Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21

nL4tbCt III i ~ L.
'.Our own house, Jack!'' cried Mrs.
jeff, in perfect gale of glee, as she
danced about and clapped her hands
like a thirteen-year-old child.
Cur very own" said Mr.. jeff, nod
ding his head complacently, with
the trifling exception Of a mortgage of
sixty pounds"
But we shall soon pay that"
Yes, we shall soon pay that"
Six rooms, = said the wife, running
from one end to the other of her do
mains, peeping into closets and ex-
aiming cupboards with a truly bird
like velocity of motion siX whole
rooms. Jack-kItchen, parlor, two bed
rooms, studio, and dining-room! Who
could possibly want more? Jack, we
are rich! Look ut those purple-topped
hills rolling on to the west; see the
magnificent plain on the east. You'll
paint the grandest pictures ever
dreamed of! Anybody would he in
spired in such an atmosphere as this.
And you will be famous, and | shall
shine through your reflected lustre.
The wife Of Il great artist. Jelfr That's
proud | shall be!'
But" said Jack, smiling affection
ately down on Nanny's plump face,
where's your servants room? You
seem to have left that out of your cal
culations entirely"
Servants room, indeed! Who wants
a servants room, when we aren't going
to have any servant? nodded Mrs.
jeff. ''Aunt Prue and | have planned
to do the work between us. Such
economists rs we're going to be!
There's only one pity-that the
water-supply is SO far away from the
house. Look! the stream is clear off
under that knot Of willows
''Wheww cried Mr.. jeff, craning his
neck to look out of the top row of win
dow-panes. do you mean to say that
all the water has got to be brought
from that placer"
Except what we catch in the hogs
head at the kitchen caves"
That won't do said jeff Il COM
prehend now how the place came to be
sold 50 cheap. The man that lived
here last had three wives, and buried
every one Of EN-. | understand that
now. Nan, what fools we have been!
Why didn't we enquire into the by
draulc side Of the question before we
bought this placer"
1--WE supposed everybody must have
water sighed Nanny.
.'Never mind. dear; III bring in q
supply every morning before L go to
my studio" encouraged jeff.
'sAnd what is to become of your
nicely of touch and steadiness of hand?n
cried Nanny. aghast.
well, who is to bring it, thenP You
or Aunt Prue?"
1--WE can lay pipes to the kitchen
sink suggested Mrs. jeff.
''It's uphill all the way, with not an
ounce of pressure to be had"
Just then Aunt Prue came beaming
in.
"Eurekar' cried she. Il have found
it!''
Found what?'' cried both the married
rers.
The teeniest little spring, close tc
tt stone wall by the beach. just a
thread 4 water, but the purest and
sweetest you ever tasted. had to hold
a gourd-shell under it for five minutes
l. IL OlIHh VI NdItI, Jul
Then, sighed Nanny, 1T won't do
us any good. One can't spend ones
whole time drawing water"
won't it, thought" said Mr.. jeff.
well dig well"
"A well!'' cried Nanny. clasping her
hands together. why has no one
ever thought of this before? A we'll
and so handy TO the kitchen-door! And
Wen have the curb painted rusty
orange, and delightful old-fashioned
well-sweep, and"
mo, we won'trn said Aunt Prue,
who served as balance-wheel in the
erratic machinery of this artistic
young household. wen have ii
boxed in with pipes into the house, and
faucet to turn on.
We'll we'll have water, anyhow, y
said Nanny, 'Hbut isn't it dreadful Job
so dig well, Jack, dear?"
.'I'll soon find out whether it is or
not" cheerfully remarked Mr.. jeff.
I'D as soon spend my time in digging
as in carrying water half mile day,
rain or shine
But wells have to be stoned up, don't
they? And you don't know anything
about stoning up a well," wisely re-
marked Nanny.
VERY well, then, I'll exchange work
with some of the fellows hereabouts
that do understand it.n
SO the troublesome water question
was settled; the jeff family moved
their little belongings into Sedge
Cottage, as Nanny christened the new
abode, and Mr. jeff before he even laid
in solitary background of his beloved
~as. began 10 dig under the pinky
blossoms of the old appIe-tree, where
the moisture turned the grass to q
more vivid green and the bright drops
soaked away among the roots Of the
violets.
After day or two, however, he
systematised his work more carefully.
Daylight is daylight" said he. 81
can paint by the light of the sun, and
III put IN the time digging before the
moon SETS"
wonder you hadn't thought OF
that before, said Nanny, who was
diligently sewing together the breadths
OF her new ingram carpet, while Aunt
Prue polished the windows and kept
watch over the bubbling dinner-pot on