Year: 1875




Josephine Josephine wake up,
there is some one trying to get into the
room And my aunt shook me
roughly.


sprang up in bed, rubbing my eyes.
How where-what for!" I asked,
sleepily.


She laid her hand on my mouth as
she whispered: "Sh! sh don't you
hear that ~ -.lf. ...'


listened, by that time fully awake,
and heard sound as of some one work
ing at the door. "What shall we do,
Aunt Mary" 1 said, family.


She shook her head. There we were
alone in the house, with the exception
of John, the hired man, who slept on the
have been sleeping the sleep that knows
no waking for all the good he could do
us. 7 grabbed hold of my ancient rela-
tive and laid still, with my heart beating
wildly. "Oh we should be murdered.
I knew we should" I thought of the
silly wish had expressed that same
evening, as 1 complained of the dull
ness of my country life, "that something
would happen to wake us up little"
Here was the awakening, but such one
I hid my head under the bedclothes
while L prayed softly. Then, not daring
to lie alone, for my aunt had left nv
side, and feeling that it would be better
to die together, 1, too, found my way to
the floor. With the only weapon she
could tind-a pair of curling -irons-my
late bed-fellow stood shaking behind
the door. L crept close beside her, and
with strange feeling of fascination fixed
my eyes on the door. Very gently it
opened, and head made its appearance.
Tighter and tighter grew my arms around
my companions waist, but when our
house-breaker stood before us, every
feeling gave place to astonishment. In
stead of the hideous face had expect
ed to meet there came to view the slight
figure and handsome face of a mere
STRIPPING. My aunt's fear seemed also to
have vanished, for stepping boldly up
to him she caught hold of him, saying
"Ah, L have you now, my pretty fel-
low," at the same time crying for
John.


The captive struggled to free himself,
but In vain, for my aunt held him the
closer while she screamed the louder
for John Very soon he appeared on
the spot, where he gazed in amazement
on the picture before him, but as his
mistress kept saying, "Tie him, John,
tie him." he went for the first thing
handy, which happened to be my aunts
long worsted garters. They being strong
enough answered every purpose, and
soon our prisoner stood meekly before
us. Then Aunt Mary, looking sternly
Mt him, said: "Now, John, take and
lock him in the empty room at the top
of the stairs, and in the morning we will
see whether peaceful citizens must be
robbed and murdered in their BEDS


had stood quietly by, taking no part
in the programme, and feeling, it must
be said, more pity than anger for the
handsome youth. Once met his eyes
fixed earnestly upon me, and as John
led him from the room mine was the last
face they sought. After my aunt had
expended all the threats she could upon
the culprit she fell fast asleep, but
though tried to follow her example
did not succeed, for the face of the
burglar kept rising before my closed
eyes.


1 was only sixteen, and Of rather a
romantic turn. / pictured his dark ewes
filed with penitent tears, and thought
that bitter necessity had perhaps driven
him to this act for which my aunt would
send him to prison on the morrow. No,
I could not sleep, SO slipping on my
dress crept up the stairs to the door of
the room containing him who was de-
frauding me of my rightful rest. I lis
tened. ALI was still and stood hest
tating what to do, when heard loud
sob from within. In an instant I had
the door unlocked. There lay the lad
on the cold floor, his head on his crossed
arms. He lifted his tear-wet-face oh
how pale it looked as the dim morning
light fell upon it. 1 am sure my voice
was very gentle rs 1 said:


There, do not weep, but tell me what
has impelled you to such work"


"Ah, miss" and his voice was strange
ly sweet, "such bitter need as pray
Heaven you may never know. This is
my first offense, believe me-"


did believe him, and made ND nv
mind on the spot to get him away before
my aunt should awake. / bade him fol-
low me, and silently we crept down the
stairs and to the front door; then telling
him to wait until returned, I hastened
back to my room. The sounds that
issued from the bed told me Aunt Mary