Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-06-08
MR. AND MRS. eoWsER.


Bowser Tackles the House and Gets Done
 Up.
 What did those two co1ored women wantF' inquired MT. Bowser as he came in the other evening just as the individuals re- ferred to were passing out.
 "Fhey called to see when would be ready for them"
 How readyT"
 Ut is spring, you know"
 Well, what has spring, you know, got to do with two colored women"
 'l have got to wash few windows and take up carpet or two."
 "House cleaningq"
 No, not exactly, but then"-
 See here, Mrs Bowser, this thing has got to stop right here and nowl Because, some @N years ago, some old cranky housekeeper in New England felt obliged to rip and tear and upset the house for two or three weeks in April, all you women of today feel obliged to keep up the custom."-
 But everybody cleans house more or less. ," Cant help that. Pm not going to have everything topsy turvy around here for the next throe weeks That will be the result if you put two women at work. They will spin out the job as long as possible"
 Ut won't take over a week"
 "A. week. It shouldn't take one dayl can go at it and do all the cleaning necessary in one hour"
 'Mr. Bowser," said, "didn't you have an experience last spring7"
 "Yes, maam- l experienced this house from top to bottom in just two hours, and It still remains the cleanest house in Detroit. have nothing particular to do tomorrow, and l shall take hold"
 "l-l can't help you any?1
 "When want your valuable assistance l will ask for it, Mrs. Bowser As l am feel ing in good spirits this evening, l might as well begin on that coal stove. I'll wrestle it out into the back hall, ready to go to the barn in the morning."
 went up stairs just as he pulled of his coat and spit on his hands knew just what a muss he'd make, and l didn't want to be there to see. In a few minutes l heard the chatter of the stovepipe, four or five lengths bounced around on the floor, and three minutes later there wild yell for help. l ran down just as the girl got in from the kitchen. Mir Bowser was lying on his back on the floor, and the stove was lying on MT Bowser He was almost black in the face as he gasped
 Take him off-take the blamed thing of of mel''
 The girl and 1 succeeded in lifting it high enough for him to roll out and he sat up and groaned and swore and threatened dire thingS
 "l was afraid it would be too much for you," l said as offered him a wet towel
 "Ohl you werel How kind of youl You are disappointed because the internal thing didn't knock the life out of mel"
 l went up stairs and he rested awhile. I fha f,,-,, about, and by aud by he came up to say: ''l want some salt to put on the carpet be fore l sweep" But that carpet must come up, MT. Bow ser. It's been down two years"
 That's all nonsensei Mother never lifted 8 carpet until 1t was worn out. Where's the saltf'
 But the curtains must come down, tho woodwork be rubbed with damp cloth, the windows washed, and"-
 And the roof of the house raised ten feet of course. One would think we'd had small pox in the house. I'll get the step ladder an6 take the curtains down Perhaps I'll takt the carpet up tomorrow, but it's waste oi time"
 He went down and got the ladder, and heard him whistling as he worked at one o the curtains. His whistle presently cut short off, and there was crash and a yell, and flew down to find Mir Bowser lying acros | that end of the lounge which still remained in the room His eyes were closed and thought him dead from his fall 1 got tn, camphor and the girl flung water in his face and by and by be gasped and opened his eye and faintly asked: 1 "Is this heavenF'
 "No, Mir. Bowser," gently replied, ''thi is only spring house cleaning"
 What has happenedz' he continued as h. rose up
 "You had a fall"
 "And while was unconscious you took ad vantage of my condition to take S5 bil | from my wallet"
 "l never thought of such thingI"
 Well, can tell later on l had sensa tion as of some one feeling in my pockets Fl have that curtain down if it takes leg"
 Wont you please give up your Quixoti idea, MT Bowserf No man can clean"-
 Can't, chi Well, I'll show you to the con trary. Quixotic ideal Tll show you and olC Quix, too, that l can do more housekeeping of the way whilen-
 He was in his slippers and he picked up big tack, and that ended him. He was hal scared to death for fear of lockjaw, and h insisted on going to bed and sending for doctor. The good man heard what l had t, say and then observed:
 Mir. Bowser, don't you leave your bed room for at least week to come. That foo must have perfect rest"
 And next day 1 sent foI my colored womel and began work. We are not through yet Neither is Mir Bowser out of his room H. sits with his foot on a chair, and we have lief his room undisturbed When 1 enter witt head tied up, big apron on and my finger red and bleeding from tack wounds ant bruises, be consoles me with:
 ''Such a fuss over nothing! Why, hat four -fifths of the work done when this unfor tunate accident made me cripple for life You can see what this house would come t, if should be taken away by death."-De troit Free Press.