Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-01-18

THE WRONG UMBRELLA.
An Everyday Story.

III Is lanlPllldDlp llldI lllC lllOlal ScllSC
Of mankind takes so little account of
the rights Of property as regards books
and umbrellas. Many people who are
in most respects excellent members of
society will borrow books without stint,
and if they do not return them minus
the covers, will keep them without COM
junction, and when YOU hint chat they
have had them rather long, will mutter.
"Confound the fellow does he think
want to steal his books ?" | have had
differences with my best friends on this
score, and have hCen asked whether
had not better fine every body who re-
tanned my valuable volumes beyond 4
fixed time, rs if were village library.
Such insults have been borne With
meckncss. because have always re-
membcrcd with remorse how | once
revcllcl III the thought Of having made
away with Johnsons umbrella. The
Iaxity of the public morals III the mat
ter Of umbrellas is truly AWFUL but re-
tributon will sometimes ovcrakc him
who plots against his ncighbor's para
chute Let me tell how ii overlook me.
A long timcago was madlN cnamor-
cd of Mary Jane Bowles Mary Jane
was what vou would call pocket We
nus, and often have | been tempted to
tuck her under my arm, like packet
of sugar, and fly to the nearest desert
island. She was an artless girl, and very
fond of society-especially tie society
Of Young men with whom was not
on terms Of ardent friendship. | did
not blame her for this, and when she
invited me to tea, and | found that
johnson had also been invited, my
discerning eve observed that this was
not coquctry, but pure cxuberance OF
spirits. Mr.. i}owles, | noticed, was Of
the same opinion, and il was 2 great
satisfaction to me to have my judgment
confirmed by So experienced II parent.
Mrs. Bowles, bad she been alive, would
no doubt have agreed with Us.
| had known Mary Jane since She
wore short frocks. Johnson had known
her about month 1t was pleasant to
hear her call me sam and him Mr..
Johnson but somehow the familiarity
in nv case seemed To have bred not
contempt-O dear, no nothing Of that
llind-but sort of nonchalance Of
manner. tIIow useful the French
language i when one wants to express
a very delicate shade Of meaning
But that was her artlcssness.
Dear me, sam" She observed, At
the tca-tablc, what have YOU got such
a long face for"
Iohnson's attention, had made me Il
little pensive.
Something must be long to make
tip for the prevailing Shortness,'
said
Johnson was not much taller than
Mary Jane. ! made note Of that sar-
casm afterward. My impromptus are
too often lost,
Don't be impertinent, sir Look in
to that spoon. Your face is exactly like
the reflection you see there-isn't it, Mr..
Johnson
He grinncd.
II was then | observed for the first
time the singular breadth Of his Wis
sage His grin seemed to extend across
the room.
II Mr.. Johnson will hold the spoon
horizontally, he may admire lis own
image | remarked, playfullv
Johnson grinned again. He was
enc Of those insanely good-natured
men whom ii j, quite impossible to
annoy
sam, Yea are outrageous said
Mary Jane. Nh, Johnson and | arc
going 70 practice or duet You step
here ana talk to pa.
Mr. BoWe- had q ho aroused from
the doze INTO which he usually dropped
after tea. n Na, III that balt that mr
penetration had detected Ai. eonric-
tion that Mary lane A., an mlcm
creature.
Ia woke up. and asked ma What ware
ly views on tramWays II COMPOST
ton W.S d fine crusty conservatism, and
ae di.IiEed innovations Hi port Wine
n4. fiHe and erastF, to- 6ut that i ay
the way
Wa, listening ~ tae daet overhead