

 ing some business to transact with Sam uei Halle of the same town, left home tor that purpose, in the afternoon, with the intention of returning to his family before bed time; but on account of the ram which commenced and continued till late Tn Intervening, he was induced to tarry at MT. Haile's all night. Mrs. Witherell finding that her husband did not return, and judging that he was de- talned by the rain, and that he would probably stay away from home all night, suggested to her son ia young man d. bout seventeen) the propriety of his ta- king bcdin room adjoining, or near to the one in which she slept. At a dead hour of the night, after they had been asleep, Mrs. Witherell and her son were awoke by the sound of foot steps in the kitchen, which at first they supposed were those of husband and q father: but they soon found their mis- take. Two ruffians immediately enter ed the room where Mrs. ". was in bed, one of whom exclaimed as he en- tered, "Now you--perjured rascal, we will lnflict upon you the penalty of your violated obligations" Elder ". is a seeding mason. At this moment young w. sprung from his bed, and ran towards the scene, exciaiming in loud and quiyering accents, afather have you got home 2''-ssfather are you there?' -One of the rufians seized Mrs. W. by the throat, and made pass at her head with his fist, or with a weapon, which, however, barely grazed her head and struck the head board with considerable force. It is presumed from what followed, that the cries of the young man induced them to exam inc to see whether their intended vic- tim was at home, for one of them drew from the pocket or from under his coat, a dara lantern, which he opened and examined the bed. Finding the object of search was absent, they immediate y decamped. The light which shone

 