The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-15
Mr. Jones Ras an Evsning At HOme.

Maria, said Mr.. Jones, IS he sat
and enjoyed an evening at home-be-
cause he had no place else to go-s'it
seems to me that on 2 suspicious occa-
sion like this and he looked fondl,
at her--''as If heaven and home were
anonymous terms
"Sin-onomous, corrected Mrs. Jones
taking several pins and q ball Of twine
out of her mouth and placing q patch
on that part of Willie's pants where it
would do the most good. s'Jephtha,
why don't you read aloud evenings, in
stead of keeping all the good things to
yourselfp'' =
sIs reading allowedf" asked Jones,
iHnocently. ''I thought you preferred
to talk. y
"Well; do, snapped Mrs. j.. ''when
have somebody to talk to. which isn't
very often
'Tll read" exclaimed Jones, hur-
riedly reversing the book he held in
his hand-'And it came to pass"
'Save that for Sunday" interrupted
Mrs. Jones. 'Read some sweet thing
about home, or the friends; some poet
ry. love to hear you read poetry,
Jephtha, with sly wink at nobody.
Thus encouraged, Jones, who Is an
amateur elocutionist and has fired the
neighborhood with his dramatic read-
ings in times past, tin the neighbors
threatened to fire him, seized q volume
of poetry and, in the voice that made
Freedom shrek when Kosciuseo fell,
read aloud that touching poem begin
ming:
(which shall it be, which shall it be2
/ looked at John-John looked 1t me-
There was silence which could have
been felt with rolling-pin when Jones
ceased to read, and wiped the foam
flecks from his pallid lips, and Maria
was in tears.
II know you've wakened the boys"
she said, in voice that sounded small
and still after his, land they'll want
drink. :"
'The childrenr' murmured Jones,
with fixed eyes, ''the dear, sweet child
renI M-M-Maria, do we 'preciate these
dear ones as we ought TOP"
II do, said Mrs. Jones, shortly. II
hear them talking now-where's my
slipperP''
''No, Maria, returned Jones, whose
soul was melted within him by his eff
forts in the line of elocution, II will
go and see if the innocent darlings need
anything" And he went up stairs soft
ly, repeating with Salvini-R Rossi- Booth
effect:
(which shall it be, which shall it beY
looked at John-John looked at me"
The innocent darlings' heard him
coming, and desisting from pillow
fight in which they were engaged, they
buried their heads in the sheets and
were instantly sound asleep, looking
like dimpled cherubs, with an occa-
sional snore to assert their relation to
the human. Jones wiped the salt tears
of love and elocution from his eyes,
and bent fondly over them; then he
crept out and waited moment in the
hall to listen to their gentle breathing;
suddenly it ceased.
'Is the old man gomez" were the
words of Cherub No. /, as soon 40 he
got the sheet out of his mouth.
Yes" answered Cherub No. 2, me
was a-crying, Willie. Amt ne duffer,
thought"
''IFll strike him for five cents to-mor-
row; see if don't. -
''Oh, he'll be himself again to-mor-
row, Willie; he'l II stamp around and say,
Get out OF my way, little imps, just
as he allus does. | don't take no stock
in him, Idon't. .
Let's play we was pa, suggested
Willie. where's them boys? III teach
them to touch my paper! III tan their
hides for EN-! III show 'em who's the
master in this houser'
When Jones got back to the sitting
room his face was red-Very red-and
his eyes wore yengeful glare. Mrs.
Jones looked up at him as he stalked
in, and asked innocently:
"Switch shall it be. switch shall
it beP''
"Bothr' shouted the enraged parent.
''Of all the unruly brats | ever saw,
do think. Maria, ours are the worst
I'll lather them both tomorrow. A