Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-18
pick out the very smallest and most

but fruitful theory that custom would
have sweetened his toll with the balm
of greater ease.
NV how the saw rented and the alb
breviated sticks umbled TO the ground
Still Lizbeth, who was peep'ng with
laughter-brimming eyes, noticed that at
the hir cord-stick work seemed to
slacken just little, but seven were
finished, and Mr.. Mouser came in, de-
claring he lelt glorious.
The second day Mr.. Mouser remained
at table trihe longer. Four cordsticks
in broken lengths licked the dust, how
ever.
Third day-Mr. Mouser took time to
glance over the daily news after dinner.
Record: Three cord sticks.
"L'zbeth," said he, think I've been
cheated in the saw-jack. 1t is not put
together on as practical plan rs l was
led 10 believe. 1t wriggles."
Fourth day-Mr. Mouser toyed over
his dinner extensively. He smoked his
p pc and read the paper. He glanced
over his monthly magazine until dark,
and then started up, exclaiming:
"Mer,y how short the days are ~
Mrs. Mouser enjoyed the situation in
tensely, but said never word.
Fifth day-Mr. Mouser rose with
sense OF injustice resting upon him. All
day he was haunted by the outrageous
late that made him the owner of saw
ing % JACK 10. 80 :, :, -. : =, :
usual to day and tomorrow, washing
and ironing days, you know" said Mrs.
Mouser, as soon as he got home.
Il never saw anything the way you
women manage to consume fuel 20 and
Mr.. Mouser grabbed his hat and strobe
angrily toward the woodpile. A few
sticks fell before the savage manipula-
ton of the saw, while Mr.. Mouser's
snarling kept excellent time to the wild
motions of the sawyer.
With crash he sent the saw flying
over the woodpile. This was too much.
His wife was brute to expect him to
work like slave during the few mo-
ments he could call his own free from
business drudgery. But ii he gave up
he would never hear the last OF it. Oh,
if he could only get rid OF that saw-jack.
A long time he pondered; at last
smile of Joy illuminated his face. That
night, alter his wife had retired, Mr..
Mouser skipped out and carried that
hated green object to the front gate.
Presto, in the morning the corpus deficit
would be gone. The highway was full
of robbers, who would steal anything
and everything.
He would make big fuss about the
loss, but take good care not to buy a sec
ond saw-iack.
He slept the sleep of the just until
about four o'clock In the morning. 1t
was still dark, but his anxiety to assure
himself OF the loss of his trouble caused
him to sneak out and reconnoitre. The
saw-jack was still there. Mr.. Mouser
whispered-not prayer. "Oh, well,
there is time enough still between this
and daylight for theft to be commit
ted" he muttered. 1t was the voice o
time for breakfast. He glanced out of
the window the first thing. Oh how
brightly the sun shone, and that saw
jack cleaned UP at him in ali its verdant
beauty. No robber hand had carried it
away. A fearful sigh escaped the
Mouser bosom.
"You must saw some wood for me be-
fore YOU go. DEAR" said his wife.
What, more wood ~
"Yes, dear; recollect YOU only sawed
one stick last evening"" rejoined Mrs.
Mo'lser meekly, but wicked CLEAN of
mischief played about her eyes and
mouth
Mr. Mouser ignored her reply, and
~A1SlCuCu " NOh IL Will LIS pICIUy tOOlS
with vigor born of awful fury, but way
down in his soul a voice groaned, that
sawirg-jack must go
Where? whence? how?
Mr.. Mouser was man of resources
Twelve O'Clock, midnight. A burglarisf
darkness and silence brooded around as
a man stole hence from his couch, and,
grabbing his trousers, left a cosy bed
room. A little later the only other ac-
tive creature about, feline prima dom
ma, might have witnessed a sorry sight:
a solitary man marching downward,
clutch S in his strong right hand
beautifully painted green saving, jack.
Soon he returned. The sawing-jack,
where was it?
Mr.. Mouser rose that morning in a
most delight III frame of mind.
''Lizbeth, my dear little Lizbeth," he
exclaimed, triskily, 81 am going to work
in earnest to-day. l am feeling fine,
much better than have for som time.
Here, feel this arm. How's that for
muscle Ell? That's what saving wood
has done -
Lizbeth blinked oddly, but looked
contented. Mr.. Mouser hastened out
to clip off stick or two before break
fast" out soon came in looking quite
angry and puzzled.
"What in the world has become of
that jack?' It was gone "Such infamy
to steal ones very implements O.
toll ~ he cried, in rage, as he sent for
the old wood-sawyer again.
Mr.. Mouser, OF course, grieved over
his loss, but managed to conquer the
regret sufficiently to display some of his
old wit and mirth.
But this good feeling received sud-
den check the morning after the burg
larry of the lack"
He had just opened the daily paper,
when his glance was arrested by a lead
ing paragraph.
Lizbeth, look at this |"
Mrs. Mouser became alarmed. Her
husband was as pale as death, and
trembling In every limb as he handed
her the paper. She read:
"The residence of the Hon. Oliver
was broken into night before last and
large sum of money and valuable plate
and jewelry stolen. The robbers en-
tered by the garden window, from
which they had removed the iron graf
ing, while standing on a singular looking
wooden object, recognized by oldfash-
Toned country folks as saw-buck.' 1t