The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-05

has seen better days comes down to Ia
existence lhow singularly happy is the
epithetD the rattan baby crib invariably
comes down also Such were the ante
cedents Of the Slocums aud their rattan
crib. This crib had like wine, whisky
or a violin. improved vastly with age.
When il was new it is possible
that a leg might, with patience and
,roat muscular exertion, have been
twisted of. But at the time OF the
Slocums last moving nothing short OF a
meat Ak or buzz saw would have made
the slightest impression on it. The crit
bottom. top. sides. ends, legs and braces
had been constructed by its mis-
chieviously ingenious inventor out OF one
niece of rattan. which he wound ia and
out. tucked through the loops, wove into
watertiyht meshes, finally doing with it-
last end what he did at the beginning
with its first end. secreted it beyond ail
hope Of discovery without supcrnatura
aid. II one Of those ends could have
been found a leg might have been I'm
ravelod and the SlOcums and their regu
lar monthly mover spared great deal 81
trouble: but as the crib existed, and
doubtless exists TO this day, 10 Is safer
from harm than the contents Of a chilled
steel safe with the combination forgot
ten. Twice the Sl0cums' rattan crib had
fallen off the front end Of Muggins' van
and been run over by two wheels OF
the ponderOus vehicle. Muggins had
breathed easier until he found that the
crib. far from being injured, was NOR
elastic and tenacious OF lis perennial
symmetry than ever.
As he expected, Jacl. found the Slo
cums' rattan crib two sizes too big f.
every door in the fat lie suspende'
his exertions looking TO the twisting Of
of the cribs right hind leg, and wipe
the perspiration from his brow.
"If knew how the darned thing go'
i'm here" be said, ID
Il don't see why you shouldn't inter
rupted Slocum, consulting a memoran
dun book and reading therefrom; Sep
3O-moved by Nuggins & Son-four dol
lars-same old difficulty with the rattai
crib"
ooh, yes, l remember now" said Jacl
to his helper, eve took all the doors of.
They took all the doors off.
The rattan crib seemed to have ex
panded another inch out Of pure malice
AIuggins arrived with the first load %
the Jenkinsc5' effects, including the eS
tension table, and still tho rattan cri.
showed no signs Of yielding. Muggiu
& Son were losing money.
"Why don't You knock off a pair O
her Internal lcgs| said the senior part
ncr, wrathfully
TRY it, pop" replied tho junior part
ncr; "after you've tried it for coupl'
Of hours you will be a good deal saddle
and wiser than you arc now
Nevertheless Muggins tried it, and Ola
heartless Slocums stood by and jeered.
Finally, in desperation, Nuggins boz
rowed all the clothes lines in the buila
ing. tied them together, and lowered th
Slocum5 rattan baby crib out Of ill.,
front parlor window. lie took q mover
delight in letting the crib fall the las
four stories, but it wasn't injured in th
least
When Muggins & Son met for lunch
the Jcnkin, and slocum jobs being iil
ished, they were not nearly as blithe an
gay as they had been in the mornin
Tie two small, dark colored bottles kcI
under the horse blankets in the van seal
were empty. So seemed the future {.
Muggins & Son, as one put fresh n
on his thumb and the other examined
toe on which trunkful Of books h.
fallen.
"S'pose you got some moro orders.
said Muggns to the junior partner.
eyes, pop. The HigginsUs at O'Clock
Fifth-ninth TO Sixth-iirst.
"How mpch:' demanded Muggin-
with q Quaver Of surprise in his voice.
"Four and half. pop. lisa Why
pop. you don't say
Muggins hal received the intelligonc
that the Higginses were 10 be moved f.
$3.50 with such evidences Of despair
could have but one meaning.
81 do Sag, my so-, that you're gcttii
to be a bigger ass every day Of your life
Didn't we move the Higginses tw
months ago: And didn't they have on
extension table and two rattan bahi
cribs.'
Still there are great hany people ID
apartment house districts who are Of Oh
opinion that it is much more proiitahl
and pleasant to move than to be movtd
CURTIS DUNLAP