The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-12-12
The Proyident Man and His Misery.

The members of the Danbury Water
Board have unnecessarily imposed upon
themselves the most dreadful >ecreSy a TO
their official movements. Where there il
\ break "a repair or an Improvement to
make which j. to disturb the pipes. they
cnt off the water without any notice. and
the first intimatiOn the housewife has of the
misfortune il when she turns the faucet
and receives IN response the dubious groan-
ing OF escaping air. Then the head of the
house takes the pail and '-shins" out for a
neighboring well. and ii the remarks he
makes were put ia book il would take a
pretty smart man to hold the book. But
this shutting of the water is a grieyous
matter. and our people have become very
sensitive about it, Monday afternoon.
while Mr.. Cobleigh was ciphering out
SONS calculation in his store. he overheard
some one say that the water was 10 be shut
off for two days. ~ the nearest well To
MIR. Cobleigh's house isa quarter ola mile
away. that gentleman gave utterance 10 an
expression Of earnest gratitude. coupled
with an observation intended To enliven the
Water Board. precipitated himself into his
coat. and started tor home nj arapid speed.
Arriving there all out of breath. and in a
heat that made his flesh quiycr. he threw
his excellent wife into undue trepidation
by screaming for the tubs. pals. and bar
nels. But when she learned, which she
gradually did, thar the water was to be
shut of 40 once. she entered heartily into
the excitement and earnestness. First the
tubs were snatchcd ont of the cellar. and
snaiched up stairs with equal CELEBRITY. and
while Mr.. Cobleigh tended to their filling.
and glared Previously at the running
stnam. Mrs. Cobleigh rinsackcd the house
for the available tinware. The good lady
was scarcely less unnerved than her man.
and under the inspiration of his constantly
recurring. Hurry. hurry. Matilda it
did seem. a. she afterward confessed. as II
her head would spin off and lose itself.
Once or twice she stopped 10 explain.
Good Lord. Moses. can [ he everywhere
at t. but the =. Hurry. hurry. Matilda, =
relcntlessly cut her short and sent her into
the search again more distracted than ever.
Milk pals, pans. and basins were brought.
Then She rot down the bowls. and Mr..
CObleigh was going to call for the eoblets
when he was diverted by thinking of the
iron kettles. and they We're brought forth
and all Of them filled. One OF them tipped
over. hut Mr.. Cohlcigh caught the contents
in his shoes and thus saved the carpet.
Then he filled the tca-kettle and afferward
the dipper. and finding no fresh field 10
conquer shut of the water. and being i'm a
heavy Precipitation and exhausted A. 10
breath sat down and rested. After the
rest he put of his wet clothes and put
on some dry ones. and exchanging the
wet shoes for u pair OF dry boots which
hurt his heel. he limped back 10 the
store. Once there he prepared TO renew
his struggle with the problem he was en-
gagged on when hc was electrified with the
intelligence that the water was 10 becut of.
but the duplicity Of the Water Board filled
his mind 10 the exclusion Of all other
topics. and finally. laying aside his pencil.
ne started with the sore heel for the office.
Commissioner ~tarbuck was present.
--Oh. you are here. are your inquired
Mr.. Cohleigh. contemptuously. Ger
fainly," said Mr.. Starbuck. ''Well. you
are nice one. amt yous' he observed. rs
Il In continuance OF his interest in the
Commissioner welfare. "Whv. what's
the matter. Mr.. Coblcighg "Matier.r
asked that gentleman. suddenly raising
his voice. and losing al the color about
his mouth. Matter. il its' he cried. his
KOicr trembling with passion. and the
strain put upon II. what do YOU mean
| want Ia know. by shutting of the water
supply Of this people without one word
Of warning. without the faintcst notifica-
ton Of your base, sncaking dcsignsg
Nilu W you mean ny putting the entire
town into state of confusion and suffer
Ing by the groS~est piece of carccss---"
Ny dear sir. Uninterrupted Mr.. Starbuck.
what 10 you mean by this charger The
water l. not shut off, "Whaty' gasped
Mr.. Coblcigh. The water has not been
shut oil, repeated Mr.. Siarhuck. But
amt il 60 be shut OF this afternoon. and
kept off for two daySr' asked Mr.. Cob
leigh, with Visible ALTERING In hi. tone.
Certainly not" said Mr.. Starbuck. Mr..
Coblcigh stared at the speaker with dread
fnl intensity. "Who told you thisy' said
the Commissioner. " don't know now