Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-29
sprinhmng the streets.


Mr., Trevelyan, 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 a pipeman at sunset, and with his
garden hose sprinkle the thirsty street
with the clear, cool waters of the mighty
Mississippi. Miss Norah Donavan, q
young lady who is connected with the
culinary department Of Mr.. TreVelSau's
house, and is also superintendent OF dor
mitories and general overseer Of carpets,
had often watched, as her duties would
permit, this process OF cooling down the
streets at even-tids, and she had been
heard to wish that this duty might be en-.
trusted to her. She finally framed her
wish in a direct petition, and last eveu-
ing she entered the active duties Of her
new office.
When Miss Donavan took the nozzle
from the hands of her master, it was
pointed almost directly at the middle Of
the street, and Miss Donavan conscien.
tiously retained it in this position, while
her whole frame was convulsed with de-
light. Presently there came dsshing
down the street, in a light open phaeton
two happy young people. In vain the
male young person shouted, Hi, there,
| say, turn her of and in vain the
female youRg person shrieked and es.
sayed to hide behind a parasol no larger
than a water lily. Miss Donavan only
stared at them and wondered If perad.
venture they might be crazy, aud 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 who lives
next door came out and called to her as
he approached. intending to instruct her
how TO shut of the deluging stream or
turn II aside when any one approached
But Miss Donavan, hearing him call her
name, said "SorrY' and turned about
and faced him with the nozzle doing its
level best, wide open and a fire pressure
on. He turned with the FIRST shot and
fed for his own door, the cooling stream
iollowing'him every inch of bis way, like
an angel o! mercy in disguise. But by
/ the time he reached his own door, he was
so thoroughly drenched that his sus
penders widowed. Then a Fourth Hill
street car came rafting down, an open
summer car, just crowded with people
coming in from a picnic st ~Sunnyside
aud when they heard the driver shout
and then dodge, and then swear, the,
n saw their fate and Miss Donavaa, ant
just howled and walled and screamed
4 and tried to get behind each other, ant
crept under the seats, and some Of then
. even jumped the car, and all of them, b,
their frantic gestures, wild shrieks, ant
singular behavior, impressed Miss Dona
van with the idea that they we're dread
fully drunk. The street car passed on
Y and when it was beyond the line of Mr.
/ Trevelysn's garden stream, the dryes
man in that car could have put out
e c%onlegration by simply leaning bacl
against the house that vas burning, snC
before the car reached the next corner
n there we're four well-defned suits 70
|, damages fixed up against Mr.. Trevelyan
By this time, Miss Donavan was prettl
e thoroughly convinced that the msnipu
e latien of a garden hose required tina
d broad judgment and liberal education
and shrewd insight into men and mo
a tives that belong only to the a~ristocrati,
classes, and she determined to resigI
b her position forthwith. She went int,
the hall, carrying the nozzle with her
d aud spreading desolation aud dismay
|. wherever she went. Whist" sht
shouted, as the torrent drenched the hat
It rack Murtherl' she howled; when i
r. knocked the globe off the hall lamp
!, p" Misther Trevelyanl' she shrieked
" where OH the wide world is the sthop
d per2' And then she bent over the ire
pressible nozzle and essayed to stop i
n with her finger. The howl Of disma,
e that followed this attempt brought th
startled family up into the hall, aud il
Is less than three minutes every seat in tn
house was taken, standingroom all gone
and the play declared a success.