Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-03-07
Ups ana Downs.
HExpEck Ho1LER, MrsouRY.

much as the scratch of pen to day,
Mister Editor. We've had our full sheer
of happenin'r an mishappenin's since
writ you last. AS the man said, we'vc
had heap O. ups an downs, but more
downs than ups.
First pop, Jonathon tuck down with
the plumbago, or sometnin', in the small
of his back. An then he got misery
under the short ribs. dunno whether
it'll turn out to be pneumonv or what.
He swows he won't take no doctors
stuff, and all kin do is to pour yarb tea
down him, by the bowtul.
I've give him bonesrt an dogwood an
pennyr'yal, an willer.bsrk tea, but don't
look like 1t done might O. good.
Sometimes I'm a-feared he's takin' the
broncho on his lungs, an then ag'in
think mebbe its some ATTRACTION of the
scarpophagus.
An I've worried an studied ever it,
till I'm that befuddled dent know
whether Pm standing on head or my
heels.
Granny Bean has been over a heap to
see him, an she thinks he'll kind o pick
up when the weather gifts warm.
It's be powerful cold here fur a
spell. The thrometer has been three
degrees below Cairo An Jonathon is
allus sort O. maugre in cole weather.
So am alvin in hopes that he will
soon be sone better.
An then I've had to be over to Vic
tory's good 'eal. Billy, he come ADJUST
ling over one day, an wanted should
60 down right straight
Two of the twins wus down with the
mumps, an part O. the balance had the
hoopin' cough, and the two youngest
had the thrash.
An Billy said he had bile on his
neck, an want very we'll his-sslf So
went, dassent let Jonathsn know was
goin', or he would . rared. Pears like a
man is regler zany when he's sick.
So l waited until he was in one of his
cat-naps, and then snuck off.
Victory saw me a comm, and run to
open the door.
"Come in, if you kin git in" says she
81 amt redd up yet The yonug ones
is 90 pesky fractions, l hev te humor 'em
till they're about to take the house." said
she.
An sh'd say twas about so. They
had the plunder strswed all over the
room. had to dodge, goin' in, to keep
from bsin' hit by ewing, with cheer
in 1t that was danglin' In thS doorway.
An after I'd got in, stumpsd ny
shin ag'in a dollhouse, Rade Of stove
wood, that was built right smack In the
way.
A then there was a tent made out Of
bed-quilts, in the middle o. the rooA,
aR' when l weRt to peek uAder, to see II
the twins were there, skun my forard
jest over my nose ON a broken-back
cheer that was layiR' in wait uAder the
bed kiverins.
An il 1t had been iRch or two lower
dowv, it would o gave nae the nose
bleed az sure as shooting.
There" says Victory, "I'll be tuck up
fur granddaughter next. Most every-
buddy what comes in gifts jsbbed some
way or other If them twins dent quit
a-litterin' the house up, low TO paddle
the whsle shootiA -natch, sick or vell,e
says she.
An the six Oldest twins riz a howl at
that, an nothin' wouldn't peacefy EN-
till Billy got inside the test with EN-
an sung to EN-. An bless you, If don't
believe he sung every hymn that ever
was Invented ssnee Roger was burnt at
the stake.
An after dinner-fur of course had
to stay an eat with 'sn-they all piled
onto Billy ag'in and he had to tell em
stories. I only rec. colleck one of em
an i was about a girl what clunb
peach tree to git apples to make pun
kin pie of An Victory said that un
was SIGH a silly, Rs-'count one, Billy
must o made 1t up out of his own head.
| wouldn't O. said ii If had been her
fur fear it mout hurt his feelin's, but
Victory is one o. them kind that don't
make no bones about sayin' whatever
they please, feelin's or 40 feelin's.
Though don't reckon she seaHs any
harm by It,
But ana alias keerful not trsmp on
anybuddy's corns-paragorically speak.
| hev slip o the tongue, an
say it unthoughted like, and then feel
as sneakin' about it as sheep. KILN, |
dog.
hustled home from Victory's as soon |
as dinner was eat
81 don't like to eat an run ike the
beggers does,n says l abut reckon youll |
excuse me, seein Jonathon is down on
the hat of his back and cant help his.
self" says l,
An she said why, of course. She
didn't know he was bedfast, or she would
o tried TO O. got over to see him, though
she did hev her hands full, what with
the twins, an everything.
was sorry l had stayed so long, an
run most every step o tbs way home.
But when got there, If yo'll believe