The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-09-08
THE BUREAU DRAWER.


out hitch will not only secure for
tune but attain to an eminence in his
tory not second to the greatest war.
riors. There is nothing perhaps (al-
ways excepting stove pipe), that will
so exasperate man as bureau drawer
which will not shut. 1t is deceptive
article. 1t will start of all right,
then it pauses at one end while the
other swings in as far as it can. 1t
is the custom to throw the whole
weight of the person against the end
which sticks. If any Que has succeeded
in closing a drawer by so doing he will
confer favor by sending his address
to this office. We have seen men do
this several times, and then run from
the other side Of the room and jump
with both feet against the obstinate
end. This doesn't appear to answer the
purpose any better, but is very salts.
flying. Mrs. Halcomb was trying to
shut bureau drawer, Saturday morn
ing, but it was failure. Finally she
burst into tears. Then Mr.. Halcomb
told her to stand aside and see him do
it.
"You see," said Mr.. Halcomb, with
quiet dignity, that the drawer is all
awry. That's what makes it stick.
Now anybody but woman would see
at once that to move drawer in that
position would be impossible. | now
bring out this other end even with the
other; so. Then take hold Of both
knobs, and with an equal pressure
from each hand the drawer moves cas-
lily in. See?"
The dreadful thing moved readily
forward for distance Of nearly two
inches. Then it stopped abruptly.
"Ah!" observed Mrs. Halcomb begin
ming to look happy again.
Mr.. Halcomb very properly made
no response to this ungenerous
expression, but he gently moved each
end Of the drawer to and fro. but with
out success. Then he pulled the draw
er all the way out, adjusted it prop
erly, and started it carefully back. 1t
moved as if it was on oiled wheels.
Mr.. Halcomb smiled. Then it stopped.
Mr.. Halcomb looked solemn.
Perhaps you amt got the ends ed
justed," suggested the unhappy Mrs.
Halcomb.
Mr.. Halcomb made no reply. Were
it not for an increased flush in his face
it might have been doubted fhe heard
the remark at all. He pushed harder
at the drawer than was apparent to her,
but it didn't move. He tried to bring
it back again, but it wouldn't come.
"Are you sure you have got every.
, thing out of here you want?" he finally
!, asked, with desperate effort to ap-
> pear composed.
"Oh, that's what you are stopping
for is it? But you needn't; | have got
what wanted; you can shut it right
up" Then she smiled very wicked
smile,
i. He grew redder in the face, and set
his teeth firmly together, and put his
. strength to the obdurate drawer, while
. a hard look cleaned IN bis eye.
! But it did not move. He pushed il
4 harder.
"Ooh," he groaned.
!, "I'm afraid you haven't got the ends
: adjusted" she maliciously suggested
= A scowl settled on his face while b,
/ strained every muscle in the pressure
"What dumb fool put this drawer
:. together, I'd like to know" he snapped
y out.
She made no reply, but she felt tina
:. she had not known such happiness
. since the day she stood before the ALTA
with him, and orange blossoms in hel
T hair.
= "I'd like to know what in thunder
4 you've been doing to this drawer, JAM
e Halcomb?" he jerked out.
4 81 amt done anything to it," shI
y replied.
o II know BETTER" he asserted.
= "Well, know what you please for al
. l care" she sympathizingly retorted
!. The cords swelled up on his neck
q and the corners Of his mouth grey
II white.
. "I1l shut that drawer or I'll know
% the reason of il" he shouted; and h
h jumped up and gave it a passionat
/. kick.
30, myp she exclaimed.
He dropped on his knees again ant
= grabbed hold of the knobs, and swaye'
= = aud pushed at them with all his might
= but it didn't move.
70 "Why in heavens name don't yol
= open the window DO you want t
- - smother me?" he passionately cried.
- - 1t was warm-dreadfully warm
. The Precipitation stood in great drop
- on his face, or ran down into his neck
= The birds sang merrily out the door
;, and the glad sunshine lay in golde
=, ~ sheets upon the earth; but he did DO
= notice them. He would have given fv