Year: 1868

My door was locked when l. got nome,
said Tom, AMI how to get in without wax
ing the governor was the difficulty. ]
knew he would give me particular fits if
he knew was out after ten and the clock
had just struck one. The backyard was
an impossibility, and but one chance re-
NAMED. There was porch over the front
door, the roof of which was few feet be-
low two windows. One of them | knew
to be fastened down, and the other opened
f.om bedroom, which might or might
not be occupied. An old maiden sister OF
the governors wife came on the same day
and it was very probable that she was IN
that room !; but knew the bed was in the
corner furthermost from the window, and
/ hoped to be able to get in and through
the room without awakening her, and then
j had comparatively an easy time of it.
So getting plank from the neighboring
boardpile, raised it against the caves of
the shed, pulled off my shoes put them in
my pocket and " cooned." All right so
far, but thought it necessary, in order not
to rouse suspicion in the morning to re-
move the plank SO dragging it up ! threw
it off the end, and down it went with an
aw'ut clatter on stray dog that had fol-
lowed me two or three squares, and who
Immediately set up the most awful whines
hound ever gave tongue to. That star
ted half dozen dogs in the ncighborhood
barking; mocking bird in the window
commenced as if he intended to split his
throat at it, and woman in her Snight
clothes appeared at the window across the
I Il G. g., oh
was concerned, but if any one came to our
window the candle gave light enough to
have discovered me. Nobody came how
ever, and the lady after peeping up and
down the street for q minute or two pop
ped in her head and retired. The mock
ing bird still kept up his etsrnal' whistle.
and it was full half an hour before he and
the dog settled down and gave me chance
to move. Creeping slowly along the wall
till reached the window, put my hands
on the sill, sprang in and with my legs
dangling out, stopped to listen. Yes. she
was in the. room for was sure heard her
breathing. After waiting for minute I
cautiously drew up one leg, and then the
other, drew them around and put them
down on the floor, was just conscious that
i had stepped on something soft and yield
ing and was Withdrawing them when ano-
ther yell broke forth at my feet; the old
maid jumped from her bed crying "mur-
der! and the mocking bird started again.
A little darkey was lying on her back
under the window, and had stepped on
her face, and of course woke her up. |
decided in moment what to do. The
house would be aroused, and would be
caught to a certainty unless | could get to
my room before the governor was up; but
/ hadn't a moment to lose, for the little
niger was screaming; so started for the
door in three steps, struck chair, stum-
bled over it of course, making the awfulest
racket you ever heard in the hours of night
in peaceful house. The niggcr and the
old maid screamed louder than. ever; the
Inocking bird whistled louder than steam
whistle, and they fairly made chorus as
loud as Julian's.


.--I-reaehed the door however, and quietly
and swiftly opened it, and just got into the
hall in time to see the old gentleman open
the door with candle in his hand, and
came hurrying up stairs. There was a
wardrobe near where | stood and sprang
behind it, Up came the governor, reached
the door, opened it, and went in, and in
the meantime there were all sorts of confu-
sion and inquiry down stairs as to what
was the matter. Nobody else came up,
though from where i stood l heard every
word of inquiry and explanation in the
room. Of course they couldn't make much
of it. The little darky was too much
frightened and too sound asleep to tell
the Truth, and the upshot of the business
was that they concluded that she'had been
dreaming, and the governor, after giving
her a sound shaking and explaining the
matter TO the aroused neighbors from the
window, went back to his own room again.


so far so good" had now to &C
down stairs. reach the back door unbar it.


get into the yard, make for my room which
was in the second story Of the brick build
ing that stood unconnected with, and
about dozen yards from the main one
After giving everybody another half hour
20 settle down again, / started.


Boys did You ever try to get up or dowr
pair Of stairs at midnight without max.
ing noisef You may try it all sorts o.
ways. but every step is sure to creak
each with apeculiar noise of its own, and
loud enough you are sure to wake uI
Every body. had got nearly to the bot.
tom when a little dog came trotting up the
entry towards me yelling furiously A
Suppressed " come here Zip" silcnced him