The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-05-19

I o., Sno ropIleQ, al least It's as
pig as little cat, and it only used two
feet down by the brook"
Now, how can anyone get the best of
arguing with the ladiesl They've al
ways got some trump up their sleeves.
Big as a little catl o, you can't beat
Them, believe me.
resumed my book and found that
the old duke had decided to disown his
son, when down the trunk Of the tree
there came couple Of big black ants.
Of course didn't see them and they
surely didn't recognize me or they
would never have walked over my
coat collar and down my back.
MURDER l yelled.
Mrs. H. came on run.
Off went my coat. l tore feverishly
at my collar and tie. Mrs. H. was say
ing, whats the troublep" 1 COM
menced to dig at my back with great
est haste. "Scorpions!" I screamed.
"Goodness me" said Mrs. H. And be-
tween the two Of us we finally man
aged to rid me of the crawling mon
sters.
As was putting on my coat Mrs. III.
said, "Mr. H., are you really afraid of
ants ?"
"No,"I protested, 'sbut it's mighty
uncomfortable to have them chasing
all over your back"
"Same way with the toad" said she.
81 wasn't really afraid of it, but it
looked very uncomfortable"
Score one for Mrs. H. O, you can't
beat them!
"Let's walk down by the brook and
maybe we can see some fish," said Mrs.
H.
Gall right" said I, and leaving our
basket and my pipe and book at the
tree we went to the stream. Now, all
the brooks I've ever heard of were
gurgling and babbling. This one re-
fused to gurgIe or babble. It was near
ly stagnant, but Mrs. H. would have it
that it was the Soul Of Poetry, "origi-
nating," said she, "ln the heart Of ma
ture." Personally, think it originat-
ed In Old Man Robinson's cow pas
ture.
"How beautiful" said Mrs. HI. +,
POSITIVELY grand" said I, as slipped
off the bank and tumbled into three
feet of green slime.
Mrs. HI. dutifully scraped me off
with piece of bark and we returned
to the tree to find our basket and my
pipe gone. The book was there. No
wonder. Mighty poor book anyway,
but our luncheon and my pipe!
'sMrs. H." said I, sit is obvious that
the time has arrived when we depart
from this sylvan dell and seek the soci-
ETY. of our fellow man." And don't
you know Mrs. H. wanted to 60 back
alone for another luncheon, and leave
me with my wet clothes to await her
coming. 0, you can't beat them!
But we sorrowfully went home to-
gether. I had lost day, a pipe and a
good lunch, also my temper. Looking
at my bedraggled appearance, I lost
my self-respect When we got to the
edge of the town Mrs. H. discovered
that the beautiful yellow dandelions
had stained her hands indelibly. And
she was going to a May ball that night!
i When we reached home we tried to
get the stains off. We used vinegar,
4 and salt, and milk, and bread crumbs,
and the Lord only knows what else.
We succeeded in changing the hue of
the stains. Neighbor ladies learning
Of Mrs. HIS predicament offered sug-
! gestlons, all Of which Mrs. HI. faithful
ly carried out.
i By A p. m. Mrs. HIS hands began to
blister. The original shade of yellow
had changed to muddy brown. Her
: exertions became frantic toward
o'clock and she succeeded in trans
| ferring some of the stain to her face.
{ Then she did look nice for May ball!
At 2 p. m. Mrs. HIS hands looked like
, farmer boys after day of walnut
gathering. The ball began at 10 p. m.
> At $50 p. m. Mrs. II. decided to wear
gloves, and l am sure she suffered ag-
, onies, for after the first dance she said
to me, aThe paid in my hands almost
exceeds the pleasure Of being with you
!, at the ball!''
HARLEY.