Year: 1870

GETTING IN AT NIGHT.


The door was locked when | cot home.
said Tom, and how to get in without waking
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 back yard was an impossi-
bility, and but one chance remained. There
was 4 porch over the front door, the roof of
which was q few feet below two windows
One Of them [ knew to be fastened down,
and the other opened from bedroom, which
might or might not be occupied. An old
maiden sister of the governors wife arrived
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 had comparatively easy time of
it. So, getting plank from the neighboring
boardpie, rested it against the caves Of the
shed, pulling off my shoes, put them in my
pocket and 'coonc,!'. All right so far, but
thought it necessary, in order not to rouse
suspicion in the morning, to remove the
plank; so dragging it up threw it off the
end. and down it went with an awful clatter
on a stray dog that had followed me two or
three squares, and who Immediately set up
the most awful whine q hound ever gave
tongue to. That startled half dozen dogs
in the ncighborhood barking mocking
bird in the window above commenced as if
he intended to split his throat at it. and
woman in her night clothes appeared at the
window across the street. | knew | was
safe 50 far as she was concerned. but if any
one came to our window the candle gave
light enough to have discovered me. No
body came, however, and the lady after peep
;,T. tl,,,
two popped in her head and retired. The
mocking bird still kept up his eternal 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 dang
ling out, stopped to listen. Yes, she was in
the room, for | could hear breathing. After
waiting for 4 minute | cautiously drew up
one leg, and then the other, drew them
around, and putting them down on the floor,
was Just conscious that had stepped on
something soft and yielding, and was with
drawing them when another yell broke forth
At my feet the Old maid jumped from her
bed crying, ''murderiN And the mock 'ng
bird started again. A little darley was lying
on her back under the window, and | had
stepped on her face, and Of course woke her





house would be aroused. and would be
caught to Il certainty unless | could get To
my room before the governor was up; but
hadn't 4 moment to lose, for the little nigger
was screaming; 50 | started for the door in
three steps, struck 4 chair, stumbled over it,
of course, making the awtulest racket you
eyer heard in the hours of night in peaceful
house The ni@ger and the old maid screamed
louder than ever; the mocking bird whisted
louder than a steam whistle, and they fairly
made chorus as loud as Julian's.


reached 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 Il candle in his hand, and come
huuying up the stairs. There was ward
robe 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 confusion and inquiry
down stairs as to what was the matter. No
body else came up, though from where
stood | heard every word of inquiry and cx-
PLANTATION in the room. OF course they
couldn't make much of it. The little darkey
was too much frightened and too sound
asleep at the time to tell the truth, and the
upshot Of the business was that they conclud-
ed that she had been dreaming, and the gov
crnor after giving her sound shaking and
explaining the matter to the aroused neigh
bors from the window, went back to his own
room again.


$50 far so good now had to 90 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 building that
stood unconnected with, and about Il dozen
yards from the main one. After giving
everybody another half hour to settle down
again, started.


Boys, did You ever try to get up or down
pair OF stairs at midnight without making
noise You may try it all sorts of ways, but
every step is sure to creak, each with pc
culiar noise of its own, and loud enough, you
are sure, to awaken everybody. | had got
nearly to the bottom, when a little dog came
trotting up the entry toward me, yelling flu
riously A suppressed 'come here, Zip J" ST
lcnced him, for he recognized me; but the
little fellow started the mocking bird, and all |
the dogs in the neighborhood having learned
to take the cue, of course, Joined the chorus
for third time.


| ran along the passage, reached the door,
and unlocked it Just as the governor, aroused
for the second time, opened his door, and
seeing man coming from the house by the
back way of course cried Thieves thieves -
and made 4 rush after me. | was too quick
for him though; 7 opened the door, sprang
out, made for the door that opened into
room below mine, and had Just reached it,
when crash within a foot of my bed went a
brick, and u voice that knew belonged to
the next door neighbor Tompklns, joined
with the governor in the cry Of Thieves
thieves. murder. murdcr.'' | was safe,
though.


Running up stairs, l ''shelled' myself
quicker than ever did before or since and
was in bed, sound asleep in half a minute.


Wasn't there row, though? l never
heard SO many dogs before-the mocking
bird, of course, was outdoing all previous
etlorts-the chickens began to crow-Tom-
kns, next door, was halloong ''Thievcs.'
and calling the governor, | could hear
screams and all sorts of noises. and talking
among the ncighbors, until at length the old


L. IL.