Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-08-08
Mr.. and Mrs. Sp0opeDdyke.
from brakes Travellers Magazin,

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niue enjoy mento Of unpacking for the sum-
mer. s:My dear, there's no use trying to
get along in the country without sail
boat, and I have bought nice one.
Come along, and I'll show you how it
works.
s.Ain't that nicei'' giggled Mrs.
3po0pendyke, who stood in mortal terror
of the water, and was afraid OF anything
shaped like boat. care you going to
sail it on the pond?"
"At first I thought I'd sail it down
cellar" growled Mi. Spoopendyke, "but
the landlord was afraid it might upset the
milk; then thought I'd try the garrett,
but there's too much wind up there, so l
believe I'll stick to the river. Hurry up
now, and I'll show you the biggest boat
in thirteen countries"
"If it is as big as that it must have
cost a good deal," murmured Mrs.
Spoopendyke, somewhat reassured by
the size of the boat. II am very glad
you got a large boat, though, of course,
the expense"
"What dye think I've been buyine?'
demanded Mr.. Spoopendyke, with q
flushed face; ''got some kind of notion
that I've invested my wealth in a salt
marsh, with telegraph poles for masts,
haven't ye? Think I've been laying out
mouey in town site, don't ye? Well, I
haven't, and I haven't been buying a
rural district with rudder to it. It's q
boat, I tell yea sail boat-and it won't
come up here to make formal call; so
if you're going to see it, you want to go
where it is. Coming?" and Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke pegged off with his hat pulled
down over his ears and the expression
of a veteran tar on his visage.
Eyes, DEAR" replied Mrs: Spoopen.
dyke, auttering after him. t'Say, dear, III
stand on the shore and watch you sail
the thing"
.You won't do anything of the kind, I"
1etorted Mr.. Spoopendyke. II bought
that boat for your pleasure as much as
mine and you re going to sailinit. When
Iwart YOU to stand on the shore and
| watch anything, I'll hire man to drown
himself. Now look at that boat. Isn't she
a daisy? See how she sets on the wa
ter"
ssWhat are these clothes lines hanging
down from that stick for?" asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, surveying the yacht
critically.
"To play Copenhagen with" roared
MI. Spoopendyke, who was not at all
anxious to be examined on the technical
points of his new acquisition. ''You
take hold of those ropes, and I slap your
hands, and then we kiss. See into it
nov? Does the art of navigation begin
to appeal to your understanding? Now,
YOU eet in and I'll make SAIL" and MIR:
Spoopendyke handed his wife into the
cock pit and began to tug away at his
halliards.
"Wby didn't you have sail made
when the boat was built?" inquired Mrs.
Spoopendyke, by way of encouraging
her husbands labors with pleasant con-
versat1on. "...s
"Because the man was sick, snarled
Mr.. Spoopendyke, glancing at the head
of the mast to see what was wrong.
s'Come up here, will ye?" he grunted,
Is he grabbed the halliards again.
t'Then, dod gastye! knew I'd fetch yer
and be walked aft: to examine the trim
of his mainsail. "How does that set?'
TT seems to be little full in the bach
BREADTH" commented Mrs. Spoopen'
dyke, holding on to the c0amlng. Will
both hands. s'1f you cut gore near thai
top stick it would be straighter. !"
IL suppose so," muttered Mr.;
Spoopendyke, giving another haul at hi
peak halliards. ''lf I put hustle on it
i imagine it would take the wrinkles out
Now, Ill get up that jib, and mind don
| you touch anything" "
Mr.. 5roopendyke Get his iib and push
ed off. As his sail filed the boat heelet
over, to the manifest CONSERVATION O
Mrs. Spoopendyke. :.
''What makes the thing tip so?" she
asked, scrambling up to windward, and
erssping Mr.. Spoopendyke by the collar
/ seL Let down the center boards" yellet
Mr.. Spoopendy yke, suddenly remember
ing the instructions he had received
! when he bought the boat "Let 80 tina
center board quick!" -
81 haven't got itl'' squealed Mr.
Spoopendyke 81 haven't seen, il! w,
must have left it ashore! Oh, MY yl'' Th
!, last exclamation was addressed to hall
hundred weight of water stopping owe
the lee coaming.