The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-31

dertaking then, as the Pacific railroad
was not completed-and they were
most unsuccessful during their entire
stay there. Eliza told one day of how
a certain school principal in Frisco
had met her father after performance
to a miserable house, and, with
frightful, bad taste, had asked Mr..
Couldock how he accounted for Me
gentleman snarled out: Il don't try
to account for it at alR 1 leave that
work for the people who ask fool ques-
tiOns- If l only have one d-n cent in
my pocket / don't try to account for
not having another d-n cent to rub
against it," and, added Eliza, in pai@sd'
tones: THAT principle had meant to
ask poor Pa to come and speak 70 the
dear little boys in his school, but after
that he didn't-wasn't it ,Odd?'
IAs Mr. Couldock was heard APP
preaching that morning, his daughter
quickly whispered to Mrs. Ellsler:
ASK Pa how he liked California"
And after good mornings" were ex-
changed the question was put, and in
cide7tally the red rag brought the mad
bull into action.
Il wouldn't give a d-n for the whole
id state," roared Mr.. Couldock. while
his daughter pushed his hair behind
his ears, and mildly SAID: PAS al
ways. so emphatic about California.
"Yesi" shouted the old man, "and so
and dared to speak the truth! You see,'
he went on, mo one ever gave me even
hint that ii was just my cursed luck
to go overland, risl1ing my own d-n
skin, and Eliza's, toos and it seems
that those God fOTsaken buffers look
upon anyone coming to them by the
overland route as a sort of outcaSt
tramp. In fact, that's entering by the
Kitchen door to San Francisco. You
ought to go by sea, and come in at
= h.
UP little city, if you are 80 put any of
their money in your purse, or be al
lowed to keep any of your own"
One morning we girls were boasting
among ourselves of our abilities as
packers. Hattie. my roommate,
thought she could pack a trunk the
quickest, while / claimed 1 could pack
one with the least injury to ire con-
tents. Miss COuldOck, hearing us. ex-
claimed, laughingly: "Oh, girls! poor
pa could give you all points at that
Worthwhile his manner of unpacking
is so original, so swift and so thor
Ough, 1 think should explain il to
you First / must tell YOU that that
slight bow to pas legs is an annoy
ance to him on every occasion of life,
save that of unpacking his trunks
then it is of great convenience. You
see, the trunks are brought up and
dumped in the fOOm--they don ave
any locks because poor pas always
losing the keys. has to KICK the Jocks
of during the first week that he owns
them. Next they are unstrapped and
opened. then pa yanks off the top
spread from the bed and lays It open
on the middle of TIE floor; then takes
his place before the first trunk, strad-
dies his feet we'll apart (see, now, how
useful that bow becomes). Ind fires
every single garment the trunk con
tajns between his legs and on to the
quilt. Having emptied the trunks with
lightning swiftness he clsps down their
covers for the rest OF the week. When
ever ne wants anything Tor the theatre
he straddles the pile on the quilt, and
paws it wildly, but rapidly over. pull
ing out q shoulder cape here. q dOublet
yonder. one boot from the top and its
Irate from the bOttOn-aH those he
pitches into the theatre basket, and
is happy for that day. When the week
is over Pa dumps into the nearest
trunk ali it viii hOld-WhaES left over
is pitched en- masse into the ext one.
IF there IS any d.E'culty IN closing the
trunks he didn't waste time in. trying
to rearrange the things-there is such
beautiful simplicity in all Pas actions
he Just gets UP and walks-wei1 per-
haps stamps q little on the contents,
until the lid closes quite nicely, for he
is very quick packer, is Pa though
it's just possible that his method in
some degree may explain his generally
rumpled appearance on the stage.
What should yoc think about it,
girls2"
Couldock's Curses