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 too hot to wash them
the FIVE bachelors returned to the parlor
1t was Involuntary, but each pair of
eyes rested fora 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 IFS 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 did not
look as comfortable as usual.
There was fun the next morning max
ing up the beds. The miIkman aud ba
ker had vainly knocked for admittance,
and finally retired in disgust. and the
bachelors breakfasted off 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 off 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
lthe things off he never could put them
on again Harry and George, who shared
the same room, having followed Charley
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 restaurant.
All cl2en cooks, so we stick to the con-
tract, was his final observation
The motion was seconded and carried
by Il unanimous vote.
BY this time 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 clean shirt
Nor l.
Nor L.
Nor l.
I've got one
Nor handkerchief, nor collar, nor
pair of stockings, nor
Stop! Two weeks since Susy went,
and no washing day =
There was dead silence
who knows how to wash 2
No answer
live seen it DONE said one faint
voice, owned by Charley. You soap the
things and rub EN- on a 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,
by the greasy dishes. They
overran every place.
Shut the door Now for it, cried
george, ana dashed at the invaders. Bed I
lam seemed to have broken loose. La
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, and warnings flew about for an
hour, and then the painting 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.
Let's wash up he:e.'