The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-06-16


hollow feeling in his stomach that it
was time for breakfast. He found the
kindlingS where his careful wife always
laid them, in readiness for the morning
fire. but in clearing out the ashes dis
covered that the stove lining was
broken in many places, and showed
evidence of having been propped up
with a piece of brick. Here he was
reminded of another sin of omission,
for the new lining had been in the
house over a month awaiting Il more
convenient time for placing it.
Now or never" he said, and in 4
short time the old lining was in the ash
barrel and the new one in place
'Therc, SO far SO good: but guess the
new maid had better black the stove
while he's about it, and he went to the
sink closet for the polish. The little
door stuck fast. and not until he had
automatically lifted it up, pressed it
down, jerked it quickly and given it a
long, strong pull did it condesccnd to
open.
"Therc." he said, with red face and
short breath, ''you stay there until |
fix you;" and he placed heavy kettle
against the door. AS he did so he
noticed number of small punctures in
the upper corner. "Ha! she opens it
with knife; wondered how she
managed it..
Armed with backing and brush he
set about polishing the range, and sue
cecded finely, all going well until he
stepped back to admire his work and
stepped into the saucer of backing,
upsctting it upon Polly clean floor.
"The deure!' he calculated, "ir I'm
not having 4 run Of luck! Would not
Polly like to see me now
He hurried to the case of drawers,
where he knew clean cloths were kept,
but this draw also stuck, yet with one
tremendous pull he succeeded in oren-
ing it and caught up the first thing he
found, which aiterward proved to be
one of the best towels-he had opened
the wrong drawer.
After mopping up the most of the
stain he lighted the fire, set on the tea
kettle and went to the pantry to forage
Gold cOrned beef, bread and butter
and doughnuts. Ill make some hasty
pudding and coffee, and that'll do.
Polly needn't think for a moment that
m going to stalvc.'
He hunted about Tor the meal and
coffee, which were soon forthcoming,
but as he crossed the room Il yellow
stream sifted in his wake
"Rats!' he exclaimed with great
truth. He put the gnawed bag upon
the table and returned TO the closet,
set all the bags and packages upon the
floor and pecrcd about for mouse hole.
Sure enough, there it was in one
corner, stuffed with chewcd rags and
paper. Just like woman; wonder
if there's any more of the blamed
things"
When he had made satisfactory in
vestigation of the pantry, the fire had
gone out and had to be rekindled, and
in going after more wood he became
aware of the paucity Of the woodplle.
The nasty pudding 'sputtcred" and
burnt the back Of his hand; it tasted
raw, too, and the coffee somehow did
not seem much like Polly's, SO he did
not enjoy his bachelor breakfast as
much as he had anticipated After
clearing away the table he looked fixed
ly at the inky stain before the stove.
He attacked it with great energy
and succeeded in removing the last
vestige Of the polish, but in drying the
spot he ran splinter under his thumb,
a splinter which seemed 10th to leave
its hiding place.
"Don't wonder Polly kicks" he
growled, rs he iabbe'l away at the re-
factory silver.
When he succeeded in removing the
last installment, he claspcd his hand
about his knees and sat thinking hard.
After a few moments he took
small account book from his pocket.
and still sitting upon the floor he pro-
cecded to make numerous entries,
which ran like this:
81. Two baskets OF pansieS to set out
~. Straightcn the front post.
-. Lay a new porch floor
-. Plane oil this miserable one and
oil it.
-. Plaster up five mouse holes.
&c. Put new washer in the faucet
to stop dripping.
-. Mend the screens, buy new wire
for two.
IS. Plane off dozen or more doors
and drawers.
-. Chop some wood"
"Therc, that'Il keep me busy all day,
and if | get through in time III 90
and ask PolIy's pardon and promise to
do better"
He now went over the house, pencil