Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-11-15
THE BOWS WSERS.

been the cause of her going, Mr..
Bowser would have read me lesson
40 rods long As he was the cause OF
it, it was all right. He'd like to see
the hired girl who could run his house
while he lived-didn't propose to take
sass" from anybody-wished he had
discharged her outright, ETC.
All this happened on Monday. Tues
day is our washday. didn't think OF
it until after the girl had gone. Then
| said to Mr.. Bowser:
You'll have to hunt around in the
morning and get me washerwoman'
1t would have been better to let the
girl stay day longerr'
Not minute longerr'
But about the washlng?'
IN find a woman, or do it myself
After breakfast he took a walk
through the locality where washer
women abound, but his quest was
vain one. He came back to the house
about 9 o'clock and said
Mrs. Bowser, have decided to do
the washing myself"
You wash ?"
Il will. I'll do it as matter OF
principle. l don't propose to have
this house upset because one hired
girl gets her back up and quits"
Let the washing go and I'll find a
woman to do it,"
Not by jug-full !! That washing
will all be on the line before noon!'
Mr.. Bowser, you can't wash. You
will only rub the skin off your knuck-
les, lame your back and make great
muss Of it,"
II will, eh? That's all you know
about it. Now, then, | don't want
you to come fooling around. Don't
you show your head in the basement
until the last rag is on the line"
Mr.. Bowser got into an old pair OF
pants and a vest, changed his boots
for slippers, and disappeared down
stairs and at once started fire. |
knew what the result of his efforts
would be, and while he was at the
barn for wood | ran down and rescued
most Of the fine clothes. He didn't
notice the fact, and in a few minutes
had the water heating. He had seen
clothes boiling, and the water was no
sooner hot than he filled the boiler
helter-skelter. heard him at it, and
started down stairs to tell him that
clothes must be rubbed first.
Go right back!'' he yelled, as l
struck the first stair.
But you are making a great mis-
take, Mr.. Bowser; you shouldn't"
Il know my business, and you go
back! II | don't know more about
washing in one minute than you do in
a week, I'll eat these sheets and table
cloths T.
He boiled the clothes about half an
hour, and then came up and rum
maged around the pantry. | suppose
he had read of some substance to put
into the boiler to save rubbing, but
he wasn't clear as to what it was. He
therefore took a half-pound can Of
baking powder and sifted it in to the
last pinch. / heard him up stairs, and
half suspecting what he was after,
ran to head him off, but too late.
Mr.. Bowser r. | called from the
head of the basement stairs, ARE you
putting that sal-soda into the boiler!"
"Sal-nonsenser he growled in re-
ply. When l don't know my bust
ness l will apply for information!
Mr.. Bowser knew that blueing was
part end parcel of the laundry bust
ness. He had never seen a tub oi
blue water. AT what stage of the
game this blue business came in he
didn't know. and he was too obstinate
to inquire He took the clothes direct
from The boiler and sozzled them into
a tub of cold water, and, not knowing
how much of the blue to use, he de-
cided to empty in the whole bottle
and be on the safe side. He had a
pretty fair quantity Of writing fluid
when the water was stirred up. At
this point | called to him:
Mr.. Bowser, how far along have
you got?"
Don't you worry about ME, Mrs.
Bowser. I'll have the whole shoot
ing match on the line in half an hour.
He put the washboard into the blue
tub and began TO rub the clothes in
the cold water He might have had a
faint suspicion that something had
been left off the programme, but he
made up for it in energetic rubbing.
He went wash, wash. wash for about
twenty minutes, and then there was
an awful Topping and splattering, as
if a dozen ducks were playing in the
water. He was rinsing the clothes.
He wasn't over five minutes about 1t,
and then he appeared in the back
ward with a basketful of clothes to
hang on the line. At sight Of him /
had TO sit down. The clothes were
plum-blue and Mr.. Bowser was plum
bluer. The great and only tattooed
man couldn't hold a candle to him.
Just as he appeared in the yard a
farmers wife, who sells US eggs, open
ed the back gate and walked in.
Good Lor', but what is thisf' she