The Russellville Democrat., 1882-07-13
spoopendxke's Hen Coop.

and he held out a couple ot pair of fowls tied by the legs, for Mrs. Spoopendyke's contemplation.
 "Well, upon my wordw exclaimed | Mrs. Spoopendyke, "Of all thingsl Ever since we've been married I've wanted chickens" and she approached the birds cautiously and with look of misgiying that belied her words, "Where can we keep them?'
 "In a coop, Mrs. Spoopendyke, in a coopp retorted her husband, lay ing the chickens on the bed while he divested himseff of his coat and vest 'We might keep 'em up the chim- ney or in the clock, but we probably won't. We'll just keep lem in a hen coop, and I've got the laths and nails down stairs to build it with Come down in the yard" and MT. Spoopendyke grabbed his new ac- quisition by the legs and started of, followed by his wife.
 "Do you know how to build a coopY asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, as she watched her husband dig post hole in tue corner she had reserved for q geranlum bed.
 If l don't you probably do" snorted MT. 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 1 only lath up these two-dod gast the postr' he concluded, as it toppled over on his ear. Cant yod hold it up? What're you sitting around there like cork in a jug for? Hold It up, will ye?"
 Mrs. Spoopendyke grasped the post firmly with both hands and held it at an angle of thirty degrees.
 "Now hold it perfectly still while 1 dig the other hole, and Mir. Spoop- endyke hacked away at the ground again and set his second post.
 "I see what you mean," giggled Mrs. Spoopendyke. You slat it up from one post to the other and then put tue chickens in. My how nice that'll ben'
 Mr, Spoopendyke glared at her a moment and then began putting up his laths, standing between the posts and the fence corner and whistling as he worked.
 Now" said he, as he finished, "what do you think of that?'
 Mrs. Spoopendyke examined the job critically.
 It's perfect palace" she ex- claimed. But say, dear, how are you going to get out?7
 h.h-h" roared MT, Spoopen- dyke, bounding into the air. "Why didn't yc tell me2 What'd ye want to let me build myself m like a mummy for? Ain'tye got any sense at all anywheres" and MT. Spoop. endyke grinned horribly through the slats.
 "I supposed you were going to build hole in it, faltered Mrs. Spoopendyke.
 "So l am" yelled Mr, Spoopcn, dyke, tanning his leg through the structure. "Want any more holes?" and he kicked the side half way across the yard -Four chickens, four holes" he reared and the laths flew in all directions. Want any more holesY' and he smashed the roof out with the spade. "Holes constantly on hand. If you don't see the hole you want, ask for ltr' and he blew out the end wi5h terrific en- ergy. "New goods coming in at all times Second hand holes a special ity" and he banged out the other end. "Parues wanting holes to send in the country will consult their in terests by applying here before go- ing elsewhere" and he ripped down the rest of the coop with pIodigious chatter. Want any more holes in this particular coop" he roared, wrenching out the posts and slam ming them across the yard. Docs this hen coop begin to convey the impression of having q hole in it?" he demanded, stalking up to his wife.
 "Yes, dear" replied Mrs. Spoopen- dyke, soothingly, I'm so glad you got out, but where can we keep the chickens nowY
 "Keep 'em" ripped Mr. Spoopen. dyke, with horrible grimace, and grasping the wretched fowls by tho legs, who's going to keep 'em?" and he cut the lashings. "S'pose I'm going to run my business just to gratlfy every whim of a womany' and he jerked the chickens into the air.
 Never mind," cooed Mrs. Spoop- endyke, as the last bird slid over the fence and disappeared. Chick ems arc nuisance, anyway. We really didn't need any"
 "Why didn't you say so before l bought emp blurted Mr. Spoopen- dyke, as he dashed into the house.
 "I didn't know it," sighed Mrs. Spoopendyke, looking around on the wreck, and besides, don't believe we would have had many eggs, be cause these chickens were all roos- ters."
 And Mrs. Spoopendyke followed