Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-03-01
EDITOR'S MISCELLANY.
That Front Gate.

That Front Gate.
'Henry," said |, Henry, why, in th
name of thunder and lightning. don't 20
fix that internal gate? I've spoken to yo
about it 1000 times!''
You see, l was mad. Month afte
mcn;h that gate had refused to open unit
you had kicked the toes eff your boot
in the attempt to get in; and month at
month hal it declined to let you out with
out causing an amount and variety "
profanity disgrsccful to a father ant
shocking to the neighbors. Id spoken
times untold to Henry, but that boy is a
useless as a bump on log. THANH
Heaven! he's only my stepson. I'll hav'
a son of my own yet, ard then I'll SHOW
you what son should be.
II hsin't time, Pop" said he, as HI
pronounced "Pop'' with a SIT all p.
"Don't call ne Pop!" said | D., as jump
ed for him and he docged into the kitchen
''Don't Pop me, you useless cur. but have
that gate fixed by the time come home
OF you II catch 1t, that's all!'
mo he won't. either, Vcsuvius!
screamed Maria (Maria's my wife, yor
|know)-'No he won't; he's not the per
son TO fix the gate-fx it yourself. II
you'd spent half the time at the gate you've
spent talking and swearing about it and
disgusting eyerybody within reach of your
voice, the gate would have been all righ'
long ago.'
Now, what's the use jabbering witt
your wife, especially if she's got an alien
son? No use a. also gulped my din
ner. wished to Heaven l had my life to
live oyer, and slammed The door behind
me just III time to grab that boy by the
ear as he tried to dodge around the house
"Henery" l Missed, "You haye that
gate fixed by six o'clock, or III skin you
mark my words"
It's my firm opinion that if lived
happier at home one or two SALOONS would
shat up shop. But, when one is ba'gered
day in and day out and flrds his wife
siding against him and his orders ignored,
can lie enjoy home? Certainly not. So
I cogiratcd as l turned the corner ard
stepped in at Smith g. and got SOM .thing
IN E;y way to the store And rs con-
inued down street there hoped that boy
with a crowd of Others off for a ball
natch-the last of the gate, thought I, but
f I - ho hot
yates fixed.
At ski brace my stlfup and cut cub
rom the wood pile as neared that gate
t wouldn't open! Pm glad you didn't
zee me, as tugged at that gate and
'raced myself against the post and worked
he latch up and down and pulled and
'usked and yankcd and kicked and cuss
d anr: swore hope may never see a
tcnmboat if Maria dldE't walk out aud
lam he storm-door without word. The
hing was bad enough without that; but
rhcn you have given explicit orders and
ave been AT your business working your
"lf 10 death for your family. only to re-
urn worn ont to find yours, If dcfied, who
TOuldn'. swra,?
OF course | wouldn't care to say here
ust what said there: but l stick 10 what
said consider it jnstifiabl'', and the
Ill gentleman next door. who came GU,
nd said father should he ashamed 10
W. ar in that way, AMI he'd pay NE 10
,ove off. for he was tired of it, never
'as tired as am tr'd
ATTEND to your own affairs" shritked
8 planted my back to that gate and
ave the post, and not the gate, a tire.
'endous lurge with ny heel and ne riy
aia'yz ed my right sl'e.
SEQ in the house, you meddiing Cd
Dol! This is my place. and III do as l
icasc!'--I wish dared to add all l SAID
nd then his son came ont and made for
'e, and just As gave final lunge at the
ate and delivered it one desperate kick
nth both f ct at tn. same time they
lusht between the cussed palings and
yer | went backward in the mud.
! don't think I'll tell what occurred be
veen me and thrt young man from next
t relevant to the subject. But
wasn't well when he threw me over the
ate, and didnf feel..right when | picked
" self off the latch and left the seat of
" pants on the palings.
Now. you know, there are times when
AN forgrts himself l don't think l
ften do; but when Maria wouldn't speak
me, and that boy SUNK out as sneak ed
}, and there vas nothing to indicate even
l attempt to fix that gate. l got mad
i'd rushed out AMI swore I'd open that
atc if had to fight the whole street.
1t wouldn't open-lt didn't open. II
ankle it to the left, to the right, and
osswise-I hauled and screwed and
look sat on it, hung to it, lay by it
'st slow, then fast; and easy and hard +
I'd then hit it with the club and rushed a
it, and smashed in the pallngs end
booked off the hinges and was whacked Z
the nose by the flying latch as l re- q
Gated in a shower of demoraIized nails. C
I'd spiinters enough to stock a match q
IctOry. s
That gate cost $l2. but felt better. +.
GU may not understand II, but do. And
gathered up that gate, and I'll take my
lenn oath that house was red hot while :
af rot ,,o1o |