Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-04
WATER WORKS IN DANBURY.
Experience Of Mr.. COhletuh.
From tho Danbury Newa

Aho suohOcIo VI VIC OanOufy water
Board have unnecessarily imposed upon
themselves the most dreadful secrecy as to
their official movements. Who're there is a
break to repair, or an improvement to make
which il to disturb the pipes, they cut off
the water without any notice, and the first
intimation the housewife has of the misfor-
tune is when she turns the faucet and re-
ceives in response the dubious proaninr of
escaping air. Then the head of the house
takes the pail and " shins" out for q neigh
boring we'll, and If the remarks he makes
we're put in book, it would take pretty
smart man to hold the book. But this shut
ting off the water is grievous matter, and
our people have become very sensitive about
it. Monday afternoon, while Mr.. Cobleigh
was cyphering out some calculation in his
store, he overheard some one say that the
water was to be shss off for two days. As
the nearest well'SSj Air. Cobleigh's house is
a quarter of mile away, that gentleman
gave utterance to an expression of earnest
tended to enliven he Water Board, pre-.
cipitated himself into his coat, and started
for home at q rapid speed. Arriving there
all outof breath, and in a heat which made his
flesh quiver, he threw his excellent wife into
"OHAANVAoAA ~ oC1 CAlulUk
tubs, pals, and barrels. But when she
learned, which she gradually did, that the
water was to be shut off at once, she enter
ed heartily into the excitement and earn
estness. First the tubs were snatched out
of the cellar, and snatched up stairs with
equal celerity, and while Mr.. Cobleigh tend
ed to their filing. and glared ferociously at
the running stream, Mrs. Cobleigh ransacki
o6 hoo,oo fop thu o,xo:1nh1o
good lady was scarcely less unnerved than
her man, and under the inspiration Of his
constantly recurring, Hurry, hurry, Ma,
ti!da!"it did seem, as she afterwards actu-
ally confessed, as if her head would spin off
and lose itself: Once or twice she stopped
to explain, Good Lord, Moses, I can't be
everywhere at" but the "Hurry, hurry,
Matilda" relentlessly cut her short. and
sent her into the search again more distract.
ed than ever. Milk pals, pans and basins
were brought. Then she got down the
bowls, and Mr.. Cobleigh was going to call
for the goblets when he was diverted by
thinking OF the iron kettles, and they were
Of them tipped over, but Mr..
his shoes, and thus saved the carpet. Then
he filled the teakettle, and afterwards the
dipper, and finding no fresh fields to con-
q''er. shut off the water, and being in q
heavy perspiration, and exhausted as to
rest he put off his wet clothes and put on
some dry ones, and exchanging the vet shoes
got pair of dry boots which hurt his heel,
he imped back to the store. Once there he
prepared to renew his struggle with the
ho- H-I
with the intelligence that the water was to
be cut off, but the duplicity Of tho Water
Board filled his mind to the exclusion of all
other topics, and finally laying aside his
pencil, he started with the sore heel for the
office. Commissioner Starbuck was present.
~, you are here, are you?" inquired Mr..
said Mr.. Starbuck. "Well, You are a nice
one, aiu't you p he observed, as if in con-
tinuance of his interest in the commission
er's welfare. "Why, what's the matter,
Mr.. Coblcigh ?'' "Matter ?" asked that
gentleman, and suddenly raising his voice.
and losing all the color about his moutlt
&c ''Matter, is it2" he cried, his voice trent i:
ling with passion, ard the strain upon it..
shutting off the water supply of the people
without one word of warming, without the
faintest notification of your base, sneaking
designs2 What do you meat by putting
the entire town into state Of confusion and
suffering by the grossest piece of careless
-" my dear s,r,' Interrupted Mr..
Starbuck, "what can you mean by this
charge. The wateris not shutoff." "What, ~
gasped Mr.. Cobleigh. "The water has not
been shut off," repeated Mr.. Starbuck.-
" But-but, amt it to be shut off this after
noon, and kept off for two days?" asked
Mr.. Cobleigh, with a visible faltering in his
tone. " Certainly not" said Mr.. Starbuck.
Mr.. Cobleigh stared at the speaker with
dreadful intensity. "Who told you this ?''
asked the commissioner. II don't know
now who it was," said the unfortunate man,
suddenly recalling himself to a realizing
sense Of the horrid mistake. "It was some
ALFRED fool in the store, and was in a hur-
ry to get home and never stopped to look
or think. Here have been up to Nelson
street on dead run, turned over the entire
house, filled every vessel in it with water,
lifted tubs that weighed ton apiece, wet
every thread of clothing ON my body, and
almost made lunatic Of my wife, and then
had to get back to the store with boot that
ground the skin right off my heel And
all, ]" gasped the miserable man, "because OF
darned black hearted, lying IDIOT" Then
as he imped away, and thought on the ap.
pearance OF his home, and the array of
amateur lakes and ponds within it, he Incl.
dentally mentioned: "Confound the lying
scalawag; if get hold of him before the
thunderbolts of heaven ovcrtake him, l
will smash every bone in his villainous car
cass''