The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-11

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MRS BoDDLE WAS STANDING OVER TIE
CREDIBLE
now seemed to be vigorous pair of
lungs The fire was somewhere be-
tween floor and ceiling. Smoke was
bubbling up here and there through
the chinls, in increasing 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 f1xings, whilc
others tore open the floor and began TO
drcnch things generally with water
from the we'll.
Amidst all this, up rode Uncle Billy,
accompanied by Drs- Pcppcrpill and
Slanbang, who had been easily found
The first sight that greeted the alarmed
husband Us he looked to see if his half
dying wife had been rescued, was that
of her figure bent undor q load of
clothes, quilts and blankets that would
have sorcly taxed his own strength.
She flung them down IN the you'd,
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 en- 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
SHELTER all round the house. Then did
Mrs Boddlc bethink herself of her i'll
ness, and quietly withdrew to the
shelter of some friendly currant bush
es, where She found feathcrbed and
lay down with an appearance of utter
exhaustion
When ut length Uncle Billy came up,
painting from his own cxertions, Mrs.
Boddlc very family asked when tho
doctors were going to begin their con-
sultation.
"Pepperpill and Slambang have done
rid off-Inad as Tuckeri' said Uncle
Billy, biting Mt long straw and cycling
his wife In q way that made her turn
her head aside. ''They said 1 was a
fool-a plum fool, and I reckon am.
In fact. If there's bigger fool than me,
anywheres round, I'd give nickel Just
to take one solid look at him"
Cant I-see Sampson? I feel a
mighty gonencss q comm all over mo;
like hit was"
81 told Sampson to go horne-thats
what done. If he ever dares TO send
in bill-I-I1l 90 over thar and shoot
the top of his head off with bacon
rine- If thars bigger humbug than
you air, S1alindy Boddle, hits that Same
Doc Sampson"
"Mr. Boddlc, I'm sartinly a7gon to
faint Send Easter"
Casters goin' to leave, too. Ell
thars any more coolsin' done about
these premises, Malindy Jane Boddle,
hit'll be done by you"
Now, Bil!y-did l ever"
"No-nor you won't never ag'in- The
folks are lcavin', md Pm goin' to lsindle
a fire in the kitchen. Then, while me
md Jim moves the things back in agin,
/ shall be lookin' for sassage nd buck
We to remember that don't intend be-
in disappointed"
With this Uncle Billy took fresh
bite at the straw, drove his hat moro
firmly upon his hoad, and walked
away with All undenMblc shade OF
blood in his eye. Mrs. Boddlc lay still
for n 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 as good n
meal as had ever been cooked upon the
place before. Mrs Doddlc was standing
over tho griddle, erect and vigorous
~ hope, Malindy," said the husband.
as he finished his fifth plateful, II hope
yc don't feel any return of your symp-
toms-yct?"
"Shet your mouth. onless ye haven't
cat enough If nm a bigger fool than
you, you can take yoz:r look at me; but
you've got to hold yonr tongue"
Uncle Billy's eyes twinklcd. Evi-
IDENTITY Mrs Doddle was cured, and
without tho aid OF doctors, too. Nor
did her former ailments return; for
something in Mr.. Boddlc's usually amia-
bic eye told her thatit would not do
: William Perry Brown, In Yankee Blade.