Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-10-07
MIR. Busby's Housekeeping.
trom the Danbury News.


ail that time he. aud his wife have boarded. 1t
was on the lst Of October that he frtnIy made
up his mind to keep house. A neat cottage
was secured, the furniture bought. aud the
TWO settled down like pair of SIG doves. Last
Thursday afternoon the farmer Of whom Busby
had engaged his potatoes for the wl0ter brought
him two barrels of those excellent vegetables,
aod also barrel Of apples. He knew Busby
was new at the business, and that be was d
good uatured man, so he told Mrs. Busby that
be had u sore huger, aud was In hurry aud
would not be able to take the barrels dowo the
cellar. Aud he left them by the hatchway.
Here Busby found heu when he came home
10 the evening Arming his wife with the
lamp, he proceeded 10 no pleasant frame OF
miad to bring the stuff 10. She held the light.
10 the cellalway while be tussecd With the
barrels; aud, as the wiud came through the
door, she was obliged to screen the hight
by shading it from that side Whenever lie
got barrel 10 particularly critical position,
an extra gust OF wind would come down the
stairway, aod up would 90 her hand to tho
flame. throwing both him and the bar:el iuto
the shade. Then be would look over his shoul-
der at her, aud say
"What la mercy name are you about Mary
Jaue"'
1t was tough job for Mr.. Busby. His
hauds were tender trom indoor employmeut,and
in Their contact with the barrel were sadly
w0rstcd. The lower chimes ofthe barrel would
catch on the step as he was slldipg it down, and
when he let 90 TO see what was he trouble, 1t
wouId suddenly comS along of It's owo accord
aud butt hm 10 the stomach with such orce as
TO ucarly deprlve him OF his breath, or 1t would
slip on his foot aod cause him to howl dread
fully with pair. Then be took hold OF the aD-
pes They came dreadiully hard. He epushed
aud pulled, and turned them TO the lett and
to the right, aud pulled and perSplrcd, aud
sworc and scream ID, but he couldn't get the
apples down trom the step. He was struggling
with all his might with that barrel. His hat
had fallen IF, his eyes were almost bursting
irom their sockets, bis breath came fast end
heavy. He was below the barrel. He had
both arms around it, and was straining with all
his might to move it. He only spoke once.
Then h. said:
why don't you come up here with that
lamp so can see something, and not De stand
lup down there grinnlng like an IDIOT?
1t is but justice to explain that Mrs. Busby
was GOT grlnniny at all; on the contrary, 1t
would be difficult to have crowded as much
IN her counteuauce. She stepped up
the stair promptly. Then MIR. Bu,by
gave desperate, maddeulug pull, ADD the
tarrcl came. The transformation from dog
cd, obstinate barrel to headS,rong, lmpctu.
Gus barrel, was remarkable. Mr. Bushby tried
TO save himself by yelling, ''Woosh = but he
was too late; and the rcxt lostent, himself, his
wife, the lamp, the barrel and the apples, ln
confused mass, went revolving down the stair
way and sprawling across the cellar. toru-
ua;cIy the light was extinguished at the ttst
move, but the lamp was broken, and Its cou-
tents pretty evenly distributed over the other
objects Nlr. Busby was drlveo under wheel
barrow, and Mrs Busby, after being bucked
twice in the head by the barrel, brought up
with vchemence against an old stove, knock
ing it completely of its legs aud smashing IN
The oven door.
Mrs. Bu<by scrambled to her feet at once.
"Johu!" che exclaimed, where arc you
are you hurt?'
None of your business came iu half
suppressed voice out of the daIkuess.
why, John, what Is the natter with
you?'
What did you come up them steps for p
he demanded IN Intense passion.
"Why. you told me to.
W ual ii L ulu CTlcu Gile uuHappy
"Dtdr't you know any better than to stand
there ?"
Conounded by this direct question she could
make no answer, aud with certain tecog OF
triumph he Stalked up stairs and thence to
bed
There is nice little cottage on Schuyler
street TO reut Mr.. and Mrs. Busby are board
lng again.
What exquisite preserves, Mrs Smoothly;
how do YOU have such splendid luck with every
thing you put up?' complimented one of the
ladies AT the tea table. "What are they, by
the way Mrs. Smoothly Is taken by sur
prise, but RECEIVERS himself and calls the ser.
want. Il have uot tasted them yet, she said,
and have really forgotten what | ordered the
HIrl 10 put on for you. Bridget. what are these
pre>srves?" Thin, ma am? Thirty-6ve cents
can; $o7y the nickel less wui the grocer take,
ard thin big green things III the dish beyant
Is fifty cents Tor little glass jar. Tabeau of
Slieuce, and good hearted honest girl out OF
l'h two hours after.
mcmb,r Of the Humboldt county, Cal, Pho
neers has beard feet 10 length. |, has been
growing ten years, and had it not been tor az
attack Of sickness it would have been seVera
loches longer. Already it is almost to the
gr uud. and as the owner walked the streets
recently a crowd OF persons surrounded him at
every turn aud bored him with the usual inter
FosatlycS incident to such strange sight.
Col. Holidays Appointments.
he t,llowlng is list of appointments made
hy Col. /. W. NJ Holiday, one OF the demo.
craic electors at large for the State:
Fairfax Court House, Wednesday, Oct. IL.
Norfolk city, Thursday. Oc,. l. (night).
Hampton, Saturday, Or. IA.
Sour hampton, Monday, Oc. l6.
Williamsburg, Wedn' sdav, Oct. Is.
Petersburg, Friday, Oct. 90 (uightI.
klchmond city, Monday, Oct %.
charlottesville, Wednesday, Oct. 25.
St,p,,on E.l.u a..