The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-23
And this the nractlcal rttls nonan

And this the practical little wOman
az once did.
The professor returned home ID nl
hunor. His wife's desire to have a lew
set, and especially her positive tone.
gave him no rest. His minds y be-
held the new set as q birthday present,
followed BY a big bin, which he would
have to pay with good grace. He
glanced angrily at the sofa, the root oil
the present evil, and suddenly behesd|
the loosened corner of the covering
which his wife had omitted to tack on
again. The professor looked hard at
both sides Of the stnff.
'sThe lower side" he soliloquized. as
almost like new. My wife has repeat
eddy told me that all goods can be
turned, ven my official swallow-tail.
Why not this covering also9 The wrong
side Of the silk looks good, the color
is fresh-hal" he exclaimed. suddenly
rising from his chair, "a genial ideal
My dear little wife shall learn that I
also understand how to be practical.
Yes, that's 1t. I am going to have the
covering turned and the horse hair
picked and cleaned, and then the set.
win look like new. WHAT'S more, I will
have it done at once and lose no time.
All viii be ready for my birthday. I'll
will be q surprise for my wife as a re-
turn for the beautiful newspaper case
which she is making for me, as I have
long ago noticed. The dear, good soul!
She would anyway give me no rest
until a new set were purchased, and
now she will have no cause to exile us
to the parlor when 1 receive company.
But now for a word with my wife"
Pleased as he had been for a long
time the professor appeared in the bou-
doir Of his wife.
Gertrude, dear, I merely came to tell
you that we should forbear of buying
new furniture. l am short of money
and could not ever spare five dollars
If you really think that the set in my
study is so very much worn I viii hence
forth receive my callers in the parlor.
"All right, husband" she replied
looking greatly relieved. Fl should
have undertaken nothing without you1
permission in this matter"
The professor failed to notice the
smile playing around his wife's lips
He had expected opposition, and, bel
hold, all was plain sailing.
On the following Wednesday was tho
professors birthday. Two days pre-
vious, as soon as he had left his house
for the college, the upholsterer and hi
assistants made their appearance. The
professors wife and her daughterH
awaited them ready to help. The smar
little woman had shrewdly 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 fn
ished, and the woman looked with
pride and satisfaction upon the result
Of her genial idea. The furniture looked
like new and the cost was really nob
worth while talking about, only tell
dollars, which the gratifed womal
promptly paid.
1t was late in the evening when III
professor returned.
Tomorrow" his wife said to him
I'VE win give your study a thorough
cleaning. Do you object to my remoy-
ing some Of the things into your bed
room?'
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 wit
the sofa and chairs. which, as I nov
perceive, you have already tied togethe +
to facilitate their removal"
Had we not better wait until I'd
morrow after you leave the house
dear? But If you desire it, we will a
il now" said the unsuspecting woman
She called the servant, and a few nor
minutes found the whole set in the
professors bedroom. Mrs. ~ knew
better than to suspect her husband uf
curiosity to examine the bundled up
furniture.
At six o'clock the following morning
an upholsterer and his assistants ar
peared in the professors bedroom.
Every WELL" said the latter, who had
DCCA C4HCClAAH DAtCMs 4 I'LL kluu blub
you are punctual. Has any one aeeh
you comesin
mo. sir"
"Al right. There is the furniture
You know what / want you 10 Id
But remember. everything has to b
finished to-day, and the pieces RI
turned here this evening. On this 8
dition only / agree to pay you the Sfb
you ask. Now carry them away and b
careful to make no noise. MY wife
must know nothing about it. IT 5
true. her bedroom is in the opposite
wing. but her ears are as sharp a. 4
dogs"
An hour later the upholsterer again
appeared before the professor.
"Sir," said he, what am I to do with
that fu~rniture2 The set is IN the bes t
possible condition and looks as good q &
new. Why turn the covering, which Is
think is altogether unnecessarily
What are you saying9 The eosel
ing fresh and new, and dirty onl
underneath You plainly don't kno,
what You are talking about. / thin (
I ought to know better. You just d
as / told you"
"But. Drofessnr-n