The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-08-04
Spoopendyke's Hen Coon.

I've bought some chickens so we can
have fresh laid eggs Lookfn and he
held out a couple of pair of fowl tied by
the legs, for Mrs. Spoopendyke's con-
temptation.
We'll, upon my wordr' exclaimed
Mrs. Spoopendyke. ''Of all things!
chickens! Ever since we've been mar
rled Eve wanted ehickensi' and she APP
preached the birds cautiously and with
a look OF misgiying that belied her
words, Where can We keep tliem?''
I'm a coop, Mrs. Spoopendyke, in a
coop!' retorted her husband. having the
chickens on the bed while he Invested
himself of his coat and vest. '.We
might keep EN- up the chimney or in
the clock. bat we probably won't. Wen
just keep EN- in Il hen-coop. and I've
got the lafhs and nails down stairs to
build it with. Come down in the yard, -
and Mr.. SpoopendNke grabbed his new
acquisition 3y the legs and started Off
followed by his wife.
t'Do you know how to build coop?"
asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, as she watch
ed her husband dig post hole in the
corner she had reserved for geranium
bed.
IF l don't you probably do" snorted
spade until he loosened his leg. Now
| put this post here and that one there.
Then the two fences make the rest, and
| only lath up these dod CAST the
post he concluded. as it toppIed over
on his ear. Can't YOU hold it up?
What re you sitting around there like
cork in a JUG for? Hold it up, will ve?''
Mrs. Spoopendyke grasped the post
firmly with both hands and held 1t at
an angle of thirty degrees.
NOW hold it perfectly still while L
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 Stat il up from one
post to the her and then pat the chick
ems in. My how nice tiiat'ii be-
Mr.. SpoopendFile glaipd at her mo-
ment and then began putting up his
laths, standing between the posts and
the fence corner and whispering as he
worked.
Nov" said he. as he finished. what
do YOU think of that?''
Mrs. Spoopendyke examined the job
critically.
Its perfect palacer' she exclailn-
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 me9 What's we want to let me build
myself in like a mummy FORE Amt We
got any sense ut all anywheres? Why
didn't We watch what Twas doing?' and
Mr.. Spoope1dyke grinned horribly
through the stats.
Il supposed You were going to build
a hole in it, faltered Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke.
$50 | ann yelled Mr.. Spoopcndyke,
jamming his leg through the structure.
WANT any more hoies9'' and he kicked
the side half way across the yard. -Four
chickens. four holcS!' 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 finest
holes a speciality" and he
banged out the other end. parties
wanting holes TO send in the country
viii consult their interests by applying
mere before going elsewherer' and he
ripped down the rest of the coop with
Drodigious clatter. Want any more
loles in this particular coop?' he roar
ID wrenchin@ out the posts and slam
ming them across the yard docs this
len coop begin to convey the impress
lion of having a hole in it?'' he demand
ed, stalking up to his wife.
'.Yes, dear replied Mrs. Spoopen-
lvke, soothingly I'm SO glad you
rot out, but where can we keep the
chickens now?" 4
Keep emp ripped Mr.. Spoopen-
lyke. with a horrible grimace, and
the wretched fowls by the legs,
who's going to keep emp" and he cut
he lashings. '.S'pose I'm going to run
ny business just to CRAFTY every whim
# woman?" and he ierked the chick
ms into the air.
'sNever mind" eooed Mrs. Spoopen-
Iyke, as the last bird slid over the fence
nd disappeared Chickens are nui-
anee, anyway. We really didn't need |
N.Y.
why didn't you say SO before 1 |
fought 'em?" blurted Mr. Spoopen- |
yke. as he dashed into tiIe house.
4 didn't know it, sighed Mrs. |
looking around on the |
wreck, land, besides, l don't believe we |
you'd have had many eggs, because
hose chickens were all ROSTERS"
And Mrs. Spoopendyke followed her
who stormed around the rest |
f the evening because she couldn't find |
he paper of January II, 1879. which he |
ad cautioned her to save because there
ras something in it he wanted 10 read, |
nd which he had used the next day, in
injunction with the back breadth of her
ew flannel petticoat, to clean his shot
un with.-Brookigl Eaqle.