The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-10-08
OLP mn. SPOOPEEDYKE.

TITS Time He Misses Hts Prayer Book
"Now, my dear" said Mr.. Spoopen,
dyke cheerfully, ''be lively. It's 1926
o'clock, and we mustn't be late at church.
Most steady?'
"Yes, dear" beamed Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke. "I'm ready. Got everything ??
u think 50. Hymn book, umbrella,
and-where's the prayer book? haven't
got the prayer book.
where did you leave it?" asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, turning over the volumes
on the table hurriedly.
''If ! knew where / left it, I'd strut
right to that spot and get it, I" retorted
Mr.. Spoopendyke II left it with you.
Where did you put it? Can't you re.
member what you do with things?"
II haven't seen it since last Sunday. (
returned Mrs. Spoopendyke, family.
y know, " she continued; perhaps it is
at chdrch.
Perhaps it is, +" mimicked Nj. Spoop-
endyke. Perhaps it got up early, took
a bath and went ahead Of lis. Did you
ever see prayer book prowl off to
church all alone ? Ever see q prayer
book hist up its skirts and strike out for
the sanctuary without an escort? S'pose
q prayer book knows the difference be-
tween church and ham sandwich {?
Where did yon put it?"
Il mean you may have left it in the
pew rack. You know you did once,
suggested Mrs. Spoopendyke,
Il didn't anything Of the sort. I
brought it home and gave it to You.
Where Do you keep it? What did you
do with it /? S'pose I'm going to swash
around through that service without
knowing whether they are doing the
Apostles creed or an act Of Congress?
Spring around and find it, can't YOU?
What are you looking there for2 Don't
you know the difference between
prayer book and the Wandering Jew p
Find it, can't you?"
Never mind it. dear, futtered Mrs.
Spoopendyke. II know all the re-
sponses, and I'll help you along"
"Oh, yes, you know EN- all. What
you don't know about religion wouldn't
wad gun. All you want is bell and
board fence to be theological seminary.
Think you can find that prayer between
now and the equinoctial n howled Mr..
Spoopendyke. "Got any idea whether
you sold the measly thing for china
vases or stirred it into the wheat cakes ?
Have ! been chewing divine grace all
the morning? Where's that prayer
book? Going to get that prayer book
before the Revelations come to pass ?"
and Mr.. spoopendyke plunged around
the room, tumbling books about and
breathing heavily.
" | don't see the use Of making such a
fuss over thing you don't really need"
sobbed Mrs. Spoopendyke through her
indignant tears.
"Oh. you don't, raved Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke. You don't see any use in put
ting things where they belong, either,
do you? How dye s'pose Tn going to
keep up with religion without prayer
book? How dye s'pose I'm going to
know when itsmy turn to show what
Christianity has done for me unless you
can find that dod gasted book between
now and the resurrection 4" and Mr..
Spoopendyke spun around on his heel
like top and knocked over Partisan
jar
Wait minute, my dear, said Mrs.
Spoopendyke, looking at him earnestly.
Then she went behind him and fished
out the prayer book.
SCOT it, didn't your" he growled.
!" Had it all the time, | spose. Where
was it, anyway ?"
:" In your coat-tail pocket, dear, " and
Mrs. Spoopendyke iabbed the powder
puff in her eyes and stalked down stairs,
leaving her iege to follow.
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