The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-02-16
8Sii and Jnntor.
LODGE NIGHT.
The Painful Experience Of sr. JoskIns.

The Painful Experience Of sr. Joskins-
From the Burlington IOwa) Hawkeye-l
1t was lodge night, and there had been
an unusual press of very important ou-
siness. which had kept Mr. Josklns out
much later than he had anticipated. lie
came home however, in apparent good
order and well conditioned. Mrs JOS
kins. knowing his Trustworthy character
and reliable habits, had not waited up
for him, and when he -crept into bed he
was met with a very sleepy inquiry In
regard to the hour, and the reproach
conveved in the question was go slight
that Mr. Joskins instantly repented him
of the lie he had intended 10 tell, and
only told little one, only an hour and a
quarter long, saving, with ofhand care
lessness, that he guessed it must be pret-
ty near II, when he knew it was 12:15.
And sleepy Mrs Joskins, with her wealth
er-eye on the sitting room clock, which
she could see through the open bed
room door, Just before Joskrns turned
ont the light, knew it also, but she didn't
say anything. Mr. Joskins, although he
breathed very heavily, did not
go to sleep Immediately. He soon be-
gan to fidget. His breath appeared to
come with some difficult; he actually
gasped.
Good land.' he exclaimed, isn't this
room awful close?7
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. Joslzins, after
few minutes of restlessness, "its close as
a vault to me- Would it hurt if / open
ed 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 delib
Grafton and proceeded to raise the win
dow.
at is up little ways now" he said, ]
can get my fingers under it"
And he caughta grip on it, and gave
a tug at 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 az though
he would pull that side of the house up
by the roots, but it didn't come.
"Well, 1 will be blowed," muttered
Mr. Joskins, with heavy accent on the
@be" And then he caught hold again,
and showed his fingers as lar under as
they would reach. and braced himself
for Lift that would have shamed der
rick.
ugh. Umph mp um-m-ph!ll and |
with the final grunt Mr. Joskins sank
back exhausted.
"Well, you can eat my boots" he NUT
tered. with some warmth. "If 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
hat his feet were cold. &
"Joks," he snarlsd, I'D give ten mill y
on dollars if had the carpenter here i
hat put in that window. / bet I'd lift i
lim, the wooden-headed idiot. Now,
hen" 7
And he stopped down and caught a (
fresh hold on the window, and set his
Ieeth, and shut his ewes, and held his !,
breath, and put his whole soul and body /
into his arms As he began to straighten
up he could hear a sound like the crack
lag of timber, and it inspired him with
renewed strength. Something's com
ing, gospel sure" he said, redoubting his
effort.
At that instant he became aware of a
glimmer of lightin the room He rails
ed his closedlid and beheld Mrs Joskins
standing beside him, like white robed
ghost, with lamp in her hand. At the
sight of which appariion, Mr. Joskins
ceased lifting. but held his grip.
whats the matter?' he asked
His wife said nothing, bu. looked
steadily and severely into his inquiring
eyes. Mr. Joskins felt troubled under ,
her steady gaze. II
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,
"go back to bed. I will raise
The window for you. Don't say a word
to me. Tomorrow we will talk about !
my continuation of these lodge nights. |
Speechless and confused, Mr. Joskinis
Eye fell, and as they did so, he beheld
,is hands. The window was shut as
light as wax, and he had a death grip c
1n the broad window sill. s
well, anyhow" he thought, as he
,rept 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 ,
low-casing, sill and all, showed half way /
up the side of the house in another '
.ug."
Which was very poor consolation for :
what he knew was coming, but it was the
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