Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-12-30

WlptS tpok one OF lut>e auu III lew
minutes the cheerful blaze was rollingup
the chimney, ard the moist Quartette,
gathering around it forgot the storm rag
ing without.
"How came you wimmen folks to be
caught out IN this way ?" asked Mr.
Swipes, when he had got sufficiently
warmed up for conversation.
" Well, you see Jane here, my aunt
Mr.. Swipes." Swipes bowed profoundly.
" She had never seen the hydraulic play
ing, and the morning looked so fine that
we thought we would just walk up to the
bar above. We didn't dream OF Il storm,
and never thought Of taking an umbrel-
la"
Mr.. Swipes was highly satisfied with
this explanation In fact that gentleman
was fast lapsing into a state OF mind in
which he would be satisfied with any
thing.
Albeit rain is q most necessary ad
junct to the prosperity of this glorious
State, let the storms come when they
may, there will be some who will wish
they had held off for little while
longer. Not so with Mr.. Swipes, who
was delighted at the accession ofcompany
which this unlocked for delugo had
brought to his lonely cabin, but so it was
with his visitors. For when under the
genial warmth Of the fire they had got
dry and warm again, came the wish that
the rain would quit and let them go homo.
the fireplace to tho window to note the
appearance Of the sky, or see if some one
was not on the road with umbrellas to
hunt them up and bring them home.
But the humiliating truth must be told,
that old Bender, the only one who knew
where they had gone, WAS so deeply inter-
ested in II little game OF draw-poker, that
he quite forgot, not only that Mrs. Bon
der and her aunt were away, but was
likewise oblivious Of the fact that he had
Il wife at all. But old Bender's weakness
tor draw-poker aud kindred amusements
was one which was shared by other Ben
eGicts of the burg, so he was not at all
singular in his habits.
The hands of the clock began TO indi-
cate the near approach Of that hour when
Nature and custom require humanity to
partake Of the noon-tide meal and Mr..
Swipes, whose appetite was somewhat
sharpened by an early and light break
fast, was at his wits ends to know on
what to feed his unexpected guests. Now
If he had been given due notice OF their
coming he could have prepared Il meal
fit for a king, but we have to concedo
that he was taken at II great disadvantage.
An inspection Of his larder showed tho
heel of a loaf, remnant of the boiled
beef of tho day before, and the remains of
a pot of beans, ample, indeed, for the
frugal meal which contented Mr.. Swipes,
but only taste for four. Added to this
was the discouraging fact that he had
but two plates with paraphernaia to
match, one for himself and one for those
state occasions when Slim jim, or some
others Of his husky cronies dropped in to
have square meal with him. And as
these plates, etc, had not been in the
dish-pan since Slim Jim's last visit, three
days before, the difficulties ofthe situation
will be seen mt once.
But Swipes rose with the occasion. The
dish water was heated, poured into the pan
and armed with rag fastened to the end of
a pine stick he had those dishes washed be-
tore his guests knew what he was doing.
But when, this task completed he rub
bed the inside Of his dutch oven with n
bacon rind, and pouring some -four into
pan reached for the box Of yeast pow
der, their woman nature would permit
them to remain silent no longer. So Mrs.
Bender asked him what he was going to
do.
Why, get you folks some dinner, Of
course"
mot bit Of it, Swipesy." (This was
the way he was generally addressedl.
" It's a shame you havn't got Il wife to
do all these things for you, but as you
havn't, we'll be your housekeepers for
to-day" And before Swipes fairly knew
it, she had the pan from him and with
sleeves tucked up, "a form Of procedure
Mr.. Swpes had never thought Of was
stirring up the -four.
- wish l had such housekeeper for
every day" said Swipcs, gallan,ly.
"Its youi own fault that you havn't "
retortod the lady. Why don't you get
married as every man ought to, instead
Of moping through life like great Ounce
as you are ?"
lisa coincidence which will be re-
marked, that this was the Identical ques-
ton Swipes had propounded to himself
just before the ladies made their appear
ance. But there was this difference, that
Swipes, talking to Swipes, could leave
Swipes question unanswered, but when
it was asked by female something must
be said. SO he answered very promptly,
Because nobody would have me, Mrs.
Bender"
Mrs. Bender only responded Git. =,
and went on with the kneadirg.
"Now, that's So" said Mr.. Swipes,
Indignantly. "Dye 'spose I'd stay sin
gle i'll thought nice, good gal would
say the right word Not much, l
wouldn't. I've kinder waited through
Leap ear in hope some one Of 'em would
spruce up to me, but it's nigh gone now
and nary ono Of 'em "cheeped."
"Jane," said Mrs. Bender, soemnly,
Did you hear that ?"
Hear what ?" inquired Jane, who,
Lv the way had not lost one word Of what