Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-09-03
SprinkIing the Streets.

Mr.. Trevelyan, who lives on Court
street, has had trouble with his garden
hose. Since the introduction of the
Holly water system it has been the de-
light of Mr.. Trevelyan to turn himself
into pipeman at sunset, and with his
garden-hOse sprinkle the thirsty street
with the clear cool waters of the mighty
Mississippi. Miss Norah Donovan, a
young lady who IS connected with the
culinary department of Mr.. Trevelyan'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 eventide, and she had been
heard to wish that this duty might be
intrusted to her. She finally framed her
wish in to direct petition, and last even
ing she entered 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 framed was convuIsed with
delight. Presently there came dashing
down the street, in light, open phaeton,
two happy young people. In vain the
male young person shouted, eli, there,
I say, turn her off" and in vain the fe-
male young person shrieked and essay
ed to hide behind a parasol no larger
than water-lily. Miss Donovan only
stared at them and wondered if perad-
venture 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 who lives next
door came out and called to her as he
approached, intending to instruct her
how to shut off the deluging stream OF
turn it aside when any one approached
But Miss Donovan, hearing him call hel
name, said, "Sorr?" and turned about
and faced him, with the nozzle doing its
level best, wide open, and fire pres.
sure on. He turned with the first shot
and fled for his own door, the cooling
stream following 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 milldewed. Then Forth.
Hill street-csr came rattling down-and
open, summer car-just crowded with
people coming in from picnic at Sun.
nyside. and when they heard the driver
shout, and then dodge, and then swear
they saw their fate and Miss Donovan
and just howled and screamed, and tried
to get behind each ether, and crept I'M
der seats, and some Of them even Jump.
ed off the car, and all of them by Their
frantic gestures, wild shrieks, and sin
gular 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..
Treveiyan's garden stream the dryes;
man in that car could have put out a
conhagration by simply leaning back a.
ga1nst the house that was burning, and
before the car reached the next corner
there were four well-defined suits for
damages fixed up against Mr. Trevelyan.
By this time Miss Donovan was pretty
thoroughly convinced that the nanipu-
lation of a garden-house required that
broad judgment and liberal education
and shrewd insight into men and mo-
tives that only belong to the aristocratic
classes, and she determined to resign her
position forthwith. She went into the
hall, carrying the nozzle with her, and
spreading dissolution and dismay where
ever she went. "Whis!" she shouted,
as the torrent drenched the hat rack.
'Murther J" she howled, when it knock
ed the globe off the hall lamp. "MishteI
Threvelyan !" she shrieked, where on
the wide world is the sthopper?n And
then she bent over the irrepressible noz-
zle and essayed 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 min
utes every seat in the house was taken,
standing room all gone. and the play de-
clared success. -Burlifegt0n YuaOkeye.