The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-04-01
A New Use for Clothes ins-A Hint
to Neglected Housewives.


Ladies who have husbands who are
neglectful in supplying them with kim
dlings should carefully study the expe-
rience of Division street sister. All
her married life she has had an un-
broken struggle with her husband to
keep herself supplied with wood, and the
greater part of the time she has been
Obliged to depend upon her own dizziness
with the Ak, and anyone who has seen
woman handle an ak knows what a
dreadful thing it is. Two months ago
she begged of him not to 20 away with
out leaving her some kindlings. He said
he wouldn't. But he finally did. Then
she hit upon plan. She had four dozen
clothes-pins. She took one dozen of
them for starting the fire, and found they
work ed admirably. The next day she
used another dozen, and so she contin-
ued until the four dozen were gone
Then she went to the store and purchased
another four dozen-having them "put
in the bill" When they were gone she
repeated the errand. She said no more
to him about kindlings. For ten years
she had kept up the battle, and now she
was tired and sick at heart. He could
60 his own way, and she would go hers
patiently, uncomplainingly- until the end
would come.
On Monday he signified at the store
that he would like to settle his account.
The bill was made out and handed him.
He glanced down the items. As he ad-
vanced along the column his face began
to work. First his eyes slowly enlarged,
then his mouth gradually opened, caused
by the dropping of his lower jaw; and
wrinkles formed on his forehead. One
| third down the column he formed his
lips as if to whistle Four lines below
he did whistle. Half way down he
said:
"Gra-cious!''
A little further on he said:
"Thunder!"
Four more lines were taken in, and he
spoke again:
"By the Jumping Jupiter!"
Then he read on, shifting his thigh Wig
orously and given vent to various ex
pressions of the liveliest nature. Finally
he threw the bill down.
II say, Benson, look here; this bill
can't be mine; you've got me mixed w
with some laundry"
That's your bill, SIR" said the grocer
smiling pleasantly.
{" tell you it can't be-" persisted thu
Division street man, beginning to lool
scared. "Why, here's fifty.fve dozer
clothes-pin in a two months bill. VIVA
on earth do you take me fora four-story
laundry"
But it is your bill. Your wife ca,
explain it to you. She ordered tn,
pins"
my wife," gasped the unfortunat,
man.
eyes, sir"
The debtor clutched the bill, jamme,
it into his pocket and hurried straigh
home. He bolted into the house withou
any abatement of speed and, flinging tn
paper on the table before his wife
knocked his hat on the back of his head
and said:
Martha Ann johnson, what does thi
mean! There are fifty.five dozen clothes
pins in Benson's bill for the past tw,
months and he says you ordered ever.
blessed one of them"
"And SO did," said she, demurely.
| "W-h-at! Fifty-five dozen clothes
pins in two months" and he shot dow
into chair as if freight car had falle
atop of him. "Fifty-five dozen clothe.
pins in two months!" he howled. evil
just heaven stand that?"
II tell you, you needn't stare at m
that way, Reuben Wheeler johnson, no
60 to calling onto heaven with your i'm
piousness. I ordered them clothes-pin
myself, and have burnt every one G
EN- in that there stove, just because yo
were too alfred lazy to get stick O
wood. And declare, before I'll be both
cred jawing and fighting to get you t.
cut wood, I'll burn up every clothes.pi
IN the land and you shall pay for then
If you have to sell the shirt on your bac
to do it. So now!"
| AID Mrs. johnson, with face lik
scarlet, snatched up the broom and wen
to sweeping the carpet as if every flax
OF dust was a red. hot coal, while the un
happy Mr.. johnson fastened to tn
store and paid the BILL And before dar
that night he had a half-cord of WOO
sawed, split and piled up ready for use
I-Danbury NeUs