Middletown transcript., 1873-11-29

presume to bring up family without the
support and assistance TO be derived from
a pcrusnl Of that inestimabls work.
"Why. there was a picture in il worth
ter times the price Of subscription" and
hastily aud dexterously turning tho leaves,
ho discovered to my amused gaze a wood
cut. representing the family in tho ark,
costly taking tea. surrounded by the won-
dering representatives Of the animal king
dom. Mrs Noah was brandishing dish
towel over tho head Of scampering and
would bs--.oo familiar monkey, in the
fore ground. wbila an afIeciionato young
Shcn,. Ham, or Japhoth. was feeding the
elephant on crumblcd gingerbread in the
background. Their costumes were strik-
ing and unique.
Iadmit,cd that it was lively and affect.
ing scene. Bu, VIC didn't want the book !;
had more than We read now. Was / the
mistress Of tho house? I was not. IL she
were around he would find her. He took
bis book in his hand and annouaccd his
determination to explore tho premises =
lfo penetrsted 10 tho kitchen, Mrs. Minis
rc,rea,ed to the smoke. house loft, and
having locked the door on the inside, took
a complete survey Of the discounted agent
us he stood upon the back s.oop and glared
iiercely around him. lls returned to tho
dining room and coolly sat down lie
descan,ed upon the awful dogcnsracy Of
the times: he had hoped to do good and
make money both together. | merely re-.
marked that those two birds were a iecfie
hard to kill with one aud the same stone
An hour wen, slowly by 'ero the agent
departed and Mrs. Minis came forth from
her hiding place. Suppressed wrath
cleaning from her little ,winkling black
eyes and great drops Of pcrspera,icn stand.
ing upon her troubled coun,cnancs. The
bread had soured, the eustards were burn
ed to charcoal, all The machinery Of a we'll
ordered kitchen had got gu, Of gear during
her involuntary absence.
Then the tongue Of Mrs Minis was lcosed
aud she poured forth the story of her
wrongs and suacrngs at the hands Of those
instruments Of torture, called sgen,s, sent
forth broadcast over the land by misguided
and erring enterprise The worst of /,
was, she said, that Minis was the easiest
gnlled man in the world Agents had
cheated them; has slcpt between hsr i'm
inaculatc sheets; eaten Of her matohless
bread without remuneration and no men,
.ion Of recompsuse had eyor been made.
Their garrst shs declared to be miniature
patent office. filled with cast Of machinery
patont eontriyencss d. for nothing in re-
slity but old lumber. And one day in
company with Minis visited il; l shall
never forget the sight-s twenty dollar
sewing machine. washer or two. a patent
churn, warranted to briag bsticr ont oil
skim milk in an incredible short space oil
time. bu, time would fail me to mcution
half the contents of tho garre, of ,he mnr
with mania for buying pa,ea, things, fol
such is Mims.
But on the day Of the book agents yisi,
Of which | am telling you. as Mrs. Mimi
was ia ths mids. of her harangnc, cn,e,
Mifcr a neighbor aud congenicl spirit
also an enemy. and traducor. as we'll as a
victim of agents. aud forthwith she Launch
ed forth against tho whole triba. Their;
was, she said, for instance. the tree man
the musical instrament man. the patcn
clothes line man. and last, but not least o
these irrcprsssiblc nuisancss, the Bible an,
tract agent. One of the latter had ono
descended upon..my friend Miller in th
shape Of masculine looking woman, VII,
drove blind horse to n rickety buggy
she arrived on tho eve Of great snow
storm. and continued until in sheer des
para.ion Mifsr bough. out her whole s,ocl
aud afterwards rosailcd /. to tho ncighbor
at rainous percentage.
The two ladies had abou. exhausted lh
subject, and Mrs. Miller hail finally dccd
ed to lay OF her bcnnct aud remain to din
uer. when footsteps aud voices fell upol
our ears aud looking up wo baLeld th
good. humored. ssnburnt countcnance Q
tho master Of tho house. aud just benin,
him that irrePressible agent. advancing
inso tho kitchen with smile on his fac
which was actually demoniae.
This Vas tho way |, happened. ia pass
ing The Gsld where Mr.. Nina MAS at work
he got out. tied his horse, and book i
hand. had pcrambulased after the harro,
sad Mims, until tho lstter finally gave in
purchased Bis book and invited him HON
~ dsamse