Smyrna times., 1876-01-26
Mr.. Busby's housekeeping.

MI bus0y has been married five years
ana all that time lie and his wife have
boarded. 1t was on the first Of OotoLo,
th"t he tirmely made up his mind to keen
mouse. A neat cottage was secured r,r
nI'ufe bought, and the two settled down
IKE pair Of SIG doves. Last TLuI..,..r
afternoon the farmer Of whom Busbv had
engaged his potatoes for the winter Brouobt
INN two barrels of those excellent vogot..
Dies and also a barrel of apples. He know
I''lSby was new at the business. and t,at
ne was a good natured man. 50 bn toIl
Mrs. Busby that he had sore Gnofr a,J
was IN hurry and would not he obIa 70
take the barrels down to the cellar And
ne lett them by the hatchway. Here Bus.
by found them when he came homo in tLo
evening. Aiming his wife with the Iann.
he proceeded in no pleasant frame Of mind
to bring the stuff in.
she held the light in the cellar WAY
while he tussied with the barrels. and. nc
the Wnd came through the door. She wos
Obliged to screen the light by shading it
from that side. Whenever he rot q boIraI
III particularly critical position, an extra
gust OF wind would come down the STAIR
way, and up would 20 her hand TO tLo
llame' throwing both him and the barrel
INTO the shade. Then he would look ovc,.
his shoulder to her, and say:
What in mcrcy's name are YOU about.
Mary Jancw
1t was rough job for Mr.. Busby. His
hands We're tender from indoor cnr1ov.
ment, and iii their contest with the barrel
were sadly wogatcd. The lower cbjucsoftbo
barrel would catch on the step as he was
Siding 1t Gown, and when he let 20 to see
what was the trouble, it would suddc,Iv
come along of its own accord, and butt him
III the stomach with such force rs ncarlv +o
deprive him of his breath. or # would sIi,,
on his foot and cause him to howl dread.
iuliy with pain. Then he took hold Of tbo
apples. They came dreadGully hard. lie
pushed and pulled, ana turned tlcn totbo
ieit and then to the right, and ruHed and
perspired, and sworc and screamed. but he
eouidn get the apples down from the ton
step. lie was struggling with all his
might with that barrel His hat had GaIIcn
Oft his eyes We're almost bursting from
their sockets, his breath came fast and
heavy. He was below the barrel. He had
ooth aims around il. and was yt?aiu;rrw;th
all ms might 10 move it. He only spoke
once. Then he said
" Why don't you come up here with that
lamp 50 | can see something. and not be
standing down there grinnnc like an
idiot?"
1t is but justice to explain that Mrs.
Busby was not srinning at all; on the con.
trary, it would be difficult to have crowded
as much gravity into the same space as was
expressed in her countenance. She step, |
ped up the stairs pomptly Then Mr.. Bus.
by gave desperate, maddening pull. and
the barrel came. The transformation from
a dogged, obstinate barrel, to headstronr.
impetuous barrel, was remarkable. Mr..
Busby tried to save himself by veIIinc
:" Woosh = but it was too late: and tbo
next instant, himself, his wife. the Iamn.
the barrel and the apples in a confused
mass, went revolving down the stairway
ana sprawling across the cellar. Fortu.
lately the light was extinguished at tbe
lrst move, but the lamp was broken and
he contents pretty evenly distributed over
he other objects. Mr.. Busby was driven
lnder whcelbarrow, and Mrs. Busbv. after
'elnG bucked twice in the head by the bar
el, brought up with vchemence against
N old stove, knocking it completely Off its !
egs, and smashing in the open door. 5
Mrs. Busby scrambled to her feet at
nee.
John" she exclaimed. "whcreare Won?
re you hurt!" =
None of your business" came in half, h
voice out Of the darkness. b
" Why, John, what is the matter with y
our" !.
" What did you come up them steps t,
'r?' he demanded in intense passion.
Why, you told me to-" r
" What if did?" cried the unhappy
nan, Didn't you know any better than u
D stand there ?"
Confounded by this direct question she fc
ould make no answer, and with certain
ceiling of triumph she stallled up stairs and t.
hence to bed.
There is a nice little cottage on Schuyler Al
rect to rent. Mr.. and Mrs. Busby are
oarding gagain. a
ENoCH ARDEN IN KANsAs.-As lac entered re
le cabin he found the Old woman and her
ew husband engaged in the doube-work
4, back-aching, reciprocotivo performance lie
pulling each others hair. They reversed te
lgines for moment as he entered. eI
a L