The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-04-11
And this the practical little woman


gave him no rest. His minds eye be-
held the new set as a birthday present,
followed by a big bill. which he would
have to pay with good grace. He
glanced angrily at the sofa. the root OF
the present evil, and suddenly beheid
the loosened corner of the covering
which his wife had omitted to tack on
again. The professor looked hard at
both sides of the stuff.
The lower side" he soliloquized, sis
almost like new. Ny wife has repeat
eddy told me that all goods can he
turned, even my official swallow-tail.
Why not this covering also2 The wrong
side of the silk looks good, the collar
Is fresh-ha." he exclaimed. suddenly
rising from his chair. "a genial idea!
My dear little wife shall learn that I
also understand how to he practical.
Yes, that's it. l am going 10 have the
covering turned and the horse hair
picked and cleaned, and then the set
will look like new. What is more. will
have il done at once and lose no time.
MI will be ready for my birthday. It
'-A ~" SUI " ny wiz as Il IL
turn for the beautiful newspaper case
which she is making for me. as | have
long q noticed. The dear. good soul!
She would anyway give me no rest
until a new set We're purchased, and
now she will have no cause to exile us
to the parlor when l receive company.
But now for a word with my wife"
ID1.a-11 ~ l.. III - -
time the professor appeared in the bou-
doir of his wife.
Gertrude, dear, | merely came to tell
you hat we should forbear of buying
new furniture. l am short of money
and could not even spare five dollars.
II you really think that the set in my
study is so very much worn | will hence
forth receive my callers in the parlor."
"All right, husband" she replied.
looking greatly relieved. 81 should
have undertaken nothing without your
permission in this matter"
The professor failed to notice the
smile playing around his wife's lips.
He had expected opposition, and, be
hold, all was plain sailing.
o.. the following Wednesday was the
professors birthday. Two days PR"
vious. as Don as he had left his house
for the college. the upholsterer and his
assistants made their appearance. The
professors wife and her daughters
awaited them ready to help. The smart
little woman had shrcwdly made her
arrangements for her husband to take
his meals on this and the following
day at the house of relatives. There
fore. they could do the work undis-
turbed, and they did.
When the evening came all was fin
iShed, and the looked with
pride and satisfaction upon the result
of her genial idea. The furniture looked
like new and the cost was really not
worth while talking about. only ten
dollars. which the gratified womah
promptly paid.
1t was late in the evening when the
professor returned.
"~To-morrow." his wife said to him,
1--WE will give your study a thorough
cleaning. Do you object to my remov-
ing some of the things into FOUR bed
rcom?"
That was exactly what the sly pro-
fessor had speculated upon and ardent
ly desired.
Yes" he said. "Certainly. Remove
whatever you like. Why not begin with
the sofa and chairs, which, as | now
perceive. YOU have already tied together
10 facilitate their removal"
Had we not better wait until to-
morrow after you leave the house,
dear? But if YOU desire it, we will do
it now" said the unSuspccting woman
She called the servant. and a few more
minutes found the whole set in the
! professors bedroom. Mrs. W knew
better than to suspect her husband ri
curiosity to examine the bundled up
furniture.
vt SIX o'clock the following morning
an uphoiSterer and his assistants aP.
peared in the professors bedroom.
Very veil" said the latter. who had
been expecting them. Il am glad that
you are punctual. Has any Il seen
you come in?!"
No, sir"
".Nll right. There is the furniture.
You know what | want you to do.
But remember, everything has to ne
finished to-day. and the pieces re
turned here this evening. On this con-
dition only | agree to pay you the SIS
you ask. Now carry them away and be
careful to make no noise. My wife
must know nothing about it. 1t is
true. her bedroom is in the opposite
wing, but her ears are as sharp as a
dogs"
An hour later the upholsterer again
appeared before the professor.
Sir" said he. what am | to do with
that furniture? The set is in the best
possible condition and looks us good as
new. Why urn the covering, which |
think is altogether unnecessarily"
What are you saying? The cover
ing fresh and new, and dirty only
! underneath? You plainly don't know
| what Won are talking about. l think
| ought to know better. You just do
rs l told you"
But, professor"
do as | ordered. Turn the cover
ing. clean the horsehair. and SO forth"
Well. | don't care if you insist"