The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-06-15
manitomof Pilot.
THURSDAY, JUNE Is, 1882.
spoonendYke,s Hen Coop.

as he appeared before his wife with a
broad grin on his face, ''say, my dear,
I've bought some chickens so we can
have fresh laid eggs. Lookr' and he
held out a couple Of pair of fowl tied by
the legs, for Mrs. Spoopendyke's con-
temptation.
"Well, upon my word" exclaimed
Mrs. Spoopendyke. ''Of all things!
chickens! Ever since we've been mar
ried I've wanted chickenst and she APP
preached the birds cautiously and with
a look of misgiving that belied her
words, "Where can we keep them?''
I'm coop, Mrs. Spoopendyke, in
coopr' retorted her husband, laying the
chickens on the bed while he Invested
himself OF his coat and vest. 1--WE
might keep 'em up the chimney or in
the clock. but we probably won't. Wen
just keep 'em in a hen-coop, and I've
got tle laths and nails down stairs to
build it with. Come down in the yard"
and Mr.. Spoopendyke grabbed his new
acquisition by the legs and started off,
followed by his wife.
"Do you know how to build a coop"
asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, as she watch
ed her husband dig post hole in the
corner she had reserved for a geranium
bed
IF don't you probably do" snorted
Mr.. Spoopendyke, kicking away at the
spade until he loosened his leg. ''Now
| put this post here and that one there.
Then the two fences make the rest, and
l Only iath up these two-dod CAST the
postr' he concluded, as it toppled over
on his ear. Cant you hold it up?
What're you sitting around there like a
cork in a jug for? Hold it up, will YEP"
Mrs. Spoopendyke grasped the post
firmly with both hands and held it at
an angle of thirty degrees.
Now hold it perfectly still while /
dig the other hole,' and MIR. Spoopen-
dyke hacked away at the ground again
and set his second post
Il see what you mean," Mrs. Spoo-
pendyke. ''You slat it up from one
post 10 the other and then put the chick
ems in. My! how nice that'u ben'
Mr.. Spoopendvke glared at her a mo-
ment and then began putting up his
laths, standing between the posts and
the fence corner and whispering as he
worked.
Now" said he, as he finished, "what
do you think of that?"
Mrs. Spoopendyke examined the Job
critically.
Its perfect palace" she exclaim-
ed. But say, dear, how are you going
to get out?"
"Yah-h-hr' roared Mr. Spoopendyke,
bounding into the air. "Why didn't We
tell me? What'd ye want to let me build
myself in like mummy for? Amt We
got any sense at all anywheres? Why
didn't We watch what Twas doingP" and
Mr.. Spoopendyke grinned horribly
through the Stats.
II supposed you were going to build
q hole in it," faltered Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke.
$50 amr' yelled Mr.. Spoopendyke,
jamming his leg through the structure.
Want any more holes?" and he kicked
the side half way across the yard. -Four
chickens. four holcsr he roared and
the laths flew in all directions. Want
any more holes?" and he smashed the
roof out with the spade. ''Holes con-
stantly on hand! If you don't see the
holes you want, ask for it"' and he
blew out the end with terrific energy.
New goods coming in at all times!
Secondhand holes a specialty!'' and he
banged out the other end. parties
wanting holes to send in the country
will consult their interests by applying
here before going elsewhere" and he
ripped down the rest of the coop with
prodgious clatter. want any more
holes in this particular coop" he roar
ed. wrenching out the posts and slam
ming them across the yard. ''Does this
hen coop begin to convey the impress
sion of having hole in itp'' he demand
ed, stalking up to his wife.
Eyes, dear" replied Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke, soothingly. I'm so glad you
got out, but where can we keep the
chickens now?"
Keep emf ripped Mr.. Spoopen-l
dyke, with q horrible grimace, and
rrasping the wretched fowls by the legs,
who's going to keep emp" and he cut
The lashings. "S'pose I'm going to run
my business Just to crafty every whim
of woman?" and he jerked the chick
ems into the air.
Never mind" cooed Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke, as the last bird slid over the fence
and disappeared. "Chlcken5 are null
sance, anyway. We really didn't need
any"
why didn't you say so before I
bought 'em?" blurted Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke, as he dashed into the house.
Il didn't know it," sighed Mrs.
Spoopendyke, looking around on the
wreck, land, besides, don't believe we
would have had MANY egps. because
those chickens were all roosters."
And Mrs. Spoopendyke followed her
husband, who stormed around the rest
of the evening because she couldn't find
the paper of January II, 1879. which he
had cautioned her to save because there
was something in it he wanted to read,
and which he had used the next day, in
conjunction with the back breadth of her
new flannel petticoat, to clean his shot
pun -Brooklya Fa0le.