Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03
Mr. Forbes. of Danbury. Looks for
Mutton Tailow On the Upper shelf.


The housewife will do well 20 keep her sur
plus pepper in q loose paper on an upper shelf
Mrs Forbes, Of Nelson street, is distinguished
for that trait Of domestic government Mr..
Forbes keeps the piece Of mutton tsllOw with
which be strengthens his boots in piece OF pa
per also. We don't pretend 20 say that Mr.
forbes puts this mutton tallow on an upper
shelf, or any shelf at all, when he gets through
with II. We wouldn't dare say this in face OF
the fact that Mr.. Forbes has always 70 search
for that tallow, and always appears Surprised
when IL is handed him. But he keeps * in a
paper, and the advent OF snow Saturday morn
ing, prompted him TO look for it. Mrs. Forbes
had her attention attracted toward him by his
getting Gown on his knees 70 peer under the
-toye, aid by remark he incidentally dropped
o the effect that ''he bet he "a build house vet
bat be could put thing Ina and find IL again"
preserved a moody silence, and continued the
search, taxi ing the kettles out from beneath the
sink, and scrntinizing each one with unrelent-
ing severity. why don't you tell me what you
are looking for?" demanded Mrs. Forbes.
None of your business said he snapplshly.
81 don't believe You know what you are look
ing for, )" retorted Mrs. Forbes, and appeared 70
receive much consolation from the remark. "If
things were left where they we're put" es-
planned Mr.. Forbes, now thoroughly exssper-
sted, "they could be found again. Whatever
observation Mrs, Forbes contemplated ventur-
ing In reply 10 this was abruptly cut OF by the
advent OF neighbor who wanted TO consult her
in regard 70 the trimming of a cloak. Mrs.
Forbes hastily adjourned to the sitting-room,
plore the shelves. Bits of paper peeping over
the edge Of the upper shelf Immediately at
rscted his attention, and he proceeded 10 take
them down. Now q woman would have taken
q chair for this purpose that she might better
see what she was doing, but q man rarely de-
scends TO the weakness OF q woman. As long as
the contents OF a shelf can be reached he does
not care to see the shelf itself. And 90 Mr..
Forbes stood on his tip toes. and reaching up,
began to drag down the paper parcels. Mrs
Forbes In the sitting room with the neigh Dor,
and completely engrossed in the particulars of
the new cloak, was startled out of her chair
veloped bound, and out OF her senses BY q
piercing shrek and q terrific crash, and
flying into the kitchen, found the break
fast table toppled over, and the portly and
conservative Mr.. Forbes prancing In among
the ruins OF crockery and food, madly rubbing
his eyes, and sneezing most vocferousy. The
poor woman WAS Immediately made aware of
the cause Of the mshap. His passionate refer
ence 70 pepper In paper packages, 70 the awful
stupidity OF the female sex, and TO a future
world, all OF which, most singulary jumbled
together, needed no uuraveling 10 make them
more explicit. She dragged him TO the sink;
back and bosom; she rubbed his ears, and
pounded him between the shoulders, and b.,
sought him with flushed face and fearful eyes
"not TO carry on and make such an idiot OF
himself" But IL was sOmstlme, even under
her skilful treatment, before he could stine his
screams ard profanity, and ven ure to open his
eyes; and il was not until she had said eight
times that IL he had only told her what he
wanted this might have been saved" did he feel
sufficiently recovered 10 dash into the pantry
and demolish the shelf.-Danbsry Nescs.