The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
Experience with House-Paintsrs.

There Nro number OI tninHS cOncerh.
ing which am possessed Of profound
ignorance. Among these may DO num-
berod tho fno arts. With regard TO tho
coarse arts, such as house. painting.
have recently learned . few lessons from
experience. consider experience =
thorough teacher; but bis charges for
tuition. perhaps. are rather high.
Maria Ann said We must have tho house
repaired, and rs what Maria Ann says
must be, generally Is, at once went and
made n bargain with house paintcr.--
IIe said he would send his painters around.
The next morning | got my breakfast and
started out to earn my bread by the per.
spiration Of my classic brow. ] opened
the door and put my foot into . tin pail
full of paint. Then took It out and set
Il on the hall door mat. Maria Ann as.
sisted mo from there. and ] took" flying
leap over tho painter IN the sidewalk
Tho painters painted the fcnce, and tho
ones who came TO see us either painted
their hands on tho gate and LOFT prints
thereof on the chairs, or else painted their
soles on tho steps and made tracks all
over the parlor carpet. The Cat lay down
on the steps to sleep In tho sun, and tho
paint dried 20 fast that when sho got up
one side of her was bald-headed.
The next morning tho men came be-
fore anybody WAS up, and began 10 take
out all the windows. During the cntire
day they wero working around tho win.
dow castings. One of them would stand
by the open kitchen window. another by
the open parlor window. and then they
would talk about the Painters Union,
about the picnic, about the price OF -four,
about tho girls, about all the while. Tho
retirement which Is among the charms OF
domestic life did not characterize our house
TO any great extent that day.
The next morning. about 3 o'clock, I
heard some one walking In our bedroom.
I sprnng boldly from the bed, gnsped .
boot in one hand, pitcher In tho other.
and determined to sell my life as dear n
possible-unlcss I got = chance TO run
down stairs. Said 1:
"Whos therc?"
10" replied the intruder. "its me, the
painter; am taking down the blinds"
I felt much relieved; but Maria Ann
rather seemed to be out OF patience. She
told the man what she thought about him,
and made pointed comments upon his
manner. his appearance, and tho probabil.
it,es he never enjoyed common school
education. The painter was welded to
his art. and paid no attention to tho prat.
Ito of Maria Ann. With tho windows
and blinds both out, the interior OF the
house was somewhat exposed, and the
task Of getting dressed was attended with
some embarrassment, especially ~ tho
painters seemed to bo Mt nll tho win
dows.
While we were eating breakfast, ono
of tho painters came In with an armfnl
OF towels, and remarked that he found
them on the clothes line, and he supposed
Maria Ann would have no objection to
his using them to wipe of tho doors bo-
fore he grained them. Maria stated her
objections In detail, and the man with
drew.
Tho next morning I was up early
When the painters came, volunteered
TO help them.
Come right along!" shouted; "let's
take of the clapboar,ls and paint them.
Let's take up the cellar and paint that, In
side and out. Let's paint the cistern.
Let's take down tho chimney and paint
tho bricks. Lets paint tho hole the cellar
leaves. Let's"- gy,.
But they assured me that I was planning
more work than was necessary, and ss
thcy did not act rs though they needed my
help. went hack to breakfast.
The next time the house wants paint.
Ing. I will move into tho back yard and
send the house down 10 tho shop. where
the painters can swarm about It at their
pleasure.