Sharp County record., 1891-05-28

now seemed to be a vigorous pair of
lungs. The fire was somewhere be-
tween floor and ceiling Smoke was
bubsling, up here and there through
the chinlls, in incr easing volumes.
The doctor and Aunt Easter also
added their shouts, and soon the neigh
bors came running. Many willing
hands were now removing. the furni-
ture and other household fixings, while
others tore open the floor and began to
drench things generally with water
from the well.
Amidst all this, up rode Uncle Billy,
accompanied by Drs. Pepperpill and
Slambang, who had been easily found.
The first sight that greeted the alarmed
husband as he looked to see if his half
dying wife had been rescued, was that
of her figure bent under a load of
clothes, quilts and blankets that would
have sorely taxed his own strength.
She flung them down in the yard,
turned, back, and. without stopping,
called to the amazed Mr. Boddle:
Come! Stir your stumps, old man.
I'll get out the rest of the bedding
while you help 'em with the furni-
ture."
There was no time for comment then;
and all hands worked with will until
the fire was subdued, though by that
time most of their things lay heller
skelter all round the house. Then did
Mrs. Boddle bethink herself of her i'll
ness, and quietly withdrew to the
shelter of some friendly currant bush
es, where she found featherbed and
lay down with an appearance of utter
exhaustion.
When at length Uncle Billy came up,
painting from his own exertions, Mrs
Boddle very family asked when the
doctors were going to begin their con-
sultation.
"Pepperpill and Slambang have done
rid off-mad as Tucker!" said Uncle
Billy, biting at long straw and cycling
his wife in a way that made her turn
her head aside. "They said l was
fool-a plum fool and reckon am.
In fact, if there's "a bigger fool than me,
anywheres round I'd give nickel just
to take one solid look at him."
Cant I-see Sampson? l feel q
mighty goneness comm all over me
like hit was"
81 told Sampson to go home-that's
what done. If he ever dares to send
in bill-I-lll go over thar and shoot
the top Of his head off with bacon
rine II thar's bigger humbug than
you air, Malindy Boddle, hits that same
Doc sampson"
"Mr, Boddle, I'm sartinly a-goin to
faint, Send Faster"
Casters goin TO leave, too Ef
thar's any more coolSin' done about
these premises, Malindy Jane Boddle,
hitll be done by you"
Now, Billy-did ever"
"No-nor you won't never ag'in. The
folks are lcavin', nd I'm goin to kindle
fire in the kitchen, Then, while me
md Jim moves the things back in agin,
| shall be loosin' for sassage nd buck
wheat cakes for supper, And / want
ye to remember that don't intend be-
in disappointed
With this Uncle Billy took fresh
bite ut the straw, drove his hat more
firmly upon his head, and walked
away with an undenablo shade OF
blood In his eye. Mrs, Boddle lay still
for few moments, then she rose and
disappeared in the direction OF the
kitchen,
An hour or two later, Uncle Billy and
his hired man sat down TO Us good q
meal as had ever been cooked upon the
place before Mrs, Boddle was standing
over the griddle, erect and vigorous.
81 hope, Malindy," said the husband,
rs he finished his fifth platefuI 81 hope
ye don't feel any return Of your symp.
toms-yetp'
"Shct your mouth, 9nless yo haven't
eat enough. II | am II bigger fool than
you You can take your look ut me; but
you've got to hold yonr tongue"
Uncle Billy's eyes twinkled. Evi.
IDENTIFY Mrs Boddle was cured, and
without the aid OF doctors, too. Nor
did her former ailments return, for
somethlngin Mr. Boddlcs usually amia.
bic eye told her that IL would not do o..
William Perry Brown, Ia Yankee Dlado