Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/164

148 Next to keeping a light burning all night, is the affixing a large bell tor an alarum on the outside of the house, having a communication with two or more chambers. This is more especially essential out of town (or around town). Your next neighbours should be made acquainted with its sound, possibly by tolling it at some given hour; the same of watchmen, and patrols, horse as well as foot; and the attention to the tones of the latter would be wonderfully improved, if the thing were to be done over a jug of ale. Having, in the next place, furnished yourself with a good strong house-dog, and some well kept fire arms, you may go to sleep in peace, provided you know how to use the latter, and to manage the former. But servants are very likely to spoil both the one and the other: the dog by too much attention, the fire arms by too little. What is the object of firing off a charge of powder every night at dusk? As soon as the dog is put upon his station, this might be done, and it would be a signal to him to be upon the "qui vive?" "Now mind, Cæsar! Look out," say you, and fire!

Whilst we are upon precautions, we may as well make a finish of the general ones.

Should you at any time lose your dog,