Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-12
9ai1Y - Eagle
BOWSER AND THE WHiTEWASH.

S"Xy
BOWSER AND THE WHiTEWASH.
He Tackles 1t in Spite of His Wife's Ad.
vice-The Result.
There were several little things wanted
done about the house this fall and SO the other
week engaged a colored man to come and
work for a couple of days. 1t SO happened
that he came one morning before Mr.. Bowser
had left the house.
Mr.. Bowser sent him away, and after the
man had gone came into the house and asked:
''Did you hire a coiored mana'
"Why, yes"
'sWhat fort"
81 was going to have him whitewash the
vegetable cellar, take down and clean the
laundry stovepipe and do some other odd
jobs"
''H'ml Mrs. Bowser, if there are any little
jobs about the house I've got plenty of time
to do them. In fact, need just such exer-
else. Such work is diversion for me, and
the doctor recommends itn
II wish you wouldn't do it. You'll get
lime in your eyes and you'll blame me for it,
and"-
There you got Blame you'll What would
/ blame you abouts If | get lime in my eyes
it's my own fault Mrs. Bowser, you are get
ting to be good deal of a crank lately"
"Wen, if you are determined on it, don't
say that asked you or encouraged you"
was quite sure how it would end but l
said nothing more, and in the course of half
an hour be got into his old clothes and went
down cellar. l followed him down to give
him few last words of advice, but he didn't
need them.
''You go right up stairs aud sit down and
enjoy yourself, ;" he said. Here's the brush
and here's pail of lime, and if l don't white
wash more cellar in ten minutes than Moses
could in all day I'll never try it again Be
sides, Mrs Bowser, whitewashing is not the
SLOUGH work you imagine it to be. 1t has got
to be done by person of taste and intelli-
gence or it won't stand. l want little blue
ing to give it tinge"
''You understand" said, as got what he
wanted, shat did not ask you to do this
work"
ASK mel What on earth ails you, Mrs
Bowser7 You are making fuss enough over
ten minutes work to warrant years job"
1T must be well done"
Certainly"
''Two coats all around"
"Just So.
even If it takes you all Oay."
Even if it takes me over half an hour,
which it won't III show you job here that
will make black man turn green with envy.
Just run up stairs and make yourself COM
Portable"
retreated up the stairs 10 the kitchen door
and waited Tor results, which L knew were
sure to come Mr. Bowser dipped and dished
and sozzled and stirred until ne had the liq-
uid to his liking, and as he began on the stone
wall | heard him chuckling:
Il said fifteen minutes, but FL go slow and
take twenty The idea of a colored man
sloshing around here all day to do this work.
Let's see. / believe I'll take the overhead
first"
| held my breath in suspense for a long
minute. Then a yell arose from that cellar
which jumped the cook out of her old slip
pers and made her cry OUT
''For heavens sake, Mrs. Bowser, have we
been struck by another cyclone?'
There was a second and a third yell, and as
] hurried down stairs Mr. Bowser stood in the
middle of the cellar, hands outstretched and
jumping up and down as if he had fire under
his feet.
For heavens sake, what is it, Mr.. Bow
ser?" | asked
Observation-Disclosures
''Wheref'
an my eyesl I'm blindl I've burned them
out"
got hold of him and led him out to the
laundry tubs and set the water to running.
He had indeed got dose in his eyes, but it
was more painful than dangerous. He could
hardly see daylight after we had washed out
all the lime, and as ! led hun upstairs he
said:
Il shall never see again-never see you or
the baby again in my lifel'
| washed his eyes with milk and got him to
lie down on the lounge, and in "a couple of
hours he was pretty near all right. His eyes
were sore, but no great damage had been
done. He was very gentle until he discov-
cred this Then he suddenly turned on me
with:
Mrs. Bowser, what possible excuse can
you urge in extenuation OF your conductN
what do you mean!"
What do | means That's cool question
to ask me- In view of what has transpired
what have you to say!"
Il say that you were foolish to undertake
the Job. ] warned you how it would turn
out"
Mrs Bowserr' he shouted, squirting tears
of lime water out of his eyes, do you pre-
tend TO deny that you didn't encourage me
10 undertake task which you knew would
put my whole future happiness, if not my
life, in peril!"
II do, sir. / did all / possibly could to dis
suade You"
And you are not to blamel'
Not in the least"
And | brought it all on myselfT'
you did"
Mrs Bowser, this is too much-too much,
could forgive one who had wronged me, il
penitent, but when they attempt to brazen
it out it is time for action. We will title
on the amount of alimony right here and
now"
But we didn't After blinking around for
half day he went down town, aud when he
came home 10 supper he was as good natured
as pie. got eolored man to come and do
the work, and two or three days later, hen
Mr.. Bowser happened down cellar, heard
him saying to himself:
YES, its mighty slick job l did on this,
and III tackle that stovepipe tomorrow
morning. Detroit Free Press.
Chenged.
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>MMl 4,