The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-10-06
IN THE COUNTRY.

NhS" yOu Woutu Uc picaseu, MY
love-" said Mr.. Truax, beaming all
over.
"But it will be so tedious for you to
come up and down by train, my dear, -
urged the wife.
"As If should mind such a trifle 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 few
months.)
So the young couple went up to live
"in the country"
al have always sighed for rural soli-
tudc," said Mrs. Truax, who had pack
ed one especial box full of Byron,
Browning and Swinburnc, and had even
essayed a few feeble attempts at the
divine art Of rhyming herself.
"lt's the right ticket" said Mr..
Truax, who, although not poetical him
self, fully appreciated the rare gift in
others. "No,hing like raising your
own new potatoes and Strawberries"
"Such lovely view of the river -
said Mrs. Traux. "But, Job, dear,
there doesn't seem to be a grca, many
strawberries on the vines"
"rhat is because you don't look in
the right places, my love-" said Mr..
Traux.
"And the agent spoke of such nice
poultry yard, and there only one
hen, tied by the leg in a coop % said
Mrs. Traux, with troubled air.
"Oh, well, | suppose the rest are out
at pasture !" consolcd Mr.. Traux, rub.
bing his hands.
"And there's piece of the parlor
ceiling down -
"a little plaster will set that all
right" said Mr.. Traux.
"And-and | don't see any gas.iix-
tures," added Mrs. Truax, who was
evidently getting little dispriied.
owe don't burn gas in the country"
said her cheerful helpmeet. ave mus,
use kerosene oil"
"And all be blown up - hysterical.
ly gasped Mrs. Truax, clasping hel
hands.
swell, we'll. my dear, I'll order upa
box OF pafafiine candies to night"
"Don't you think, Job" said Mrs.
Truax, "that this dining-room has rath.
er a musty smelll"
"Want Of ventilation, my love
that's ALL"
"I-I'm really afraid the house is
dampi" hesitated the wife.
"Nonsense !" alertly cried out Mr..
Truax. Damp Howridiculous! But
! must make haste, or l shall lose the
train. Let me see-have | got tina,
memorandum ? Carpet.tacks, candles,
corkscrew, three yards of buff hollands,
coffee-pot, piece Of blue ribbon to
loop back the curtains, pair parian
vases, bottle Of sewing machine oil,
stove-blacking. l hope there won't be
such an accumulation OF parcels every
day. Why, my dear, shall look like
a travelling peddler.
81 forgot to tell you about a bottle
Of violet ink, half an ounce of scarlet
zephyr wool and yard Of canvas, E"
added Mrs. Truax. "You'll be sure to
remember them?"
eyes, yesl" replied the bridegroom
rushing frantically down the lawn, and
scaling the stone wall with the agility
Of a school.boy, as he heard the shrill
whistle of the advancing train.
He caught it, and that's all, as the
conducor jocosely remarked.
"YoIre too fat for foot-races, old
fellow" observed that irreverent Off.
cial. "Ifll end in heart disease il you
try too much of that little game I"
And Mr.. Truax, as he sank, purple.
faced and pairing, into the seat, con.
fessed within himself that il country
life was luxury, it had also its draw
backs.
Meanwhile, Ms. Truax was giving au
dience to the cook.
"l'll tell ye what ma'am, said
Bridget, an arrogant old Irish woman
with a temper as hot as her own Wor,
cestershire sauce, al don't like the
looks Of things down below, no more |
don't. Where's the stationary wash
tubI Where's the gasp And no watel
higher than the well at the foot Of the
garden and the coal and wood KEEP
down in the barn. II amt what Nv,
been used to, ma'am, and it's what
can't put up with :"
"Yes but Bridget"
"An' the floor three inches deep ir
water, an the walls all mildewed, an
rats comm out OF their holes an starin
at you like Christians. / amt accus
toned to livin' N dungeons, an I'm
too old to begin now. So, IL you
please, ma'am. I'll go back to the cit,
this morning"
"And Leave me alone, Bridgetl"
"A girra has got her own health tC
look to, na'am and wages amt NJ
object when there's chills and fever il
the neishborhood."
And away trundled Bridget, will
her nose elevated in the air.
Mrs. Truax rang the bell, for th'
chambermaid.
"Leah," said she, when that younl
lady made her appearance in a stiff
starched muslin apron, and ribbons il
in her hair, "cook is going away, and
shall let you take her place, until"
al beg your pardon, ma'am," inter
posed Leah. al was just a-thinkin' o
leaving myself. / don't like the look
Of the place, ma'am-and no house il
sight, and burglars around as thick a
blackberries, and ghost in the bacl
attic, as the gardeners boy has seel
hisself, when the moon was at the full
So, if you'd please to settle up m,
wages ma'am, i'll 60 in the same trail
as Bridget takes"
Mrs. Truax sat down and cried. Sh