Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-08
WHY THE MACHINE WAS BUSY,


A party of merry young men sat around a
banquet table. Mr.. Philip Gregory, having
been admitted to the bar, had invitel q num-
Der of his friends to join him in an informal
affair From an adjoining room, separated
by thin partition, came the almost ceaseless
hum of a sewing machine.
This is the kind Of an affair like" said
Bill Talbert, the prosecuting attorney. AT
your conventional mnquetS men bring their
augurs and in turn bore each other; but on
an occasion like this, where no man arises in
oratorical effort, no applause is expected; no
rivalry is felt"
"A banquet is intended to be enjoyed" re-
piled Philip. "Set speeches, as you say, are
tiresome. Gentlemen, don't he backward,
there's plenty of wine. Say, Anderson"
turning to friend, ''sing us a song Hush,
boys, Anderson's going to sing"
Anderson sang the "Old Oaken Bucket. !"
Then a young fellow named Peters recited
the dying Year"
The busy hum of the sewing machine came
from the adjoining room.
Let's sing something we all know" ex-,
claimed Phi. Come, fellows" The wine
was taking effect. The boys were becoming
noisy. odd Kentucky Home, here we go"
who's that making such noise in the
ether room!' asked Peters. I'VE can't sing
with all that racket going on
DRY up in there. Let up, won't your
cried a dozen voices.
''It's tailor believe" said Phil. Con
found him, there's time enough for work
during the day. Say there" striking the
wall with his fist. cant you stop that machine,
awhile, hah! Can't you hold up with your
COMPOUNDED racket and let party Of gentle
men enjoy themselves"
No response The machine continued an
almoS. ceaseleSS hum
That's an insult, Phil" exclaimed Ander-
son. The devilish fellow knows well enough
that We are trying to enjoy ourselves"
Say fellows" cried some one, lets sing
anyhow. Strikeup Anderson and Wen follow
You. Let's all fill up first. Pass that bottle,
please. Here we go"
mo use to talk about singing here" said
Anderson, putting down his glass las well
try to whisper love in a boiler factory. I'm
in favor of making that fellow shut up"
Probably he's on a piece Of work that must
be finished tonight" remarked Peters, turn
ing to Phil.
mo, I'll bet it's the result of his grasping
disposition" Phil replied. Hes afraid he
might lose fifty cents"
"Tell you what I'm in favor Of" cried a
young fellow named Mills, I'm in favor of
going in there and compelling him to stop
We have met here to enjoy ourselves, but,
confound him, he is spelling the evening""
I'VE might pay him for his loss of time"
some one suggested, but he could not pay us
for our loss of enjoyment"
You are right" rejoined Phil LETS 60
in boys and tell him he must stop. He's get
ting worse instead of better. Well, let's fill
up again. Here's looking at you, boys.
The machine ceased its noise for moment,
then continued it's busy hum.
"Where's the door, Phil Z" asked Peters
''Out in the hall"
ISupPooo he Sunn,t npaa- Il. "-----------------
"We'll shove it in if he doesn't
Come on, boys" said Anderson, I'm lead
the way"
''Shall we knock ~ asked Mills
Its unlocked" said Phil, turning the
knob.
The door opened and ten boys stepped into
the room. MY Cod" exclaimed Phil,
''come away"
In corner man lay drunk. On a lounge
a child lay dead. A woman sat at the ma
chine. Tears were streaming down her face
She was making a shroud.
OPIE 7. READ.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Feb 4.