieves ! Thieves = and made
rush after me- / was too quick for him
though, opened the door, sprang out, broke
for the door that opened into the room under
mine, and had just reached it, when crash F.!
within foot of my head went brick, and
another voice, that | knew belonged to the
next door neighbor, Tcmpkins, joined the
governor in the cry of Thieves Thieves
Murder Thieves !'-I was safe though
Rushing up the stairs, sheled myself quicker
than | ever did before or since, and was in
bed and asleep in less than half Minute
Wasn't thrre a row ihOngh 7 never heard