Year: 1860

SPEECH WITHOUT WORDS,


OR CIRCUMvENTING A BURGLAR.


ol'Il tell you a story said the m istrcss of
village school in Eng land, to one of her small
scholars, ' of how once saved my life entire
ly through having learned the deaf and dumb
alphabet. There We're two little boys who us
ed to come and stay with Uncle Frank and m e
when we were married, and they could neither
hear nor speak. They could only talk with
their fngers-so-only ever so much quicker.
They were quick and clever; could read and
write, and do many other things which most
boys would make very bad hand at. They
could play at draughts and backgammon, at
chess and fox and geese as we'll as any boys
They could almost see what we said, though
they could not hear with such quick, eager
eyes did they watch every movement OF our lips.
We soon, however, got to talk as easily with
our fingers our tongues when the lads
were not with us Uncle Frank and used to
converse In that manner, when alone, for
practice.


So 1t happened on one occasion that he had
to go up to London on important business;
he was to have gone by an afternoon train, but
something delayed him, so that he was not
abe to leave before the night express. was
not in very good health, and retired to my
bedroom about two hours before his departure.
lie promised, however, to come and wish me
goodbye before he started, which would be
between twelve and one O'Clock in the morn
ing. The Dlatter which called him away was
connected with the bank here, which had just
burnt down; and my husband, it seems, though
i did not know it at the time-so great secret
had he endeavored to keep it-had many
thousands of pounds belonging to the concern
in his temporary possession, locked up in an
iron safe in our bedroom, where the plate was
kept. lie was bank manager, and responsible
for the whole of it. 1t was winter time, and
there was fire in the room, SO brigh. and COM
fortable that was in no hurry to leave it and
get into bed, but sat up, looking at the fiery
Goals, and thinking about all sorts of things
of the long journey your Uncle Frank had to
take that night, and of how dreary the days
would seem until he returned. and in particu-
lar of how lonely / should feel in that great
room, all by myself, when he should be away;
for was great coward 1t little after
eleven O'Clock when l got into bed, bat l did
not seem inclined to sleep then. knew Uncle
Frank would be coming to wish me good bye
presently, and besides, there seemed to be all
sorts of noises about the room, which my fool
ish ear always used to hear whenever was
alone at nighttime.


6. If little SCOT fell down the chimney, il
was, thought, great black CROW at least,
which would soon be flying about the room,
and setting on my pillow; and if the wind
blew at the easement, thought it was some
thing trying to get in at the window, although
it was two stories high. You may imagine,
then, my horror when | heard a sneeze within
a quarter of an inch of me, just behind the
head board of the bed, and between that and
the WALL where there was a considerable space.
had, as usual, taken the precauton, before l
put the candle out, of looking everywhere in
the room where it was quite impossible any
person could be hid but in the little alcove
into which the bed had been pushed, had
never thought of looking, although that was a
capital hiding place for anybody, ever since
had slept in that room I; in short, had been
like the ostrich OF which we read, who puts his
head in the sand, and then imagines himself in
perfect security. l had piqued myself upon
precautionary measures, that after all, might
just as well have been omitted The only
thing, as l believe, which saved my reason
from departing altogether, when first heard
that terrible sound, was that my mind clung
to the hope that it might be, after ALL only the
sneeze OF a cat. Fifty cats together could not
have made half such disturbance it is true
Tor 1t was the sneeze of a man who sneezes in
spite OF himself, and almost shook the house,
but the idea sustained me over the shock.
The next instant the wretch had sneezed again.
and pushing aside the bed which rolled on
castors, was standing beside nv bed looking
At me. If he had given only one sneeze, he
might, perhaps, have believed ME, as | lay
quite still, breathing quite regularly as could,
and pretending to be asleep; but he reasoned
very justly, that, unless was deaf or dead, l
must have been awakened by the sound.


&c You're awake marm," said he in gruff
voice, and it's no use shamming If you
don't want tap with this life preserver, just
look alive.''


81 opened my eyes exceedingly wide at
this: and beheld man with Grape over his face,
standing by the bed; he held sort of club with
TWO knobs upon it in his right hand, and with
MS left pointed to the iron safe.


I" is the money there ?'' said he.


:. The plate is" said | in trembling voice. |
ray take it, sir; am sureyo are very well |
come; Tor he might have had everything of
Vaiue out of the house with all my heart, SO |
long as ne left me my life.


The money-the gold-the notes, are they |
tnere q" cried he again, in trembling sort of |
whisper.


{" It's all there,'' 1 replied, although knew |
nothing about it; &c all except fifteen and six /
pence in my purse on the dressing table yon |
der There's silver mustard pot besides in |
the pantry and couple of candlesticks in the |
study, only they are plated, for would not |
decelve you, sir, upon any ACCOUNT


=" You had better not," observed the burglar
grimly, cor it will be the worse for you.'' He |
produced key like that my husband used, and |
approached the iron safe, but as he did so, his |
su1lty ear caught footstep upon the staircase
" nos that ?'' cried he.


!" MY husband, sir! 20 returned, {" but pray
uon't hurt him, pray.'' ]