The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-01-25
J0skins Returns Home from 6 the
Lodge"

1t was lodge night, and there had been
an unusual press of very important bust
ness, which had kept Mr.. Joskins out
much later than he had anticipated. He
came home, however, in apparent good
order and we'll conditioned. Mrs. Joskins,
knowing his trustworthy character and re-
liable habits, had not waited up for him,
and when he crcpt into bed he was met
with very sleepy inquiry in regard to
the hour, and the repr0ach conveyed in
the question was 80 slight that Mr.. JOS
kins instantly repented him of the lie he
had intended to tell, and only told little
one, only an hour and quarter long,
saying, with of-hand caTelessness, that he
guessed it must be pretty near eleven,
when he knew it was a quarter past twelve.
And sleepy Mrs. JOskins, with her wealth
or eye on the sitting room clock, which
she could see through the open bedroom
door, just before .Joskins turned out the
light, knew it also, but she didn't say any
thing. Mr.. Joskins, although he breathed
very heavily, did not 60 to sleep imme-
diately. He soon began to fidget. His
breath appeared to come with some diff
Guilty. He actually gasped.
"GOOd land!' he exclaimed, isn't
this room awful close?"
Mrs. JOskins didn't know. She was
awful sleepy, she said. and the air of the
room felt very comfortable to her.
"By George" said Mr.. Joskins, after
few minutes of restlessness, it's close
as vault to me. Would it hurt if
opened one of the windows?''
His spouse drowsily replied that it
wouldn't give her cold, and he might
ventilate the room all he wished. And
with this permission she went to sleep and
Mr.. Joskins got up with great dellbera-
ton and proceeded to raise the window.
1T is up little ways now" he said,
Z" l can get my fingers under it,"
And he caught grip on it and gave
tug a, it, but it didn't come. Mr.. JOS
kins was surprised. 1t never stuck that
way before, he said. Then he got a fresh
hold under it, and lifted as though he
would pull that side of the house up by
the roots, but il didn't come.
"Well, will be bowed" muttered
Mr. Joskins, with heavy accent on the
"be." And then he caught hold again
and showed his fingers as far under IS
they would reach and braced himself for
a lift that would have shamed a derrick.
ugh! imp! 'mp!! um-m-ph!!!"
and with the final grunt Mr.. Joskins sank
back, exhausted.
"Well, you can eat my boots" he NUT
tered, with some warmth, eff l don't
lift this window up, or I'll pull the house
over. You hear me-"
And he caught hold, and tugged, and
lifted, and strained, until he was sure that
every succeeding tug would either lift the
side of the house or pull his feet through
the floor. He paused again for breath,
with his head so full of blood that his feet
were cold.
"By Jocks" he snarled, "I'd give ten
million dollars if had the carpenter here
that put in that window. l bet I'd lift
him, the wooden headed idiot. Now,
them
And he stopped down and caught a
fresh hold on the window and set his teeth,
and shut his eyes, and held his breath,
and put his whole soul and body into his
arms. AS he began to straighten up he
could hear sound like the cracking of
timbers, and it inspired him with re-
newed strength. Something's coming,
gospel sure" he said, and redoubled his
effort.
At that instant he became aware Of a
glimmer of light in the room. He raised
his closed lids and beheld Mrs. JOskins
standing beside him, like white. robed
ghost, with a lamp in her hand. AT the
sight of which appariticn, Mr.. Joskins
ceased lifting, but held his grip.
whats the matter:' he asked.
His wife said nothing, but looked stead
lily and severely into his inquiring eyes.
Mr.. Joskins felt troubled under her steady
gaze.
"What is it ?" he repeated. "What did
you get out of bed for?"
She looked him straight in the eyes for
moment. "John JOskins," she said, SOL
EMMY, Ego back to bed. will raise the
window for you. Don't say a word to me.
Tomorrow we will talk about any contin-
uation of these lodge nights"
Speeches. and confounded, Mr.. JOS
kins' eyes fell, and as they did so he be-
held his hands. The window was shut as
tight as wax, and he had death grip
on the bread window-sill.
"Well, anyhow" he thought, as he
crept back under the blankets, "there's
one thing certain; if she hadn't got up
when she did, I'd a had the whole win
dow casing, sill and all, showed halfway
up the side of the house, in another tug"
Which was very poor consolation for
what he knew was coming, but twas the
best he had.-Burlington Hasok Eye.
Boys in Pennsylvania Coal Mines.
Al = l. ~