Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-08-28
The Boy in the Alley.

Yesterday afternoon Brush street house,
vile lugged bcdstead to the back. yard,
leaned it against the fence, rolled up her
sleeves, and went back and brought out n
teakettle of boiling water. Her sole object
was to wash of tho dust and cobwebs which
settles on every bedstead in the land, and
she needn't have looked all around in q ely
and stsalthy way before proceeding to busi>
ness.
There was boy In the alley. He vas
hunting for plunder in 4 pile of rubbish,
and hearing the woman in the yard he looked
through the fence and began to chuckle. Ho
knew that her object was to put the bedstead
in tidy trim for the summer campaign. But
yet he maliciously called out !:
"Haye the water up to the billing pint IL
you want to knock 'cm !"
The woman put the tcakcttle down in q
hurry and looked up at the windows on either
side. No one was visible, but presently the
boy in the alley remarked (:
Don't let the water git cold J"
She located him that time but she dis
dained to heed his remarks. Lifting mp tho
kettle again she began giving the cobwebs
another soaking.
''Now follow it up with kerosene ]" hoarse-
ly exclaimed the boy as shc paused for a
moment.
Her face darkencd, and she looked anx~
iously around, aud nothing but the conscious
ness that everybody has to clean off the
spring oobwobs prevented her from feeling
mad.
"We allus use corrisivo sublinate 10 kill
'em 70 called the boy from knOt>hole.
She went down to the fence and asked
who was there, and what was wanted.
al don't want nuthin," he softly replied
''only you can't never kill 'em with no.
water !"
"Can't kill what p she sternly demanded.
"Bumble bees !" he chuckled. "We'vo
had 'em up home ever since was born"
"Boy, I'm only cleaning the dust of that
bedstead," she said as she got closer to the
knot-hole.
'You kin call it dust if ye want to, but I
nevor snw ma job at dust with sharp
stick !" ssl-. Hr..f t.-
"You are q mean, impudent boy, and 1
want you to go away from here at once" she
exclaimed.
"This alley belongs to the city," he res
pied, "aud l can't go. You'd better hurry
back there, or they'll come ?"
She picked up a stick, laid it down after
a moment, and gsing to the house she brought
out huge piece of applepie.
"Boy, aren't you hpngry?" she asked, as
she reached the fence.
"You bet !"
"And if give you this will you 60 away 2"
81 will that; I'd whoop right out Of the
neighborhood in two minutes, and you kin
tack shingle over this knot-hole."
"WeIl, now, here it is" she said ns chs
reached it over.
"And won't tell no One what saw ma'srn
for we're all liable to fud 'em, and ma says
she really believes they're sign Of good luck.
Thankee and if was you I'd leave the bed
stead out doors tonight aud Letter freeze up.
Fust-rate pie, and don't let that water gle
cold P'-Dctroit Free Press.
FoR WEAK EYEs.-Make an eye-aater Of
one teaspoon:ul of pulverized white vitriof
and two teaspooasfal of saltpctre dissolved in
one auar. of rain water. Put one drop in
the eye, and keep it in as long IS possible
If the eye is ipfamed repeat the operation
every FIVE or ten minutes until the ball OF the
eve feels cool, after which repeat two or three
times day. The mixture Is perfectly harm
less, cooling and cleansing. Il is also good
for fostering sores - lf err
81 Ho4 LEMoSADE-A hot lemonade is one
of tLe best remedies for cold. It acts
promptly and efficiently, and has NO unpleas-
ant after effects. One lemon should be prop
erIy squeezed, cut in slices, put with sugar,
and covered with half pint of boiling water.
Drink Just before going to bed, and do not
expose yourself the following day. This