Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-30
: SURPRI SED.o

The evening train was just starting for
its journey out into the solitudes of
country wilds, when a tall handsome
man OF seven or eight and twenty darted
frantically into the depot and swung
himself, after rather perilous fashion,
upon the platform of the moving cars
9 just saved myself p was his com
placent remark, as he settled himself on
the velvet cushions under the lamp.
/" Yes-exactly-just" commented a
gentleman who sat opposite. Il tell
you what, Harry Kneller, | shouldn't re
peat that kind of experiment very often,
if | were you"
Well, you see, | was in a great hurry
I've been getting i little surprise for my
wife, and somehow got behind time"
a surprise, eh?"
:" You see, /" went on Mr.. Kneller con
tidentialIy leaning over toward his friend,
4'she's exceedingly fond Of fried oysters,
and up in the country we never get any
Of that sort of thing"
= So that's the secret Of the pail, ell -
said George Arden, laughing good-hu-
morcdly.
Mr.. kneller, on getting home, deposit
ed his precious burden carefully in the
corner Of the porch and walked in with
nonchalant air
Well, Matter as the blue-eyed wom-
an came to meet him, and put up a rosy
mouth to be kissed; supper ready"
!" les-and I'm SO glad you came home
early, Harry, for Mrs. Evarts is sick, and
they want me to sit up with her to-
night"
All rightn said Harry, good-humored-
IL. Go, by all means, my pet!n
And he rubbed his hands, thinking
gleefully Of the fine field he should have
for his surprise"
: | will be back before seven to-mor-
row, Harry went on Mary Kneller, max
ing i musical clinking among the china
tea cups and saucers, and you shall
have your breakfast in time for the
train"
Shall ~ thought Harry, nearly chok-
ing himselfwith scalding tea, in his strong
sense of the implied joke
Couldn't have happened BETTER he
pondercd, as he toasted his slipper soles
before the fire, while Mary was washing
the china, and lowering about the
apartment "on household thoughts
intcnt'-for Mr. and Mrs. Harry
kneller were young people Of limited
income, and had not yet aspired to the
dignity Of help no; it couldn't pos
sibly have happened better A fair field
and no favor; and when Matte comes
back tomorrow morning she'll find
breakfast ready, fried oysters and all, or
I'm uncommonly mistaken! Won't it be
a jolly surprise?"
Good gracious, Harry! what are YOU
doing?" calculated Mary, as her husband
gave vent to a very audible chuckle.
What pleases you so muCh?"
"Pleases me? Nothing!' said Harry,
trying to look austere all of sudden,
and uttering, IL was thinking how
lonely should be without you, dear"
So Mrs. Harry Kneller tied little
white Cashmere hood over her brown
ringlets, and enveloped herself in pro-
digious Scotch plaid shawl, and tripped
away under her husbands arm to
Mrs. Evarts' abode, half mile beyond.
Goodnight, darlingn said Harry
STOPPING to kiss her rosy cheeks at the
door.
Goodnight, Harry"
And | say, Matte" pursued Kneller,
unable to rcpress 4 brief flash of exulta-
ton, don't be astonished at any little
surprise | may have in store for YOU to-
morrow morningr
Surprise?"
But Harry was off before the dissvlla-
bic had fairly passed Mary's lips.
:, 1t will be jolly fun" thought Harry
With the first gray dawn of the chilly
winter morning Harry kneller was up
and stirring with vivid remembrance
of the laurels he was to reap by that
mornings work
Where are the oysters?" pondered he
carefully holding the skirts of his morn
ing wrapper, so that the fire should not
endanger them. "Oh, remember!
left them out on the piazza"
And he made a rush for the piazza.
Frozen, by Jupiterl Just nv luck
exactly! frozen like rock. However.
they're easily thawed out again. on 4 hot
fire; and I'll put the coffee stewing too
| don't know Just exactly what the recu-
lation ratiOns of coffee are. hut if I fill
the pot half full it can't help being
strong"
Mr.. kneller made liberal apportion-
ment of coffee, filled up the pot with
water, and placed it on the hot Goals
with a countenance expressive of great
satisfaction; while close beside it the
pail of frozen oysters was exposed TO the
genial influence of caloric
They'll boil like ginger pretty soon. .
thought Harry. !" And now I'll stir up
buckwheat or sol know where Mat
tie keeps the bag of flour"
Stir up a buckwheat or so" sounds
remarkably easy-but Mr.. kneller found
it a more difficult task than he had APP
pretended
q n't-see-where-th e-hitch-
IS" slowly soliloquized our hero. 1t
ought to foam over, with little bubbles
on the top-at least Mattie's always does.
Perhaps the cold weather makes differ
enee. Halloo! I've forgotten aid about
potatoesr
: but not a potato could be found, and
larry La hneller, with all the originality
u i great mind, fell back on pan OF
Mttnereo yellow turnips, four in number,
mnicn ne put boiling in prodigious iron
po., WIN me cover safely held down by