Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-17
Lre you keeping tho balance Of h EOr

Are you keeping the balance of II fol
my New Years2"
"That's all there is Of it." replied
Mrs. S~poopenkyke. 1T isn't a dress.
ing-gown, it's just a jacket. Try it on
and see how nice it looks
Whats those valises on the sidei
for? Are those to pack it up IMP
"They are the pockets, my dear, Tex
planned Mrs. S~poopendyke. II mad,
them wide purposely. Put it on, won
you? You'll like it aver so much"
What have you done to the legs
What makes en- so little2 Got al
idea | can keep warm in this thing?'
Intercepted Mr.. Spoopendyke, hold
ing the garment upside down.
These are the Sleeves" said Mrs
Spoopendyke, bouncing out of bed
Nov I'll hold it while you get into
it. | want to see how it sets on the
shoulders"
"Think I'm going down PeDnsylva.
MIA avenue in this thing?" inquired
Mr.. Spoopendyke, surveying himself
in the glass. What's your idea in
binding me in half.morocco? Say, look
here" continued Mr.. Spoopendyke
severely, you've forgotten one thing,
Where's the strap"
"What strap, dear2' asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, nervously. "There isn't
any strap; it fastens with these pretty
frogs
where's the punch? | want the
punch. Where's the old woman who
has forgotten the street She wanted to
get at2 Show me the man who always
drops his fare in the straw. When
is this to be fnished?'
"Why, what do you mean, my dear?
All I've got to do is to take it in a
little under the right shoulder and
pad it a little more on the left,-"
Where's the horses?' howled Mr..
S~pookendyke. SHOW me the dod
gasted brakes; you hear? If you re
going to get me up like a bob-tail
street car, | want the whole business.
When did | tell you to make anything
like this? Don't try to stop me this
side of the crossing" and Mr.. Spoo-
pendyke pranced around the room.
Put a stone under me and roll
me back on the track" he yelled.
Didn't | tell you to make me a dress
ing gown? Did | say anything about
a measly old jacket without a back
platform? S'pose I'm going around
Washington looking like a quarter sec
ton of the marine band; where's the
buck fiddler" and MIR. ~Spoopendyke
hooped out of the smoking jacket and
kicked it over the wardrobe.
Il thought it would look better than
a nasty, long dressing gown" sobbed
Mrs. Spoopendyke. II try to do what
is right"
oh you do, and you fetch it don't
your" blurted Mr.. S%poopendyke, "all
you want is one cover gone, and the
torn out to be a hymn book.
Think I'm going around this town
dressed up 50 as to look like a battle
field? What did ye bind it with red
for any way?"
II can put on any color you like,
dear suggesting Mrs. Spoopendyke,
to get some expression of pref
erence; what would you like ~
have?"
"Ohl you can fix i'll" raved Mr..
Spoopendykc. "You can put in colors
to order. You only need some one to
hold you up to the light and turn you
around quick to be a kaleidoscope.
What color do 1 want Black, dod
CAST it, black and then | can wear it
out nights any way. Can't you sew
tails on the measly thing? Co.
ing to spoil my whole Christmas be-
cause | won't go around looking like
a dod gasted savage, who came to town
through a reaping machine?"
My dear" said Mrs. Spoopendyko.
with a strange glitter il her eyes, my
dear, that jacket isn't for you; its for
my brother, Mahlon. This is yours, "
and she brought a handsome dressing
gown from the closet.
u don't know as that is any better, ="
grunted Mr.. Spoopendyke, looking
from one to the other. Don't know
but I'd rather have the jacket, anyhow.
Put 'em away, and I'll make up my
mind which I'll keep" and Mr..
SpoOpendyke made bis way to the
breakfast table, where, in an impress
siYe speech, he made his wife a pres
ent Of an elegantly upholstered boot
jack, cautioning her to always have it
around where he could find it at any
moment.