Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-17

on over the pillow and concluded it "would
do. Charley merely smoothed his down,
safely observing that if he pulled the things
OIL he never could get them on again.
Harry and George, who shared the same
room, and having followed Charley's plan,
put ON an extra touch by sweeping their
room and leaving the pile of dust in the
entry. Excelsior"
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 supper. Charley suggested
that they should have their meals sent
| from restaurant
"All men cooks, so we stick to the con-
tract" was his final observation.
This motion was seconded and carried
by 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 moro, the gentlemen piled
them up in the kitchen sink, on the floor
and tables and loft them.
Harry"-it was Georges voice-"I
haven't gotta clean shirt"
Nor l.
"Nor l."
"Nor J."
I've got one."
"Stopl Two weeks since Susy left, and
no washing day"
There was dead silence.
Who knows how to washf"
No answer
""I-rve seen it done," said one faint
voice, owned by Charley. You soap the
things, and then rub them on boai d."
Can any body irons"
They oil thou uoht thau on,,1d ,,noooo
that part.
The kitchen was opened for the first
time In ten days. One cry burst from five
lips. Tables, floors, chairs, dresser, sink,
were one mass of reaches, collected by
the pile of greasy dishes. They overran
the place.
'Shus the door. Now for i'll" cried
George, and dashed at the invaders. Bed
lam seemed to have broken loose. In
reaching after one of the critters"
Charley upset the table-orash went the
crockery. Screams of laughter, cries of
disgust, blows as thick as hail, comments
on the heat jokes and warnings flew about
for an hour, and then the painting party
ceased from their labors, and viewed
sternly the "cold corpuses of their foes.
A scream from Minnie:
There's one down my back |"
George cried; "Joe, there is one on
your hairp' .t
Don't mention it. Look at that fellow
on your shirt-sleevep
A general stampede for the bath room
followed
Let's wash up here"
No sooner said than DONE The soiled
clothes were collected from all the rooms,
and the boards and soap brought up from
the kitchen.
Joe and Harry washed, blistering hands
and steaming foreheads testifying to their
efforts. Cold water required great deal
of rubbing, and somehow the things had
a yellow tinge after all, as George re-
marked as he wrung them out. Minnie,
objecting to going into the yard, hung
them over the chairs in the dining-room
and the banisters in the entry as George
aud Charlie wrung them out. Dinner
time came and found them still at work.
Dinner eaten, the dishes carried off by the
waiter from the restaurant, they changed
places, and the washers wrung and hung
while the others washed.
Six o'clock saw the last shirt hanging
in damp limpness over the parlor chande,
lier; the handkerchiefs waved from the
mantel piece, and the stockings dangled
from the bars of the Canterbury.
They always iron the next day, so
they can dry at night" said Harry.
After another slaughter of reaches in
the morning, the fire was lighted, the irons
put on, and the clothes collected, rough.
dry, for the final touches Every man had
visions of smooth, clean linen to repay
him for his unaccustomed efforts Su ch is
hope
Charley took the first step. Planting
his iron on the front Of shirt, q smell
greeted his nostrils, and he lifted It again
to behold large brown mark, the precise
shape of the tlat-iron burned on the bosom
of his go-to-meeting" shirt. Blinnie's
iron being almost cold, was travelling
briskly up and down his shirt, but pro-
ducing no visible effect.
I 1t was humiliating, but true, that Joe
took an order to gentleman's furnishing
store that morning for supply of linen,
and the washed Clothes" were consign-
ed to the "pot closet" to await Susys re.
turn.
Susy's returnl How can I describe itl
Every man on that day found he had an
imperative engagement abroad, and the
little maiden found an empty house. She
went first to the parlor. Dust lay in piles.
One curtain was torn from the cornice,
and lay in limp folds against the window.
Clgars lay about loose, some whole, some
reduced TO mere stump; spittoons were
in every corner; on the center. tables three
bottles, two demiiohns, pack of cards,
and about dozen tumblers replaced her
pretty books. The piano bore two
pair of boots; the Canterbury had a
dish of chicken salad reposing peacefully
upon it; one ottoman supported a hat and
cane, another coat every chair bore
some relic Of the departed guests; here a
handkerchief, there cigar case, on one a
pocket comb, on another toothpick.
Susy was dismayed, but like brave little
woman determined to face all the mass at
once. The kitchen came next. AS we
have described 1t on the .eventful ironing
day, soft remained reaches inclusive. The
library came next in order and ii was the
counterpart of the parlor, only more so
dining-room and bedrooms to match.
Susy looked at the washboards in the
bathroom, the market basket in the
library, the parlor chairs in the kitchen,
CIT was nearest" said Joe, when he
brought them out,) the frying-pan in the
best bedroom, Charlie broke his basin,)
the bread-pan in the spare room, (for
dirty water, Joe said y the dish cloths in
the bedrooms (towels all dirty. She
the floor unswept for
month marked the dust, the accumulation
of a similar time aud then went to her own
room, the only orderly, because undis.
turbed, place in the house. A little note
on the table.
"We own beat 1t takes Woman
We beg pardon Wen never do so any
more Clear up and invite us 10 dinner
Five PENITENT BATonELoRs"