Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-06-11


ing, and that Ira had whitewashed over
head the week before the State fair. To
all outside appearances she was tip-top
housekecper. But sometimes, If she WAS
In a hurry, she did not make her bed
more than three times in one week.
Nobody knew 1t but Ira, and he didn't
care a cent.
Ira stood his ground and managed TO
say something every time the Squire
spoke; he was determined that he
shouldn't have an opportunity TO talk sen
timent TO Betsey, for If he did, dear knows
where it would end. There was the
Squire, wcll.to.do widower, a good pro-
wider, only two children, rich, and looking
about for a partner TO share his joys and
his sorrows. There was his sister, Bet
sey Bobbett, only turned Of thirty.three,
neat, handsome, smart as cricket, and
her husband as dead as q door.nail this
eighteen months and over, and why
shouldn't she marry IL she took notion
But he couldn't live in the same house
with the Squire and Betsey, even ii they
wanted him 10. He thought, and thought
and scratched his head over the problem,
and his lower jaw fell, and for two days
he pondered sorrowfully over this new
dilemma.
One day Betsey was going over to her
cousins 10 a quilting, and Ira was TO keep
house and have the tea-kettle boiling at
FIVE O'Clock In the evening.
Now, nobody would guess what an
ugly thing old Brother Ira did In her alb.
sence. Oh, the selfish old churl was driv-
en- TO i'll He knew 1t wasn't manly or
kind, but how could he give up his coy
quarters and see Betsey's smiles layished
upon anotherf
Poor fellow, he arraigned himself, and
while under Indictment he said: NOW,
Ira Josephus Barnabee, you know very
well that you are the viciousest mortal
that ever lived, but something must be
done. You don't want TO be set adrift
and be compelled to try the realities Of a
cruel world that always was hard on
orphans and poor folksp
Ira often dealt with pathos on the fact
Of his being an orphan. lie was not a
very tender orphan, being in his forty
seventh year; but that is the way with
some people, they will howl over one old
time, by.gone sorrow all through their
lives.
Ira knew that Madame Wilkins, de-
ceased had been a very pink Of house
keeper, and the bereit Squire thought
this requirement the one thing needful in
wife. She must mop all the floors
every Saturday, sweep down the cobwebs,
polish the tinware, and do all the little
things that his mother used TO do. OF
course her successor must be all she had
been.
After Betsey had been gone an hour or
two Ira walked leisurely over to the new
story-and.a half frame house of Squire
Wilkins, and seated himself on the work.
bench and commenced playing with the
little curly shavings.
The Squire came In and began show.
ing him round through the house very
courtcously. When they were upstairs
Ira said: "You'd ought TO have your
rooms divided off like my sister Betsey
has; think hers are very convenient
81 wish had the plan of her rooms"
said the Squire, Frightening up as though
the idea tantalized him.
"Get your rule and come right over
along with me; there's nobody at hoile
to-day, and we'll have full possession our
selves"
So the two men trudged off together to
Widow Betsey Bobbett's little rose-covered
cottage in the edge of the village.
Now don't wish 10 insinuate, but
verify believe that Ira Josephus, the self
ish old bachelor brother, had been all
through Rose Cottage, just trying how
badly he could tumble together the con.
tents, and what suspicion he could cast
upon that little housekeeper, Bctsoy Bob.
bett In the pantry the doors of the cup.
board stood staring wide open, showing
heterogeneous mess Of cold boiled cab.
bage, pork, fish, turnips, pickles, butter
milk, and meatfryings, with nut-cakes,
broken pies, dry bread, etc, etc. The
doors of the clothes.press stood ajar, and
bonnets, hats, hose, CATERS, gowns and
slippers were thrown promiscuously TO.
gethcr in tumbled heaps-dirty and
clean, broken and whole, all Just AZ
though tumbled out of u rag. peddier's
wagon in hurricane. The sittingroom
was in prime disorder; basket of wal.
nuts and plate of apples, with Feelings
and cores among them, occupied place
In the middle of the floor. But her bed.
room was the worst The bed was not
made; on one post hung night. cap lit
wasn't hers; Ira must have put his there (;
IL was made of red flannel, without a
hem or binding; the back part of IL was
puckered all up by string run round in
It, On another post hung an old hoop.
skirt that looked as il II had come out of
Noah's ark after doing good service for
Noah's wife and his sons wives. Stock.
ings lay scattered about, and shoes just as
they had been kicked of, corsets, bus.
ties, underclothing, and all the ct c6terd Of
bedroom, in dilapidated condition.
Ira acted very naturally, just as If every.
thing was right and not unusual.
"Now, Squire, this bed is good
size--'bout square, should think" said
the unimpressible Ira, taking the rule and
beginning to measure from the wall right
opposite the bed stake the measure and
see for YOURSELF" and he handed 1t to the
bereft widower.
He took 1t and continued on with the
same measurement that Ira had com.
menced. Of course ii ran right under the
bed. Now beds wiU get dirty under them.
idon't know what's the reason, but the
first sign Of disorder in bedroom begins
with fiuffness on the carpet under It..
Then we women all know what glorious
receptacle "under yon bed is for shoes,
boxes, dirty clothes, cast-of buds, and
anything one wants TO put out of sight
just for little while.' Good house
keepers, sometimes, so far depart from
their integrity as to let things get In a
muss in their bedrooms. II Is not for us
n n a 4 a