Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-06-20
tFrom the Burlington Aawkeve.i
Echoes Prom the Phonogra ph.
WHAT MRS. BARsTINGLOw HEARD AvTER
THREE DAYS ABSENCE FROM HOME.

| SAVSO s~see SssS . A~ssSosSt
| WHAT MRS. BARsTINGLOw HEARD AYTEH
| THREE DAYS ABSENCE FROM HOME.
II happened that Mrs. Barstinglow
was going down to Keokuk for few
days, and Mr.. Barstinglow was incon.
solabe. At one time he protested tina,
she should not 60 he could not endure
the lonesome house during her alb
sence. And then again he declared
that if she must go, he would neglect
his office and let his business 60 to the
bowwows, and he would 60 with her.
At length, however, she persuaded him
TO be reasonable, and on her repeated
assurance that she would not remain
away longer than three days, he con
sented to let her go. He even bough,
her ticket, and ordered the carriage
and paid for it two days ahead, lest bis
resolution should give way, and he
should forbid her going from him. And
from that time till the morning Of her
departure Mr.. Barstinglow spoke in
subdued tones and moved about with
the sir Of man whose heart was bur
led under mountains of grief.
Before she left the house, Mrs. Bar
stinglow set the phonograph in the sit.
ting-room behind the clock. Then she
kissed her disconsolate husband, and
begged him TO preserve his precious
life for her sake, while she was away,
and then she was gone.
Every day during her three days
visit in the Gate City she received a
letter from her mourning husband beg
ging her to come back, and telling her
how lonesome he was without her, and
how like q grave the empty house
seemed. ard how the hours dragged
over his aching heart with leaden feet
And in three days she came home, and
filed the solemn house with sunlight
and laughter again.
! The evening after her return to Bur
lington she took down the phonograph.
II wonder" she said, "what we said
last in its hearing? 1t must have been
something while We were discussing
my visit. Or maybe it has caught
some of your poor longing meanings
while | was away"
| And she turned the crank.
Lord, no" croaked the phono-
graph, in tones Of hearty reinsurance
mo danger Of that, she's safe in Kco-
kuk for three days; saw her safely oil
myself this morning. Light your cigar
while light another lamp and make
the room look cheerful"
Why" exclaimed Mrs. Barstinglow
in countenance Of amazemen., "wha,
on earth is it saying'''
"Oh, some nonsense some of your
visitors have talked into it some time
or other," replied her husband. ner-
vously people talk all kinds Of stuff
say? say lny9nlnS RhSn2STapa 95lp lls you know They
Mrs. Barstinglow, looking only half
convinced, gave the crank another
turn.
This is deyiish good whiskey,
Barsty," CALCULATED the machine, very
earnestly.
''You don't get it in Burlington, do
your"
Mrs. Barstinglow gave a little shrek.
"Mv dear" said her husband, look
ing now quite as worried as he had
looked when he was begging her not TO
20 TO keokuk, put it away somebody
has had it out in the stable, and it
might say something perfectly shock
| ing, you know. Put it away"
| But Mrs. Barstinglow, upon whom
the spirit of investigation had descend
ell with great power ground away. and
the phonograph. in voice marvellous
lessly on.
Not much; they don't make this
kind now. It's some old monongahela,
copper distilled. that Mrs. Barsting-
lows mother gave her for medicinal
purposes three years ago. Fill up,
there's plenty of it, and l can replace
it with any kind Of beverage when it's
gone. The old girl won't know the diff
ference.
Mrs. Barstinglow felt herself turning
TO stone, but the next turn Of the crank
brought out an uproarious.
"Ha, ha, ba! Here's TO the o. g."
That famed her cheeks into flame.
"For mercy's sake, Malachi Barstin-
glow" she shrieked, "what does this
mean!"
Mr.. Barstinglow now looked as
though he really did wish she had never
gone to keokuk.
.'Its Just as tell you," he said,
| with an effort to look unconcerned that
was like humorous book, q colossal
| success SO far as its utter failure was
concerned. Somebody has been talk
ing all sorts OF nonsense into it just
for talks sake. How else could it get
hold Of such dreadful stuff in our dear
little home, lovely!"
Mrs. Barstinglow didn't know, but
she turned away and the phonograph
asked carelessly:
"Thrown around for the deal?"
She thought she would faint, but she
didn't, and the pitiless machine pro-
ceeded to remark, with variety of
voices:
"Its my age"
"You'll have to stIaddle that blind
if you come in."
"Give me two cards"
"Chip one."
"Ill see your little one and raise
YOU couple"
''Push the bottle this way, Ben."
"Aint you going to stay in. Harry?
"Can't stay in on pair Of sixes."
"Call you"
1.-TWO small pair, kings to bead"
Tens and deuces. Take the pot.
"Barsty, get Us something to eat.
Old girl left the cupboard keys, didn't
She"
Lord. yes y; told her was going to
keep bach at home to save expenses
and keep out Of bad company"
"Ha, hs, hal! Ho +! ho !"
| "Oh." yelled iMr. Barstin0lOW, un,