The morning call., 1892-10-15
THE WRONG HOUSE.

De Hoover wore a broad smile one even
ing at supper.
.My love-" he said drawing folded
paper from his pocket, you've often heard
me speak of my old friend. the Hon. PiccOlo
Smith?"
"Yes, Silas," assented Mrs. de Hoover.
"Well, he has returned to his old home
here for a visit. and the boys have decided
TO honor him with a serenade."
with a what?'
''Serenade. Nothing strange about that,
Is there? Oliver Benson. Jim Murray.
Castor Billings and ] will meet under
Smiths window tonight and welcome him
back with graceful song"
Mrs. de Hoover turned away her head.
Mr.. de HOover's voice was not exactly
suited to an emergency Of graceful song"
She almost smiled at the thoughts of it.
81 can sing" averred De Hoover stOutly.
"You never cared to sound the depths OF
my musical culture, consequently you know
nothing of the latent possibilities OF my
voice. ! was appointed TO ut appropriate
words TO some popular melody, ana nat
ter myself l have succeeded admlraoly'
Listen"
De Hoover unfolded his paper and read:
PiceoIo, Piceolo, the night stars are breaking
''You will notice. my love. l have fitted
words TO the old song-my favOrte. you
will remember - Kathleen Mavourneen.'
II flows on something like"
but who ever heard of night stars
breaking Silas% asked Mrs. de Hoover
mildly.
''Figuratiye. Maria. We say the break
ing dawn don't we? Then why not break
Ing stars?' That the finest line In the
whole song
PiccOIo. Piccolo. the night stars are breaking.
The croAk OF the cricket Is heard in the land
Awake honored friend"
But crickets don't croak, Silas, they
ehirp," again interpOsed Mrs. de Hoover.
"When YOU wander abroad OF an evening,
Maria de Hoover, you hear croakings and
chirpingS. Of course frogs cT0ak and
erickets chirp-any fool knows that But
couldn't saw the crOak Of the frog nor
the chirp Of the frog because that would
destroy the meter simply say the croak
of tie cricket Poetic license sanctions Ii,
and it's all right. The song continues thus'
Awske honored frieud-awaKe. be awaking-
Acknowledge the welcome of this little band,
Oh mAny's the time
$50 you're going to have the band?" ex-
claimed Mrs. de Hoover. Il thought 1t was
just quartet.
De Hoover jumped up wildly and walked
around the table. Then he came back, sat
down ard eyed his wife with yearning.
hopeless look.
Great sassafras, Maria, your wits are
wool-gatbering Of course it's banda
little band of singerS-Only four Of US.
sufficiently TO understand me as l proceed.
Don't interrupt. l detest Interruptions:
On. many's the time, dearest Piccolo, MIC,
When boys We have hshed and gone swimming
But You went away into distant Ohio
To serve our dear country il storm and fair
weather
"N hat is the meaning Of MIC. SilasY
IT'S merely term of endearment."
''0h. you mean 'meeo'-myI"
''lf you know what mean better than l
do" muttered De Hoover, you'd better
write this song yourself / say 'nyo' TO
rhyme with ohio Say 'Ineeo' if you want
to and then say '0heeo.' Piccolo would
wonder what in blaZes we were singing
about But that's your way. l never saw
any one so devoid of poetic imagery. Now
see if you can let me read 10 peace"
You remember the bridge that spanned the broad
stTeamlet-
The fun that we had down by BascOm's old
Oh. ii seems to Us now Ike shadowy dreamlet-
What? Piccolo Smith, art thou slumbering
"rhat sounds like The Old oaken
Il don't care if it sounds like Old Hun
dred"
Certainly L"
But De Hoover jumped for the door.
opened it madly, slammed it alter him, and
was gone.
At II o'clock that night Mrs. de Hoover
heard wall frem the kitchen. Going down.
stairs, she discovered her husband in the
pantry.
whats the matter, Silas?" she Queried.
'Where's your vaseline?'
81 don't keep it il the pantry. Here 1t is,
out here. My goodness! what's the mat
ter?"
'.Seren AIDED the wrong house-that's
what's the matter I'll have the law on
'en, see if | don'ti Hot water-the ideal
Look at mer'
De Hoover's nose was of dark blue color
and lis coat was dripping wet.
After the application of the vaselne he
felt little better, and he even murmured,
with tinge of humor, as he erept into bed l:
"But you just ought to see Castor Bill
Hngsp
To this day De Hoover cannot hear
kathleen Mavourneen" without shiyer.