The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-05-21

The coffee boiled, the steak sputtered in
the pan, and the men painted, perspired,
whlstled, and used improper words over
the heat.
1t was good supper, and piling up the
dishes-it was LOO hot to wash them
the FIVE bachelors returned to the parlor.
1t was Involuntary, but each pair of
eyes rested for moment on the seat Susy
was wont to occupy A little music, more
talking, and still more smoking filled the
time till midnight, when each one yawned
himself off to bed. Harry, who was the
one to lock up, was the latest. The kitch-
en- looked drearY no fire, the greasy fry
ing pan placed as helmet over the coffee
pot, bits OF bread !ying about loose, dirty
pots here and dirty dishes there. The
parlor was in disorder; chairs stood in
forlorn confusion; smoke hung over all
The dining room, with irS piles of dirty
cups, saucers and plates, its unswept floor,
greasy napkins, and smoky atmosphere,
was worst Of all, and Harry inwardly ad-
mitted that somehow the house dit not
look as comfortable as usual.
There was fun the next morning max
ing up the beds. The milkman aud ba
ker had vainly knocked for admittance,
and finally retired in disgust. and the
bachelors break tasted of the stale. bread
left from the nights feast, aud the coffee
black and sweet
Every man clear up his own ROOM
The order given, each started to obey
Joe pulled aft the clothes from his bed,
and having laid the bolster and pillow on,
proceeded to put on first blanket, next
a spread, and finally the two sheets, FIN
ishing Oh the whole by putting himself
on the top to rest from his tolls Minnie,
after pulling all the clothes of on one
side in trying to tuck them in on the
other, and then correcting the mistake by
tucking them in on the other side and
pulling them off the first, put his bolster
on over the pillows, and concluded it
would do Charley merely smootheu his
down, sagely observing that if he pulled
the things off he never could put them
on again. Harry and George, who shared
the same room, having followed Charley s
plan, put on an extra touch by sweeping
the room, and leaving pile of dust lying
in the middle of the entry.
Three days experience convinced them
that bachelors cookery was slow starva-
ton. Steaks and coffee for breakfast
were followed by coffee and steaks for
dinner, and both for tea Charley sug-
gested that they should have their meals
sent from a restaurant.
All I1en cooks, so we stick to the con-
tract, was his final observation
The motion was seconded and carried
by Il unanimous vote.
BY this tine every dish, plate napkin,
pot and pan in the house was dirty, and
joyfully concluding that they wouldn't
want them any more, the gentlemen piled
them up in the kitchen sink, on the floor
and table, and left them.
'Harry'-it was Georges voice-I
haven't got a clean shirt
Nor L.
Nor L.
! Nor T.
I've got one
Nor a handkerchief, nor collar, nor a
pair of stockings, nor
Stop! Two weeks since Susy went,
and no washing day =
Thnra w,c q 1aad ci1anoo
who knows how to wash ?
No answer
live seen it DONE said one faint
voice, owned by Charley. You soap the
things and rub 'em on board
Can anybody iron?'
They all thought they could manage
that part.
The kitchen was opened for the first
time for ten days. One cry burst from
five pair of lips. Tables, chairs, floor,
dresser, sink, were one mass of reaches,
collected by the greasy dishes. They
overran every place.
Shut the door. Now for it, cried
George, and dashed at the invaders. Bed
lam seemed to have broken loose. La
reaching after one of the critters Charley
upset the table. Crash went the crockery
Screams of laughter, cries of disgust,
blows thick as hail, comments on the heat,
jokes, aud warnings flew about for an
hour, and then the pauting party ceased
! from their labors. aud viewed sternly the
cold corpuses' Of their foes. A scream
| from Minnie
There's one down my back'
George crled-'Joe, there's one on
your hairP
Don't mention it. Look at the fellow
on your shirt sleeve
A general stampede for the bath room
/ followed.
I.etss wash IN he-e'