Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-02-21
B0WSER'S TEMPER.
He HAS A FINE CHANCE TO DISPLAY
1T AND DOES so.
Had intended Going to Church, bat
Before He Got Half Ready to Start
Found Himself In Anything but n
ChurchEoins Frame of Mind.


Found Himself In Anything but a
Churchgoins Frame of Mind.
copyright, 1900. by c. B. Lewis.I
Mr.. Bowser had been reading his
,yening paper for the last half hour,
with the family cat climbing over his
feet and purring her satisfaction, when
tie turned to Mrs. Bowser and said:
Coming home on the car this even
ing had seat with our minister, and
we had quite a talk. He said he had
been wondering great deal why had
not been TO church oftener.'
Il don't believe you have been foe
three or four years" answered Mrs.
Bowsef
No, and I'm ashamed OF IT, Folks
around here must have got the idea
that I'm heather While | believe
that a man can stay at home of a sun
day and le good. | suppose | ought to
set an example to others
''You surely had. III certainly looks
strange for NE to go alone every Sun
day while you sit home ard read the
papers wish you would 20 with me
tomorrow"
Il viii Since that talk with the
minister | see my duty in different
light Yes. / shall Begin now and go
TO church every Sunday morning. As
a law abiding citizen. as q man who
gives his support to the moral law, II is
my duty to sci an example TO those
around me- promised the minister
I'd he there tomorrow morning. and
he'll be looking for me. You can invite
him over to dinner some evening next
week if you think best"
~ am so giadr murmured Mrs. Bow
ser as she rose ~ aud kissed bm. 81
believe you are the only man in the
block who doesn't 20 to church with
his wife You you will surely goY
Certainly I'll 20. Why notY
You won't get up In the morning
and be mad about anythingY
My dear woman why should get
mad about anything! We win have
breakfast. we VIII dress for church,
we viii attend service. What will
there he to get mad aboutY
And In the liquidness of his heart
Mr. Bowser picked up the cat aud
stroIed her back with paternal hand
and sang verse and the chorus Of the
Sweet BY and By" The singing put
the cats back up and brought glare
to her eyes. but she hung on to herself
until 1t was finished and then jumped
down aud sneaked under the piano TO
shlYer and claw the carpet Nothing
further was said about church, but up
TO the hour Of going to bed Mr. Bowser
had the air Of man who was willing
to sacrifice his life for the benefit Of
his family He bad given his promise,
but Mrs Bowscr didn't hold him to 1t
100 rigidly There had been many Sun
day mornings In their history since the
wedding day. AS they sat at breakfast
next morning she quietly observed
II hope the sermon viii be to your
liking this morning"
What sermonY he innocently asked.
Why. we are going TO church, you
know"
yes. It's mighty funny that they
don't give the churches vacation Of
three or -four months during the sum
mcr How is person who ls sitting
up like a crowbar In stuffy old pew to
get any good " III"
THE church will be nice and cool
this morning."
Mr.. Bowser was getting ready TO
claw off. He said nothing further un-
I'll after breakfast. Then he lighted
his cigar. looked at the clock and
growIcd:
"The idea that Il man has got TO hear
a sermon every Sunday In order to
keep satan out Of his house! | said ia
go, but
Mrs. Bowser didn't coax or argue.
and at the end Of quarter Of an hour
he went up srairs TO dress. lie left the
Sunday papers behind him. He knew
they contained the latest news from
China, more or less about the Boer
war. and there were boxing match
and horse race In which he was in
terestcd The first discovery he made
after reaching his bedroom was that
he had no clean shirt TO put on. Hope
entered his heart No shirt. no church.
Going to the banlster, he shouted
''Thls Is a nice state or affairs. isn't
~ DO you expect I'm going TO wear
II pink aud white shirt to church, |
knew thcred be some Kick up about It
II tried to go!"
'You have four white shirts all niceA
ly done up In the bottom drawer Of
your dresser" answered Mrs. Bowser
from the foot Of the stairs.
lie found the shirts. much TO his dis
appointment. but there were no collars
and cuffs with them. This gave him
the opportunity for second shout:
Am | 10 go 20 church with table
napkin or a towel tied around my neck
for a collarf Last night when | told
you | was going TO church today you
knew hadn't collar or cuff In the
house, and yet you were 80 gladl
Have you been selling or everything |
had TO the ragmanY
I'm the second drawer dozens OF col
lars and cunsw answered Mrs Bowser
He was disappointed again lie got
Gown his Sunday trousers, hoplAg that
the moths had eaten one leg off, but
not the slightest damage was visible.
Ills coat and ycgt were also all right,
and II really looked az If he was In for
II when hc lifted out shirt. Half n
minute later he was calling from the
head OF the stairs:
MRS. Bowscr, do people attend
church with clothes on or with nothing
but sheet wrapped around themr
"What ls IT nowY
"Ilere are the shirts, but there isn't
II blamed button on one Of 'cmv
"Of course there isn't. You use the
gold plated buttons and you'll find n
box full Of 'cm on the dresser"
Mr.. Bowser reluctantly got inside or
Sunday shirt In pulling on his