The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16
Sprinkling the Streets.

Mr.. Treveiyan, who lives on Court
street, has had trouble already with his
garden-hose. Since the introduction of
the Holly water system it has been the
delight of Mr.. Trevelyan to turn himself
into pipeman at sunset, and with gard
en- hose sprikle the thirsty street with the
clear cool waters of the mighty Missis-
sirpi. Miss Norah Donovan, u Young
lady who is connected with the culinary
department Of Mr.. Trevelyan's house, and
is also superintendent Of dormitories and
general overseer of carpets, had often
watched, as her duties would permit.
this process of cooling down the streets
at evcntide, and she had been heard to
wish that this duty might be intrusted to
her. She finally framed her wish in =
direct petition, and last evening she en-
tered upon the active duties Of her new
Office.
When Miss Donovan took the nozzle
from the hands of her master. it was
pointed almost directly at the middle
OF the street, and Miss Donovan conscien-
tiously retained it in this position, while
her whole frame was convulsed with de-
light. Presently there came iashing down
the street, in light, open ph@ton, two
happy young people. In vain the young
person shrieked and essayed to hide be-
hind a parasol no larger than a water
lily. Miss Donovan only started at them
and wondered if preadventure they might
be crazy, and when they passed through
the torrent they came out on the other
side very sad, very silent and very damp,
not to say limp. Then the gentleman
that lives next door came out and called
to her as he approached, Intending to in
| struct her how to shut off the deluging
stream or turn it aside when any one ap-
preached. But Miss Donovan, hearing
him calling her name, said 'sSorr?" and
turned about and faced him with the
nozzle doing its level best, wide open
and fire pressure on.
He turned with the first shot and fled
for his own door, the cooling stream fol-
lowing him every inch of the way. like an
angel of mercy in disguise. But by the
time he reached his own door, he was so
thoroughly drenched that his suspenders
widowed. Then North Hill street.car
came rattling down, an open. summer
car, just crowded with people coming in
from a picnic at SuRnyside and when
they heard the driver shout, and then
dodge, and then swear, they saw their
fate and Miss Donovan, and just howled
and walled and screamed. and tried to
get behind each other, and crept under
the seats, and some of them even Jumped
| off the car, and all Of them by their
frantic gestures, wild shrieks, and
| singular behavior. impressed Miss Dono-
van with the idea that they were dread
fully drunk. The street-car passed on,
and when it was beyond the line of Mr..
Trevelyan's garden stream, the dryest
man in that car could have put out con-
| flagration by simply leaning back against
the house that was burning, and before
the car reached the next corner there
we're four we'll defined suits for damages
fixed up against Mr.. Trevelyan
By this time Miss Donovan was pretty
thoroughly convinced that the manipula-
ton of a garden horse required that judg-
ment and liberal education and shrewd
insight into men and motives that belong
only to the aristocratic classes, and she
| determined to resign her position forth
| with. She went into the hall, carrying
the nozzle with her, and spreading desc
lation and dismay wherever she went.
"Whist!" she shouted, as the torrents
drenched the hatrack. "Murtherr' she
howled, when it knocked the globe of
the hall lamp ''Misther Treveiyan!' she
shrieked. "where in the wide world is
the shopper? And then she bent over the
irrepressible nozzle and essaycd to stop
it with her finger. The howl of dismay
that followed this attempt brought the
startled family up into the hall, and in
less than three minutes every seat in the
house was taken, standing-room all gone,
and the play declared success.-Bur-
zSngton Haaokeye.