The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-07-01
TOMS Deluge.

y
to have him, for he was an original
youth, and broke out constantly in unex-
pected places. He put the cat in walnut
shell boots and painted her pink and
green in stripes. He took the wheels
out of the clock to make "penny-s
ners - and even that was not the worst
thing he did.
One day his mamma and grown-up Sis
ters went out, and Master Tom was left
alone in his glory. They didn't often
commit such an oversight, since there
was no telling what might happen before
they came back; however, at first he
happened to do nothing more than to sit
on the cover of the sewing machine,
drawing horses all over the fy-leaves Of
his sisters favorite copy of Tennyson.
Ali at once a bright idea struck him.
He slapped down the book and jumped
off the sewingmachine, exclaiming,
"Good [ know what TIL do I mean
to set the water running in the bath-tub,
and play with my Noah's Ark -
1hereupon Master Tom jerked open
the drawer where his toys were kept,
ierked out the ark, cranming in several
stray animals that we're kicking up their
heels in various corners, and scampered
down to the bathroom, talking to him !,
self all the while.
* Now then, [ must turn on both
fauc GETS, so as to hurry up the water as
fast as possible. Goody How deep it
is getting! Make haste, Noah, don't
stop to count the grasshoppers, but pile
into your old ark and shut the door
quick There-now you're of-but it
ought to be raining-if you're Noah in
the ark. Ohio I'll start the shower
bath going!" and, presently, highly
respectable shower was pattering and
rattling down, while Tom jumped up and
dow IN perfect ecstacy of delight.
ALI at once the front-door bell rang.
CT wonder who that is 2" thought ION.
He listened.
ooh, there's Uncle George !" he
cried "Im going down to see him this
minute = and forgetting all about poor
Noah, away he scampered, slamming the
bath room door behind him, and leaving
the water still running.
HiB uncle, with whom he was a great
favorite, was waiting in the hall.
"Well, young monkey" he said, as
Tom 5 curly head appeared at the top of
the stairs, /" do you want to take drive
to the park with me?"
ssOh, don't I thought" cried Tom.
" PIE se, may drive the buckle g.
by which he meant being allowed to hold
the reins where they were buckled to-
gethef.
"Y es; just as you ike-only hurry.
T don't want to keep the horse stand
ing"
Away flew Tom, but only to appear
again in two minutes, and to scramble
into the buggy like lamplighter, when
eff they went. Meantime, the water was
rising higher and higher in the bath
tub, and presently brimmed over and
began to trickle slowly upon the floor.
It Dug bit to have passed off through the
top DIR ain, but, unluckily, the day before
Master Tom had amused himself by
plugging up the little holes. Soon q
slow but steady stream was creeping un-
der the door, making little alternate
puddlds and waterfalls down the front
stairs. And still nobody came home.
After about an hour of this, John, the
black waiter, came into the dining room
to Law the table for dinner. He was just
standin e by the sideboard arranging an
elegant pyramid of fruit in glass dish,
when crash, bang down fell big, square
yards OF plaster on top of his poor pate,
and knocked him fiat upon the floor.
The wa ter had gradually soaked through
the boards, and plaster ceilings will melt,
you know, If not quite as easily as
sugar, yet just as surely if you keep at
them long enough.
Up rushed the cook, leaving the roast
ing turkey to take care of itself; and
when she saw the condition of the din
ing-roorn, and poor John lying senseless
on the floor, she began to scream muir
der, fire and thieves at the top of her
voice, which so alarmed the housemaid
that she dropped her best buster into
the parlor fire, and rushed all the way
down the street calling for the police be-
fore it occurred to her to find out what
was the matter.
At this moment Toms mother and Sis
tiers returned, and when they found the
front door wide open, and stream of
water running along the entry and down
the front steps, they were very nearly
petrifed with establishment. Just then
up came LON ana MS uncle, VINO were
walking home fp&do the stables, where
they had left the horse and buggy.
"Why. what is the matter here z" ex-
claimed his uncle; $ have your pipes
burst that you are all oyerf1owed Like
this9"
Poor Tom ! he turned as red as beet
and then BIS white as paper, but he was
truthful little chap with all his faults,
and in a minute he burst out with, sob,
mamma oh, uncle! did tits my
delugel oh, ohr'
Your deluge?"
Yes; set the water running in the
bathroom to play deluge with Noah's
ark, and i went out to ride and forgot
all about it -
"Did ever I hear!'' shouted Uncle
George, and, rushing upstairs, two