Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-06-09
w hat Allied Maria Ann.

was doing comfortably in my easy chair
and dreaming of The good times which hop'
are coming, when there fell on my ears a most
startling scream. 1t was the voice Of my
Maria Ann in agony The voice came from
the kitchen, aud 10 the kitchen rushed 1ht
idoizcd form Of my Maria was pcrchtd on 0
chair, and she was hourishiDg en iron spoon
10 all directions, and shouting "shoo," in 0
general manner at everything In The room =
To my anxious inquiries rs 10 what was the
matter, she screamed, 40 Joshua mouse,
sho-wlO-sboo-a gfcas-ya, shoo-horrid
mouse, and shc-cw-it ran right out Of the
cupboard-shoo--go away-U Eord-Jcshaa
--shoo--till it, rty-sboo."
All that fuss, yoh sec, about enc little
harmless mouse. Some women arc so afraid
of mice Maria is. / got the poker and sci
myself to poke that mouse, aud my wife jump
cd down and ran of into another room. ]
found The tho,ise in 4 corner under the sink
The first time hit it didn t poke it uny on
account Of getting the poker all tangled up in
q lot Of dishes ih The sink, and did not bit
it any more because it would not stay still.--
1t ran right ont toward me, and naturally
jumped, anybody would, but am not afraid
Of mice, and when the horrid thing ran up
inside the leg Of my pantaloons, yelled to
Maria, because | was afraid Il would gnaw a
bole in my garments. There Is something
real dsagreeable about having mouse inside
the leg Of Ones pantaloons, especially if there
is nothing between you aud The mouse. Its
toes are cold, and its nails are scratchy, and
its fur tickles, and its tail feels crawly, ans
there is nothing pleasant about it, aud you a
frad all the time it will Try aud enaw out, and
begin on you instead Of on the cloth. The
mouse was next to me. | could feel its every
motion with startling and Suggestive distinct
ness. For these reasons yelled 10 Maria, and
as the case sccined urgent TO me may have
yelled with certain degree CT yigor. but
deny that yelled fire, and if ! catch the boy
who thought did shall iulict punishment
on his person.
did not lose my presence Of mind for an
instant. | caught the mouse just as it was
clambering over my knee, and by pressing
firmly on the outside of the cloth. kept the
animal prisonot on the inside. ! kept jump
ing around with all my might TO confuse it, -
that Il would not think about biting, and
yelled 60 the mice would no, bear It's squeaks
aud come to its assistance. 4 man cant han
lie many mice at once to advantage.
Maria was white as a sheet when she came !
INTO the kitchen and asked what she should DO I
as though | could hold a mouse and plan a
campaign at the same tine. ! tod Der to |
blink Of something, and she thought she would |
hrow things at the intruder but as there |
vas no earthly chance for her to hit the mouse, |
while every shot took effect ou nc, told her |
% stop, after she had tried two Cat irons and
he coal scuitle. She paused for breath, but /
Yep. bobbing around. Somehow felt no IN
.liuation to sit Down anywhere. 30 Joshua,
wish you had not Killed the cat" Now !
ubmit that the wish was born Of the weak
less Of womans intellect. How on Garth did /
he suppose cat could get where that mouse
vas Rather have the mouse there alone,
my way, than to hare a cat proaling around .
.fter it. reminded Maris Of The fact that .
he was a FOOL Then She got the kettle aad I
wanted to scald the mouse. objected 70 that
process, except as last resort. Then She got I
ome cheese to coax the mouse down. but
lid not dare TO let go, for fear it would run
lp Matters were getting desperate. told
Ter to think Of something else aud | kept |
umping. just as I was about to faint with I
exhaustion, tripped over an iron, lost my I
lold, and the mouse fell to the floor, very dead }