The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-10-27

vehicle came runAiing up. presently.
and I took OF Q lot of string beans and
peas and green corn and pota atoes and
beefsteak and butter. and q pair Of
ducks, and tossed them all into the re-
frigerator. Evidently my wife had
stopped on her way and left orders for
dinner. She had told me where I would
find everything needed for my lunch
con. 1t was II o'clock, and to re-
,ieve my loneliness I went out for Q
long walk. had no sooner opened the
kitchen door on my return than the
whistle spat at me as II had been q
dog and II cat, and no love between
us. opened the door at the dumb
waiter and woman's voice came ring
ing up the shaft.
Ibid you take them ducks off the
dumb waiter?" 1t demanded.
"Guess did," / answered. Thought
they belonged here. Hold on min
ute. I'll send them right down.
rushed to the refrigerator for the
ducks, and as did SO the outline Of
n dialogue that was very loud and
heavy on one side came echoing up the
shaft. To my horror, discovered that
in tossing the ducks into the ice cham
Der had upset bottle Of Ike tchup and
bowl Of molasses. One Of them
looked like n chunk Of rusty iron. I
gave him a bath under the hot water
faucet and rubbed him dry with a
Turkish towel. Then I thrust them
both into 4 paper sack and hurled
them into the dumb waiter.
"Please, SORT" that voice shouted
again.
what madam" answered, my
hand on the rope.
'The Mrs. says you'd oughten know
that ducks warnt fer the like O. youse."
"I know 1t, ma'am-forgive me- said
I; "here they are" and then began
to pull frantically at the rope.
"That'll do" they shouted, presently.
Istopped putting with the violence OF
my effort. Then a wild scream came
up at me through the shaft. and the
sound Of angry voices.
"Please, sor." the woman called
again.
What Is II, ma a'nm ?" answered, my
head in the gloom of the shaft.
"The Mrs. would like TO know what
We put on them ducks"
"Ketchup aud molasses," answered.
I'm sorry. 1t was an accident"
"May the divvle run away wild him."
heard her say then. "He's filled the
one O. thin Wild molasses."
There came sharp answer, and then
the unfortunate ducks were flung back
into the dumb waiter.
THE Mrs. says ye can take 'em an
welcome" and before could make any
answer the door Of the shaft came 70
with bang and that stratum Of light
In the depths below me turned to dark
mesa. 1t would have given me pleas
ure to buy another pair Of ducks for
the good woman, but she had not
given me chance to make the offer
l would have goue and rang her door
ben in an offer to make amends, but
I had no idea where to find her. I ate
my lunch presently, and went to our
bedroom and sat In an easy chair by
the window with my pipe. The hum Of
insects and the noises Of the street
came up to me, increasing my sense OF
loneliness. looked about the room.
There were things in IL had never
seen before; Hlken covered bottles with
ribbons tied to them; q paper holder
deiicately embroidered; photographs Of
myself In little golden frames and
others reminding me Of times and
faces well-nlgh forgottenI hundred
triAes that one bJ one, hod gone un-
noticed into the building Of my home
and happiness. I opened q bureau
drawer full Of plush covered boxes and
silken belts and ribbons, and the smell
OF violets. In one OF the boxes there
were lot of old beads and bracelets,
q discarded neck chain and many
useless trinkets-the delight Of some
far distant day. In another box there
was an old photograph Of me-a cal
low looking youth-and . bundle Of
letters. united them and sat down
comfortably to look them over. had
written a lot OF high-sounding rubbish
in those letters; had made many
promises; I had painted many pictures
OF what the future was TO bring us. II
had all been very different-a life full
OF drudgery for both, and for her It
must have been desert / thought
Of the days innumerable and full Of
loneliness tnas she nad spent In that
gloomy tat I put up the letters and
went int the sittins-room. It was two
s'clsck, and I took . book from It's
shelf and by down spoe IL sofa in
vain quest aftr k10Wlsdgs. This time
l would - ny can 0Oansa0 ~ rad
aloud. I remember when I Asa In
ished there was In ny ssnesie1seess
about this impression Of what I had
read:
II purpose to write the history Of
England from the accession of King
James the Second down to time that
Is within the memory OF men still liv-
ing. shall recount the errors; Good
Lord! I have made many errors"