The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-07-28


vines.
Tom shut his lips together and said
rot word, but went to the shop for
hammer and nails, secured the loose
iathe> and getting some corn, soon had
the feathcred marauders back in their
domain.
Returning with his tools he noticed
for the first time that PoIly's garden
had likewise suffered, and the pansies
in which she took an especial pride
were totally annihila,ed.
| IL believe I'm about the meanest fe.-
| low alive" he muttered, "I'Il get some
new plants this very day aud set out,
there's that gate post needs fixing, and
by rights the porch ought to have
new tioor. the south end is rotting fast.
| I'll go and see about the lumber now"
| lie starred back TO the shop, then
changed his mind. being warned by a
! hollow feeling in his stomach that it
was time for breakfast. He found he
kind!ings where his careful wife al
ways laid them, in readiness for the
morning fire, but in clearing out the
was broken in many places, and showed
evidence of having been propped up
with a piece of brick. Here he was re-
minded of another sin of omission, for
;he new lining had been in the house
over a month awaiting a more conven.
lent time for placing it.
Now or never" he said, and in
short time the old lining was in the ash
| barrel and the new one in place.
"There, so far so good: but | guess
the rev maid had better black the stove
hile he's about it," and he went to
the sink closet for the polish. The lit
tie door stuck fast, and not until after
he had diplomaticalIy lifted it up.
pressed il down, jerked it quickly, and
given it a long. strong pull did i; con-
descend to open.
There" he said, with red face and
short breath, "you stay there until fix
you:" and he placed a heavy kettle
against the door, As he did so, he no.
,iced a number Of small punctures in
the upper corner. "Ha! she opens il
with a knife; wondered how she man
aged it,"
Armed with backing and brush he
r set about polishing the range. and sue
, reeded finely, all going we'll until he
: stepped back to admire his work, and
stepped into the saucer of backing, up
s setting it upon Polly's clean floor.
"The deuce!" he ejat tulated. "if Tn
e not having run of luck! Would not
= Polly like to see me now??
v He hurried to the case of drawers
where he knew clean cloths were kept
= but this drawer also stuck, yet with one
n tremendous pull he succeeded in open
: ing il, and caught up the first thing he
: found. which afterwards proved to bt
= one Of the best towes--he had opened
a the wrong drawer.
d After mopping up the most Of th'
j stain he lighted the fire, set On the tea
kettle and went to the pantry to forage
S Cold corned beef, bread and butter
2 and Goughnuts. I'll make some hast,
t pudding, and coffee. and that1l dc
= Polly needn't think for moment tha
y I'm going to starvc."
He hunted about for the meal and cof
d fee, which were sron forthcoming. bu
t as he crossed the room yellow strear
p sifted in his wake.
Rats" he exclaimed with grea
: truth. He put the gnawed bag up o
v the table and returned to the c,osc1
: set all the bags and packages upon th
G floor and peered about for a mouse hole
II Sure enough, there it was IN one COZ
n ner, stuffed with chewed rags and ps
II per Just like a woman. wender
I there's any more OF the blamed things.
When he had made satisfactory il
l. vestigation of the pantry. the fire ha
i gone out and haI to be rekindled. an
d in going after more wood he becam
= aware of the paucity of the woodpile.
J, The hasty pudding "sputte an
- burnt the back Of his hand; it taste
) raw, too, and the coffee somehow di
net seem much like Polly's. so he di
" not enjoy his bachelor breakfast /;
much as he had anticipated Afte
n clearing away the table he looked fiNet
y " at the inky stain before the stove.
1t He attacked it with great energy. an
succeeded in removing the last vestie
e OF the polish, but in drying the spot /
!; run splinter under his thumb. splil
n, ter which seemed loath to leave i
IT hiding place.
s. Don't wonde" Polly kicks"
d growled. as he jabbed away at the r
IN fractory silver.
'e When he succeeded in removing II
1t last installment, he clasped his hant
10 about his knees and sat thinking har
At After few moments he took sma
II account book from his pocket, and sti
S sitting upon the floor he proceeded
C. make numerous entries, which ran lii
e, this:
~ I. Two baskets OF pansies to set out.
m . Straighten the front post.
ID g. Lay new porch floor.
- 4. Plane off this miserable one and oil
:" 5 Plaster up five mouse holes.
s. Put a new washer in the faucet to stt
n dripping.
"a I. Plane of dozen or more doors al
drawers
g. Mend the screens, buy new wire f
,e two