The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-10-06
IN THE COUNTRY.

y
Mrs. Truax. "How delightful"
ST knew you would be pleased, my
love-" said Mr.. Truax, beaming all over.
"But it will be so tedious for you to
come up and down by train, nay dear, !"
urged the wife.
"As if I should mind such trifie as
that, when you are satisfied, my dear!'
returned Mr.. Truax.
(From which brief dialogue it may
easily be inferred that Mr.. and Mrs. Job
Truax had only been married o few
months.
SO the young couple went up to live
sin the country"
ST have always sighed for rural soli-
tude," said Mrs. Truax, who had packed
one especial box full of Byron, Browning
and Swinburne, apd had even essayed q
few feeble attempts at the divine art of
rhyming herself.
tits the right ticket" said Mr.. Truax,
who, although not poetical himself, fully
appreciated the rare gift in others.
Nothing like raising your own new
potatoes and strawberries.
''Such lovely view of the .riverp' said
Mrs. Truax. ''But, Job, dear, there
doesn't seem to be great many straw
berries on the vines.
.'That is because you don't look in the
right places, my love-, said Mr.. Truax.
s'And the agent spoke of such nice
poultry yard, and there's only one hen,
tied by the leg in a coopp' said Mrs.
Truax, with troubled air.
ooh, well, suppose the rest are out
at pasture!" consoled Mr.. Truax, rub
bing his hands.
.'And there's a piece of the parlor
ceiling DOWN.
"a little plaster will set that all right, "
said Mr.. Truax.
"And-and I dot see any gas-fix-
lures" added Mrs. Truax, who was evil
IDENTIFY getting little dispirited.
1--WE don't burn gas in the country
said her cheerful helpmeet. "We must
use kerosene oil"
"And all be blown upw hysterically
gasped Mrs. Truax, clasping her hands.
"Well, we'll, my dear, Tn order up q
box Of paraffine candles tonight"
Don't you think, Job," said Mrs.
Truax, ':that this dining room has rather
musty smell?"
"Want of ventilation, my love-that's
ALL"
"I-Im really afraid the house is
dampp hesitated the wife.
AK. Damp" How ridiculous! But
must make haste, or / shall lose the
train. Let ma see-have [ got that
memorandum? Carpet tacks, candles
corkscrew, three yards of buff hollands
coffee pot, a piece of blue ribbon te
loop back the curtains, pair parian vases
bottle of sewing machine oil, stove
blacking. I hope there won't be suct
an accumulation of parcels every day
Why, my dear, ehall look like travel
ing peddler."
s'I forgot to tell you about bottle o.
violet ink, half an ounce of scarle
zephyr wool and a yard of canvas,
added Mrs. Truax. 'You,n be sure tt
remember them?"
eyes, yes!'' replied the bridegroom
rushing frantically down the lawn, ant
| scaling tn stone wall with the agility O
a school boy, as he heard the shril
whistle of the advancing train.
| He caught it, and that's all, as the con
ductor loosely remarked.
| you're too fat for foot races, old fell
low" observed the irreverent official
"Itll end in heart disease if you try to,
much of that little game!'
And Mr.. Truax, as he sank, purple
faced and painting, into the seat, con
fessed within himself that if country lif
was luxury, it also had its drawbacks
Meanwhile Mrs. Truax was givin
audience to the cook.
"I'll tell ye what. lua am" said Bird
get, an arrogant old Irishwoman, with
temper as hot as her own Worcestershire
sauce, "I don't like the looks of thing
down below, no more I don't. Where
the stationary wash tub? Where's th
gas? And no water higher than the wel
at the foot of the garden and the coal an
wood KEEP down in the barn. It ain
what I've been used to, ma'am, and it
what I can'f put up with"
''Yes; but Bridget"
"An' the floor three inches deep i
water, an the walls all mildewed, al
J rats comm out Of their holes an starin' {
you like Christians. I amt accustome
} to livin in dungeons, and I'm too old |
begin now. So, if you please, ma'au
, I'll go back to the city this morning."
: Sand leave me alone, Bridget"
, 'sA girl has got her own health to loo
} to, ma'am; and wages amt no obie,
T when there's chills and fever in I'll
} neighborhood.
, And away trundled Bridget, with b,
nose elevated in the air.
) Mrs. Truax rang the bell for the chan
bermaid.