The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-02-07
Searching tie ccr:ptures.

glancing up from the letter she was
writing, and pressing Che nib of the pen
on her thumb nail to see *hy it didn't
work any better. '.Say, my dear, do
you know where to find that text, For
the unbelieving husband is sancti6ed in
the wifep' "
..In Exodus, isn't ito'' replied Mr.
Spoopendyke. at sounds like Exodus.
Where's the Bible?"
II was looking for it to-day" return
ed Mrs. Spoopendyke, getting up and
preparing for another search. II don't
think it is in Exodus, because it sounds
more like Paul. think some one must
have stolen the Bible, for l haven't
seen it since we came from the coun-
try"
That's kind Of curious" soliloquiz-
ed Mr.. Spoopendyke, arousing himself
10 assist in the investigation. II don't
know who would want TO steal a Bible.
Don't ycu remember where you put it?
Think it s in here?" and MIR. Spoopen-
dyke upset the bandbox containing his
wife's new hat, and then made lunge
for the fancy coal scu;tle behind the
stove. sYou had it last, what did you
do with it?''
..It wouldn't be apt to get in there,
would it?'' suggested Mr.. Spoopendykc,
trying to divert her husbands atten-
ton BY rafting the vases on the bu-
reau.
eff it's the orthodox Bible, it's liable
to penetrate anywhere and every
wherer' retorted MIR. Spoopcndyke,
abandoning the coal scuttle and making
a dive for the button bag. Strikes me
that Bible is keeping pretty quiet for the
Word" he ruminated as he tirped the
buttons ont on the floor, and darted
across the room to try the bureau
drawers. '.Be in fine fix if a minister
should happen to drop in now and ask
for family worship. Have to tell him to
90 on his recollection or start new
theory Of his own and Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke pulled the shams off the bed and
then got down on his hands and knees
to look under it. '.rll bet hat it's
where / said it was.''
where's that, dear?" asked Mrs.
Spoopendykc, supposing he had found
it.
'.In Exodus" snorted Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke, wiping the ornaments off the
mantel piece and looking behind the
clock. Cant you remember what
say from one moment to another? If
you had any memory. with your habits
of classification. you'd only need the
coat of arms of ali nations and little
more incoherence to make q first rate
dictionary! I don't know, though"
continued Mr.. Spoopendyke, ruminat-
ing on this proposition while he tore
the things out of the wardrobe. Il
don't know but what you would have
to get new binding and have your
sides marbelized. You don't suppose
that Bible got lonely and went off
into the country on its own hook, do
you?''
s.rm sure don't know" murmurcd
Mrs. Spoopendyke. II can't imagine
it would do thing like that. sI think
it's only mislaid. Well find it,
swell, I should remark replied
Mr.. Spoopendyke, without meaning the
slightest irreverence. 'There may be
only one small fish or crust of the
bread left, but we'll find what there is
before we 90 to bed! Unless that Bibles
gone to get itself revised there'll be no
sleep in the Spoopendyke apartments
until we lay our hands lovingly on that
dear old family Bible! Maybe it's hid
under bushelr' and he capsized the
waste paper basket and scattered the
contents over the room.
81 don't know but what it is in Exo-
dus," said Mrs. Spoopendyke. with her
finger in her mouth. ''Now come to
think it over I'm sure it's in Exodus,
SO you needn't look for it any more"
Il know it's in Exodus" said Mr..
Spoopendyke. kicking his wife,s work
basket across the floor and turning the
contents over with the toe of his boot.
''But I'm going to find out which end
of Exodus it is in before l go to busi-
ness again! How do you suppose any
ones to know when we were married
er when the baby was born or when we
9ied If we .ion't t find :l,a. Riblne Th;rk
I'm going taTcnGh liso r-.taout Bible
to refer to wl.s:l III i,>i:ciy and de-
pressed? Cot soma KIND oi notion be
cause I'm good and p;osis TAFT religion
comes natural {; e.,
il don't. I've got 10 kaa:, I;3Et;;i just
IS well 2s any en-. else! NFhcrc's that
DibleP" demanded Mr.. SpoopcEdykc.
rising in wrath IS the book seemed to
evade his search. "What's become of
:he pious injunctions OF my YOUTH
How N going to be able to tell Solo
mons wives from the rest of his family
unless l have the book before me?
my Maccabees and my Fac
cheus? Where are the friends of my
and Mr.. Spoopendyke
up in the middle of the |
room and glared at his wife rs though
she had inflicted on him mortal in
fury.
They've been dead some time" re-
piled Mrs. Spoopendyke, who always
took everything literally. Anyway,
you don't care about them tonight.
"And my Abraham begat Isaac, and
Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat
Judah and his brethren! Where are
they? Suppose some fellow asks mo
tomorrow who Jmdah's brethren begat,
what am 10 say? What're We stand
ing there for, looking like hole in
the fence for? Think that helps you
aay?"
"Say, dear, commenced Mrs. Spocp-
endyke. Don't You remember the
night You and Mr.. Spccklewottle got
into dispute as TO whether the prodi-
gal son was thrown into the pit, or was
the one whose ear Peter cut off for hid
ing his talents in napkin? 1 haven't
seen the Bible since then. You had it |
out, and when you got through you put |
it in your silk hat. Gna here it is now!"
and Mrs. Spoopcndske held up the
volume, her face wres,hed in
smiles of delight tl,at thiags had nc: /;
been any worse.
Found il, didn't yoa?' frnwied Nj. !
snatching tie book out
of her hands. ''Arn:i;eT tine, when l !
get through with It. you remember !
what 1 do with it. Now. let's End that |
measly text youw so anxious about. :"
And Mr.. Spoopendyke pored through |
Exodus and then laid down the book in
disgust. There's no such thing in the
Bible" he sail. 81 knew there wasn't |
all the time, but l wanted 70 prove it 10 |
you."
LET me look" suggested Mrs. |
Spoopendyke, and, turning to l Cor
inthians, vii:l4. she founi and read it |
to him. Il had an idea it was in some |
of Paurs writings" she remarked as |
she shut the hook and pat it away.
That's what you always have.'
roared NJ. Spoopendrke. enraged by |
his defeat. '.If ycI should ever run |
short of ideas you'd be comparatively I,
smart woman! Some day IN eoing 70 |
put q Spipgot in yOur God naSt led mouth /