Year: 1866

1t is the abit of many persons to take
look under the bed before retiring for th,
night. Mrs. Evergreen, my beloved wife, in
duiges, If Indulgence it can be called, in thiI
peculiar practice. | do not object to thi,
the least so long as she does not enforce
the performance upon myself; but whom
as is sometimes the case, she forgets it uu
til she has put out the light and esconced
herselfunder the comforter, then it is hard
that |, who am not troubled with nervous
apprehensiveness should have to get ont il
the cold and do it for her. | have remarked
to Mrs. Evergreen, when have seen heI
prying under the bed, that it was silly
habit, and the sooner she gave itup the bet
ter. TO this gentle admonition my better
half invariably rejoins.


La, Evergreen what harm does it do
It's kind of satisfaction to know that no
body's under there, and thenl don't think
OF such horrible things after I'm in bed"


" | think my dear, you might just as well
pursue your Investigations further and look
into the bureau drawers and the clothes
basket"


Evergreen" she will rejoin, "don'r
mention the idea, or shall certainly do so.
Come to think of it, man could very easily
get into the clothes basket?"


Certainly he could my dear, quite as
easily as Falstaff. You should certainly IN
clude the clothes basket, and by 'the-by,
there's the chimney why not look up thai
as wel?"


Now, Evergreen, you're laughing at me.
But cant leave off the habit, and never
viii. It's comfort to me to know that
there's nothing wrong about it, and don't
see why you should deprive me of it,


so under the bed goes the candle, and
no signs of humanity being discovered,
Mrs. Evergreen is able to repose in peace.
But as already observed, this precautionary
act is sometimes forgotten, and am myself
obliged to RISE light the lamp and report.
I've done it rather more frequently OF late
than is agreeable, aud have intimated as
much to Mrs. f. Sac says:


Very we'll, Evergreen, Ill do it myself


But this procedure is almost as bad, for
she invariably let's the cold in on me both
in getting out and getting in. If it were
not for increasing the mental idiosy ucrasy
on the part of Mrs. Evergi cen, by giving
her some good reason to apprehend danger,
| should relate to her what | am about to
lay before the reader. In this narration
therefore, ask the public most particularly
to bear in mind that Mrs. Evergreen Is of
very sensitive nature, rather apprehensive
and slightly superstiious, and what have
to say must under no circumstances be i'm,
parted to that lady. If for two and.twenty
years. THAT is the period of our welded
life, and happy years have they beenj. if
say have for this long period refrained
from mparting the matter to the beloved
sharer of my joys and partaker Of my sor-
rows, surely the public, (which as we know,
always does keep socret will keep mine.


All young men suppose, have love at
fairC before they eventually fix their affec-
iions on the one who is to bless their lot
in life. know that had, and don't regret
il. Regret il? far from it. Mrs. Evergreen
is not present, and therefore have no hes
itatiOn in saying that if had my life to live
over again I'd like to go through with the
same sentimental experience, particularly
il i was to be succeeded by again leading
to the hymenial altar the present Mrs. Ever
green.


was not bad looking when was in my
twenties. | think may go further, and
say that Gus Evergreen was a decided
favorite among the girls of 0akvillc, and
| really believed that conld have any OF
them for the. asking" As l before re-
marked, Mrs. Evergreen is not present, and
| indulge my thoughts more freely than if
otherwise were the case. don't think that
l cared particularly for any Of the Qakyille
girls however, and might have Kept my
heart whole 10 this day il il had not been
for the circumstances am about to relate.