Evening star., 1901-06-08
THE JoBsoNs'. VACATION

JobS0n Of Mrs, Jobson, one cold, rainy,
gloomy evening during the recent long wet
spell.
"Oh, I don't know-I haven't thought
much about it," replied Mrs. Johson, look
ing up from her book. "Tt did occur to me.
though, some time ago that perhaps this
year you might like to go to the mountains
instead Of to the seashore, for a change,
but"
oh, that occurred to you did p" in
terrapted Mr.. Jobson. poking viciously at
the latrobe fire. well there are a lot Of
things that didn't occur to you, Mrs. job
SON. One of hem is this, that there isn't
going to be any going away at all this
there's going to be any summer, which is
doubtful at the present stage of the game,
to say the least" and Mr.. Jobson shud-
dered and drew his smoking jacket more
closely about him.
You're not going to take your vacation
this year. then?" said Mrs. Jobson.
NO, madam. I'm not" snappily re-
piled Mr.. Jobson. I'm going to stay right
at home, where I've got an even chance of
Keeping warm. Aside from that however
1 m through with this summer vacation
business. I've been hiking off with you on
these summer vacation trips for a good
many years now. and it's getting to be an
Old story. There's no comfort in it. and
there's lot of expense. What have
siaved and toiled all these years to get this
it?' W 'o~"ps
Well" put in Mrs Jobson, when Mr..
Jobson paused for a reply, 81 suppose every
man needs little change once a year,
and
That's about one for me and several
hundreds for yourself. Mrs Jobson." tartly
cut In Mr. Jobson. You're so firmly rooted
20 TINS habit of sticking nails in the win
ooWs and dragging me off every summer to
some place where Eve got to endure heat
ana misery for month or so that you hate
70 thlnk or an end being put to the prac-
th;e, .lGe. but the end has arrived. I've been
thihking 1t all over lately, and I've reached
.he conclusion that the summer vacation
business is intended for romping lunatics,
ana not for sane folks"
And STILL" put in Mrs Johson "ra,r,
everybody does it,"
mat all right. too." said Mr.. Jobson.
Everybody does a lot Of monkey things
thdt dont have to do. I'm just going to
a.;,, rians ihis pIant made as cool-looking as
possible by removing the carpets and COW
erlns up the furniture with those linen
blouse things, and I'm going to keen the
refrlgerator filled up to the top with lee
anu aiI m gong to take 1T easy under my
own vine and fig tree this summer. I'll not
only save money that way but IN have a
plaomlng sight more fun. And soll YOU, If
you could only see it. But L slppose that
as aS soon as the temperature gets up around
~ OF whereabouts you'll be pulling a long
race ana reading the summer resort ads
ana looking at me in that reproa chfuI
MN ss-a-sad,story way of yours. until. in
sell-deIehse, III have to pick up and cart
you Off somewhere where I'll be miserable
for about six weeks
on, think not" answered Mrs Jobsop
smiling. "o'''i'
~ Wen l only hope not, that's ALL" said
Mr. Jobson. It's possible for reasonable
human beings to remain a. cool as A cucum
Der In the hottest city on the globe and
aufiLg the hottest spells if they only ex-
ings after I've wet down those three and
half square feet of lawn in the front of
the mouse. we can take our easy chairs out
on the grass and cool off that way. We
can nave cool things to eat on the table
avoiding too much meat and all that sort
OF thing. Well have a bully cool time of
II, there's no doubt about it, and | wish |
could n get you to see it the way do"
on, L see it," said Mrs Jobson 'In
fact, m rather glad you have reached this
decision, for going away in the summer in
wolves so much sewing and other prepara-
tions: l shall really enjoy the novelty of
remaining at nome throughout the summer
months, but there was a certain express
sion in the corners of Mrs. Jobson's ewes
that indicated her belief that she knew Mr.
Jobson good deal better than he knew
himself
Mr.. Jobson looked pretty warm and per
spiry when he arrived home from the Office
couple of afternoons ago.
'Whew." said he, but it's sultry, all
q
ocean breezes eh?'
Mrs. Jobson made no reply to this little
hint !.
Yes. Stree went on Mr.. Jobson, con-
tlnulng to mop his countenance, this sort
o thing sure enough makes a fellow figure
on when he's going to get down TO the
beach and dabble with his little tootses in
the briny deep eh?'
Mrs. Jobson was so busy setting the
table, however, that she didn't appear to
hear him. Mr.. .Iobson removed his coat
and puffed around, looking Mrs Jobson
over out of the slants of mis- eyes mean
and said:
Mrs Johson. I suppose you've got your
toss all ready, or are getting them ready,
for the six weeks vacation at the sea-
shore that We're going to start ON on June
the 20th?'
Mrs. Jobson looked at him with we'll
feigned surprise.
why said she. Il thought you said q
little while ago that we We're to remain
at home this summer, and that you didn't
intend ever to go on any more summer va
cations. and that"
Il never made such an idiotic assertion
In the whole course of my life interrupted
Mr. Jobson. IF this somnambulizing of
yours keeps up, Mrs Jobson, | don't know
what's going to happen to you. Did YOU
ever know me to miss going away in the
summer? l wouldn't put in an entire sum-
mer in the city for cool million dollars
and you know it,
But" began Mrs. Jobson, 81 haven't
done a stitch of my regular sewing, nor
have /"
Madam broke in Mr. Jobson, sternly.
lit is all one to me whether you've done
one stitch, or one hundred million stitch
es, on your sewing. I'm going aWav on
June the 10th, On my annual outing at
the seashore. Nothing on earth or in the
waters beneath the earth is going to keep
me from having little change in my mo-
notonous life once year, anyhow, and if
you are Grabbed and selfish enough to at
tempt to detain me in the hot town when
I'm all run down from overwork and in
need of rest. simply because you haven't
as you say, been Industrious enough TO
throw few dinky summer dresses to-
gether, then I'm sorry for you, that's all
I'm sorry for you
Needless to add, the Jobsons are going to
start for the beach on June the Goth, and.
superf1uous also to add, Mrs. Jobson knew
all the time that they would start on or
about that time
Tame Crows FrauE~