Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-17
THE FIRST OF MAY.

And as Tom is here he will help you move.
my dear"
Mr.. Bowman said this on the eve Of the
first of May, IS, standing with his portman-
teau in his hand at the door Of his residence,
from which the family were to fit next
morning
Il should feel very badly about leaving
you just now, Emma, pressing as my business
Is, were Tom not here"
'Oh, I'll take care of En-" said l; don't
feel anxious"
Then Bowman kissed his wife, and we all
shook hands, and Bowman rushed into the
cab with his carpet bag and away they
drove, and we went into the house again
Emma with tears in her eyes, Of course.
Now, Bowman is my brother-in-law and
Emma my affectionate sister, but l cannot
truthfully say that felt perfectly delighted
with my position at that moment
had taken advantage of a rare holiday to
pay visit to my relatives in New York, and
instead Of finding them in their usual tidy
state and ready to amuse country relative,
came upon them just the annual moving
fever was doing its worst with them, to find
carpets up, bedsteads down, the atmosphere
redolent Of soap suds, the servants in a state
Of rebellion, no regular meals to be expected,
and Emma's temper decidedly upset, and to
crown the climax, Bowman q shat always
believe It was a mere pretext) with business
in Boston calling him away, abdicating his
domestic throne in my favor
However, there was, and | must make
the best Of it. | began by locking up the
house that night, and, being very careful in
my researches for burglars, discovered gen
tleman, who was described by the cook as
her cousin, in a shadowy nook of the landing
As he was remarkably tipsy, took it upon
myself TO show him to the door, and thereby
90 offended the cook that she gave me in one
breath piece of her mind and a warning
and followed her cousin at once despite
Emmas plaintive prayers to the contrary,
and having thus brought disgrace upon my
self, | retired in a very miserable state Of
mind, and awoke to find my head in the
CRATE pan. and Emma screaming at the door
that it was } O'Clock
You see We must be smart" said she, be
cause the new folks will begin to come in very
early, make no doubt whatever; but If you
are to help, my child, you mustn't wear those
good clothes of yours You must put on
some old ones of Edwards | must insist
There are two stoves to take down and lots Of
things to be got out Of the loft, and yotf1i be
white with dust"
"Oh, very well" said l. IN change my
things, and can make myself decent again
to go over to the new house Any old rags
viii do, you know a"
I've picked out the clothes Already said
Emma Here is pair of pants that gave
way at the knees in the oldest manner And
here's coat, it hasn't a button on it, but you
can pin it over suppose you'd like this old
fur cap to keep your hair clean, and these old
shoes Hang your own things up in the closet
in your room, and put the key in your
pocket"
"AD right" said l. and | hurried away to
make my toilet
Now, am very tall and thin, and my
brother-in-law is short and as broad as he 10
long Ny working clothes, while a world too
wide, were much too short for me To say
that my Wrists and ankles were exposed Is to
make mild aliusiou to the real facts of the
case Ny shoes ratified about on my feet and
my cap came over my ears 1t was fine fun
for Emma and the children, and | laughed
heartily at my own reflection in the mirror
Having taken down the stoves, went up
stairs and, creeping into the loft, worked
there among the spiders and bags Of rags,
dust old mating, stovepipe elbows, ancient
magazines and broken chairs for a couple Of
hours At the end OF that time rubbish and
valuables were separated The precious
things were tied up in bundles and prepared
to descend, when my sisters voice called
ahriliy up the ladder:
Come down and change your things, Tom.
The new folks are coming I'm going over
to the new house. and you've only got to ~
things OF here Good-by.n
''Good-by," said l.