Wichita eagle., 1888-06-02


last ten years"
"In-jail-for-debt," said Blewitt.
here we are again have been trans
planted lgive up; but, say. here Is two
cents. You send letter down to brother
John and he will be up here In a day or
two"
"Why, husband, the mail only goes
once a week, and then he will be three
days coming up on the stage, and further
more, 1t will cost q shiling-twelve
cents-to send letter to Albany"
Say" said BlewiSt, just bury me,
will you, don't belong to this century.
Stage coaches. twelve cents postagel Tele.
graph him, thenl"
There goes another new word" said
his wife In a solemn voice, and she wetted
a cloth and laid it on his forehead, as she
repeated to herself, Telegraph; whas g
funny world"
Blewitt was In despair. Gould it be that
all the common things Of life were to him
dreamf Had he ever ridden on the carsI
Did he ever own a moving machine7 Was
there ever telegraph pole In front of his
housed He turned his eye and looked out.
He only saw the tail post and long pole
of the well sweep Along the other side
of the road ran dense forest. BE was
willing to swear that he had once owned q
nice meadow where that wood was.
Backed up against the log fence was an
OK cart with neap as large as young
liberty pole Down cellar be could hear
the banging Of en- old fashioned churn.
He looked up the road to the east and
saw the road was full of great hemlock
and pine stumps. and over it the doctor
was coming on horseback, with saddle
bags before him
Blewitt was a man of determination,
and he arose from the lounge and went to
the door to consult with his wife.
Maria" said he, there has been
enough of this foolishness. You stare at
everything talk about, and can't locate
myself. or seem to fay In with my sur
roundings Now will you Just answer me
one question:"
Certainly will if understand it, "
said she.
We'll, then. who is president of these
ere United Statess'
why. John Adams, of course" she
said
Blewitt sank down and whispered:
Then you never heard Of Cleveland
swingin' round the circleS'
mo. never" she answered.
''Then all right Shoot me or put me
in bag and lay me away up garrett |
have got through. said Blewitt. and be
went back to the lounge and fell asleep.
When he awoke it was Sunday morn
ing. and the whole family were stirring
around, getting ready for meeting. His
wife, of whom he was somewhat proud,
had put on a dress with q waist about
nine inches long and skirt SO tight she
could hardly walk. and on her head such
bennett 1t made Blewitt hold his
breath. but he had got through talking
The boys had on suits of full cloth and
shirt collars seven inches wide Blewitt
smiled. but said nothing At last Mrs
Blewitt came to him and asked him if he
was going to church
Certainly. certainly" said he, "any-
thing to accommodate. Tell one of the
boys to hitch horse on to the. top car
rage"
"Top carriagel There you 90 again"
We'll. then, roared Blewitt, hitch
on to the stone boat. hitch on to the OK
cart. hitch on to anything. Have it your
own way"
why. we will 60 on horseback-you
on the saddle. on the pilion behind, :"
said the wife.
''All right" said Blewitt. and away
they went.
Blewitt made some adverse remarks
about the singing at the church, which
was led by deacon with fiddle. The
sermon was too long too. 1t lasted two
hours On bis way home from church his
wife appeared to be in fear of something
and urged him to hurry up. He asked her
what allied her, and she told him in q
trembling voice that his queer talk had
made the minister think him bewitched,
and she feared he would be burned OF
drowned.
What kind Of country is this. any
how?" asked Blewitt
Then Mrs Blewitt reminded him that
in New England several had thus died,
and that everybody believed In it and the
church was death on witchcraft.
Then guess we had better light out
from here" said Blewitt, as he clapped
spurs to his horse.
Away they went, rattle-te bang, over
stumps and logs and stones, and there was
a rattle and roar behind and he knew they
were after him They came to log
bridge over a brook, and they struck 1t so
hard that down it went. Blewitt and
horse and wife, and with a yell of despair
he awoke--yes, awoke; for the chair had
tipped too far back. and he was In a heep
on the floor. with his head IN pan of
apples and his feet IN Mrs. Blewitt's work
basket, He heard the rafting yet. and he
looked out Of the window to discover its
source. AMI saw that the boys had started
the reaper In the field of wheat One Of
the girls had just driven into the yard
with the top carriage, and was Just taking
put his daily mail, and had offered him a
dispatch about his hops. His
wife was putting in tenor to the racket
with sewing machine in the front room,
and the hired girl was backing the cook
ing range.
With pleased smile Blewitt sauntered
out to the wheat field, and. as the reaper
stopped, he said: Darn the good old
.imesl These ere times is good enough
for me-"
What's that. father?' said John. 81
thought you was in favor Of the real,
honest. reliable, good old fashioned times
If hundred years ago?"
Newer you mind. john" said the smil-
ng father. You can go down and buy
hat Thompson colt you've been wantin',
md let Charley have your sidebar buggy;
il the wheat amt takin' no hurt
-ou may go down to Bsrnums circus to-
morrow and cut the wheat next day"
He looked down at his diagonal pants
md white Marseilles vest, and muttered
IS he went TO the house; Darn the good
Id times These ere times will dew fur
ael'-Prof, Gouge in Albany Journal
Foolish Extravasance-
Young man. he said. solemnly, what
rould you think If should put an enemy
1to my mouth to steal away nv brainsf'