The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-06-10
TANNING OF THE SHREW.

That's Jest like you, Eliphalet En-
mons" said Mrs Enmons sharply.
Comm in with them muddy feet over
my new scrubbed tloorl Didn't We
never learn what door mats was FORE"
Mr.. Eumons meek looking, bald
headed little man, recoiled from the
magnetic force of his wife's words as if
they had been so many whip lashes.
II didn't know the roads was
muddy" apologized he.
"As if they could help bein' muddy
arter that there thunder shower" re
torted Mrs. Emmons. "A man is the
untidiest creeturl I've been cleanin'
the settin' room closet today, Eliphalet,
and I've found two pair o widowed
boots, an odd slipper, broken UNI
bereller and a nasty smeliin' old pipe.
What We think O that"
I'm very sorry, Sarah, said Mr..
EmInons, mechanically ducking his
head at each count of the Indictment,
but wasn't aware they'd all CON
glomerated like that. | spose didn't
know where else to put EN-"
"Humphl' said Mrs. Emmons scorn-
fully.
NIssupper ready,Asaraf.r -
Supper indeed" snorted Mrs EN-
mons. II s'pose you think | hain't
nothin' to do but cook guess if
you'd did the days house cleanin' I've
wrastled through you wouldn't feel
much like roastin' over the stove.
You'll find some cold pork and rye
bread and butter in the milk room,
and guess you can make out to draw
a glass O. hard cider for yourself.
Hapless Eliphalet skunk into the
milk room, followed by the shrill cry;
Now, mind you don't grease every
thing upP
And as he dipped his cubes of salt
pork into the mustard pot, and spread
the scant allowance of butter over the
slabs of heavy rye bread, he thought
dolefully of Peter Rigney's one storied
cabin, that he had just passed on the
Twickenham road, with its CHEEKY in
terror view of well spread table, a
smoking teapot, blue edged china, and
a bunch of lilacs in the center Mrs.
Rigney was laughing merrily and the
little flock of children were running in
and out, as if life were made for enjoy
ment, not discipline
II sort o think, pondered he, that
it's most . pity that we never had no
children, for all Sarah thinks it dis
pensation O. Providencel P'raps she
wouldn't "a been 50 awful particular if
she'd had lot o young 'uns around
under foot
When lie came out again Mrs.
Emmons was diligently securing at the
fire irons, and seemed in no mood for
conversation.
Where's the weekly paperg ho ven
tured to ask
II hain't seen it, said Mrs. Emmons.
II wonder where the second volume
Of african Travels has got TOT" he
next hesitated,
Il don't know" said Mrs Emnons,
and | don't care. 1t strikes me you'd
better be a-travclin' out to the barn to
see aIter the cattle
I've done that, said Eliphalet with
a sigh. 'I-wiy, hello! Who's this
'ere2 AS true as live and breathe it's
Squire Perkins with little boy. One
o your grandchildren, squirrel How
dye do2 how dye doT
He.stood smiling broadly in the door
way, while Mrs. Emmons flew to hide
her housekeeping dishabille, with
brass andiron in one hand and the
polishing powder in the other, and the
squire heavily alighted from his buggy.
mo, Mr.. Emmons, no, said he. 1T
amt no kith or kin o mine Pretty
little fellow, amt iti Just year old,
and as tough as an oak knot. Wal,
it's Seba Browns orphan"