The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-12-01
1.-THE ESD.l
jenkins Experience in House Paint
inc

Ing.
There are a number of things con
cerning which I am possessed of pro
found ignorance. Among these may
be numbered the fine arts. With re
gard to the coarse arts, such as hOus'
painting, l have recently learned a few
lessons from experience. 1 consider
experience Thorough teacher; but hi
charges for tuition are perhaps rathel
high.
Maria Ann said we must have the
house repaired, and as what Maris
Ann says must be, generally is, l a
once went and made a bargain witt
a house painter. He said he would
send his painters around. The neXi
morning L got my breakfast and start
ed out to earn my bread by the pers
piratiOn of my classic brow. 1 open
ed the door and put my foot into til
pail full of paint. Then / took it ou
and set it on the hall door mat. Marii
Ann assisted me from there, and
took a flying leap over the painter tC
the sidewalk. The painters painted
the fences and the esteps that forenoon
Every one whO came to see US eithel
painted THAR hands on the gate anC
left prints on the chairs, or else paint
ed their sOles on the steps, and mad,
tracks all over the parlor carpet. Tit
cat laid down on the steps to sleep in
the sun, and the paint dried so fas
that when she got up one side of he
was bald-headed.
The next morning the men came be
fore any one was up and began t.
take out all the windows. During
the entire day they were working
around the window castings. One o
them would stand by the open kitch-
en- window, and another by the open
parlor window, and then they woulC
talk about the Painters Union, abOu
the picnic, about the price of flour
about the girls; about all the while
The retirement which is among the
charms of domestic life did not char
acterize our house to any great extent
that day.
The next morning about five O'CLOCK
1 heard some one walking into Oul
bed room. sprang boldly from the
bed grasped boot in one hand anC
the pitcher in the other, and deter
mined to sell my life as dear as pos
sible unless I got a chance to ruI
down stairs. Said /, "WhO is there?
"Oh," replied the intruder, otis me
the painter; 1 am taking down the
blinds" 1 felt much relieved; bu1
Maria rather seemed to be out of pa
tience. She told the man what she
thought about him, and made pointed
comments upon his manner, his ap-
pearance and the probabilities he evel
enjoyed a common school educa-
ton.
The painter was welded to his art,
and paid no attention to the prattle Of
Maria Ann. With the windows anG
blinds both out, the interior of the
house was somewhat exposed, and
the task of getting dressed was at
tended with some embarrassment
especially as the painters seemed tC
be at work atall the windows. While
we were eating breakfast one of the
painters came in with an armful Of
towels and remarked that he found
them hanging on the clOthes-line, and
he supposed Maria would have nc
objection to his using them to wipe
off the doors before he grained them.
Maria stated her objections in detail
and the man withdrew.
The next morning / was up early.
When the painters came 1 proposed
to help them. "COme right alOng.n
shouted, '1et's take Off the elapboards
and paint them. Let's take up the
cellar and paint that, inside and out.
Let's paint the cistern. Let's take
down the chimney and paint the
bricks. Let's paint the hole the eel
lar leaves. Let's" They assured
me that I was planning more work
than was necessary, and as they did
not act as though they needed my
help, 1 went back to breakfast.
The next time the house wants
painting 1 will move into the back
yard, and send the house down to the
shop, where The painters can swarm
around it at their pleasure.