Year: 1872




Thou art the man, and thou, alone viii make
4 Felix trembIe and q David quakei





4 UNIT POLLT7S ADVENTURE WITH


THE BURGLAR.


o, my didn't the wind blow? When
I went around the house that night,
locking doors and windows before going
to bed, there was just a breath of breeze
sighing about-nothing more; but by
the time I had fairly pumped upon the
pillow, the gale was going it like mad.
When I first came to the Western coun-
try I used to be surprised at the quick
unceremonious ways storms had of COM
ing upon the people-half the time, it
seemed to me, out of clear, innocent
looking sky.


In my old home prided myself upon
reading the signs of the sky; but there
goodness me, when I thought it would
snow, it was sure to rain, and when I
could have taken a solemn oath that the
clouds were going to pour, why, whisk
they'd go, and the sun would shine. out
as though it was in high glee at having
fooled me- So I gave up being a wealth
er phOphet, and took it just as it came.


That night everything out of doors
seemed to be in commotion. The loose
shingles on the house ratified up and
down, the windows shook, the blinds rat
tied and half the timeit seemed to me that
the bed on which I lay would be blown
through the side of the house. I know
I'm a foolish old woman, but I thought
I couldn't help setting my rufiled night
cap straight, and smooth back my hair,
because if I should go, why there was
Decon Albee's house opposite, and
but Decon bless me what am saying


Well naturally, WIS lonesome enough
without child or chick to speak to, but
I did very well until somehow I got it
into my head that burglars always choose
just such nights to do their mischief in.


After that I started at every sound
and as there were thumps and clatters
on all sides, and in every direction, it
isn't to be supposed that got much
rest.


I didn't stop to reason that there was
very little in my poor little house to
tempt evil-dOers. I knew had forty
dollars and eighty cents laid away III my
poor departed Jason's old wooden chest,
and felt that to lose that would be a
terrible thing to me.


The house was a cottage, with a hall
running the length of its two rooms-an
'L" being built beyond. My room was
at the back, opening into the hall, and
front room adjoining. So my eyes
went first from one door to the other,
lingering, must say, with more dread
upon the one leading into the hall.


eff I should be robbed of that forty
and eighty cents" said to myself
Just then a blind went whack. and
springing up in bed, I began to say the
prayer my mother taught me-" Now 1
lay me down to sleep though Tn sure
it looked a great deal more as though I
was sitting up to sleep than laying
down.


''What an old fool you are Polly
Quimby?" began to say, aloud, try
ing to get mp my courage by the sound
of my own voice.


At that moment was sure I heard
step in the little hall, and before had
time to move from my place the door
swung back, and there he stood, the
object that I had been dreading, Mr..
Burglar himself.


Good evening, ma'am, " he said, in
such a polite way, that I found myself
in the motion of bowling back, and say
ing good evening too.


He was a middle-aged man, with
moustache and whiskers, and he had
the brightest eyes that ever saw IN
persons head. The hair on his temple
was quite gray. All in all, he looked
like a respectable Christian gentleman,
and not midnight thief.


"Quite a windy evening, ma'am, " he
went on, as he stepped into the room.
" You must be lonely by yourself. "


Somehow, this touched my temper.
L forgot who was speaking, and answered
back as tart as could be.


1 prefer to choose my company sir p


He laughed, and shrugged up his
shoulders.


You do, indeedl So do I, In this
case have the preference-not YOU.


Then he sat down Ieisurely in my
rocking chair, and stretched out his feet
as though he intended to stop while.


"WIl you be so kind, sir, IS to 90
! about your business? What do Won
think of yourself, sir, to be intrudine
upon the privacy of my room at this
hour of the night, sir?