Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-29
CONCERNING UMBRELLAS.


"rLL wager the best box of cigars in
the city"
Done"
This short dialogue took place between
two young men as they rushed breath
lessly down two flights of stairs and,
seizing hats and umbrellas, issued
from the door of a fashionable boarding.
house on street, New York city
A young lady was just stepping upon
horse car before the door, and both hur
ried toward it. The car passed on, leav.
ing the two lines of aristocratic houses
that composed the street wrapped in the
mists of a rainy afternoon.
That evening young lady entered the
diningroom of one of these aristocratic
houses, and on being chidden for lateness
rejoined, pettishly:
:" couldn't help it, mamma. I've been
so unfortunate to-day. declare could
cry"
Why, how? What do you mean?"
In the first place, left my purse on
my toilet-table, was in such hurry to
catch that car. stuffed the bank check
into my glove for safety. l went to the
bank and got it cashed-fifty dollars, you
know-and it occurred to me the money
wouldn't be safe in my cloak pocket, so
unscrewed the top of the handle of my
umbrella and put the bills in that hollow
within the broad part, Then | went to
the photographers and got my proofs,
and, for want of a better place, foolish
ly put those in the hollow, too. Well, it
rained in torrents, and two young gen
tlemen were following me. You needn't
look shocked, mamma-they were though
they did it very unobtrusively Pve seen
both of them before, and l believe they
room opposite. At any rate, they got on
the car that | did, this noon, and they
got on the one / came home in. One of
them sat next me, and the other one near
the door on the opposite side, and if |
turned my eyes anywhere but straight
forward Twas sure to receive a glance
of admiration"
"We1l dispense with that part of it,
Mary"
NO, we can't, mamma" was the de-
mure response, for my confusion, and
the fact of my umbrellas dripping all
over my Dress caused the catastrophe.
had to set the umbrella aside a little
you see, and when | got up to leave the
car both those young men rushed for the
door. 1t was really comical, mamma.
was no sooner outside the car than two
umbrellas met over my head, and there
stood the two young gentlemen, both
quite determined to escort me 10 the
house door. never wanted to laugh SO
much; but didn't laugh. l thanked
them with a very dignifed bow-one
apiece-and then producing my own UNI.
brella from the folds of my waterproof
opened that and walked off. Mamma
continued the speaker, tragically, 81
neUer will have another umbrella that is
like every one else's."
81 don't see at all what you're coming
to, Mary" said her mother, perplexedly
What was the trouble?"
"Trouble? Why, mamma when got
home found hadn't my own umbrella
at all, but some one else's, just like
miner
And the fifty dollars and photograph
proofs?"
"Were gone"
"Why, you careless girl! How could
you have done such a thing?"
1t is the greatest shame in the world
that umbrellas arc made so much alike,
was the vexed response.
C Is the one you have just like yoursY
Precisely; black alpaca, with an ivory
handle"
Somebody must have stolen yours
or, rather, exchanged puTposely."
q don't think it, mamma; in fact,
know they couldn't. No one could have
known what was in the handle of mine
and the one | brought home is much
sprucer. Pm sure the person who tooh
mine would never think of looking in Tho
handle"
Perhaps not"
"But, mamma, ! want the fifty dol
lars; else how can have that light sill
dress?"
~ dare say you do, but you can't hav'
it just now"
But / must" And the speake
coaxingly put her hand on her neither
arm.
Nonsense. Advertise your umbrella
Some of the people on the car must hav
it,"
Two days later appeared an advertise
ment in the Herald to this effect:
T osT, on Tuesday last, on an Eighth avenu
~ car, at six o'clock, black alpaca umbrella
with ornamonted Ivory handle. The Under vii
be rewarded ifit Is returned to No. g. street.
"H'm" said Miss Mary Armstrong, a
she glanced over this paragraph in tn
mornings paper; "that'll never brin
back the umbrella"
In the bachelor apartments across tn
street the advertisement was differently
commented upon. Mr.. Frank Kennedy
who had been tilted back In his arm
chair when his eye fell upon it, sud
denly sprang to his feet with an eycls
nation
4" BY George, III win that wager"
81 wonder" he continued, apprehen
sively :" if Courtenay II see it? I'll Dor
row his morning paper for fear he will
Why, what royal road to an introduC
tion this is! I'll take an umbrella-an,
umbrella-my own would answer tn
description-no, by Georgel it's to-
much worn out, and I'd be ashamed o
it-and go over and present myself
Oourtenay II be furious-hal ha! B.
George, though, how did this umbrella
get so shabby I've only had 1t fou