Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-12
Good and Bad Luck.
! MRS. D0DD'S PERpLEXiTY

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The hall clock struck six at the
Iorbolton Home of INDECENT Females
and Mrs. Serena Dodd opened her
eyes. Il guess I'll get right up" she
thought. Maybe I'll get chance to
lay out some of them stripes before
breakfast"
She was tall, portly woman and
moved slowly. so that it took a long
Time for her to dress: but when that
was accomplished, she SET about max.
ing her bed. AS she was putting the
finishing touches to this, the rising.
bell rang, and the occupant of the
other bed in the room stirred sleepily,
and spoke in surprise:
Why, Mrs. Dodd. aren't you up
early?" and as 1er eyes fell on the
others completed task, my! The
matron won't like your not airing
Your bed longer
Mrs. Dodd snuffed. "She won't ever
know it If you don't tell her, saman-
thy Wells"
"Oh, sha'n't tell her." was the
hasty reply.
Well. don't suppose you will. l
wanted to begin sewing My afghan"
Knitting was Mrs. Dodd's delight.
Therefore. when she mad been COM
missioned by Mrs. Waldron of the
board of managers to make an
afghan, she was jubilant.
NOW don't send me any of those
fady colors,' she begged.
No, indeed" answere. Mrs. Wal.
dron. and the gaily tinted woods that
were sent showed that she shrewdly
guessed the old woman,s preferences.
After the morning meal Mrs. Dodd
and Mrs. Wells retusled to their
rooms. Mrs. Dodd sank into a chair,
painting.
Mrs. Wells eyed her disappearing
ly.
You're gaining fiesH," she said.
You eat too much"
II s'pose do, acknowledged Mrs.
Dodd. Things taste awful good, but
do feel terrible logy today. some
how"
On recovering Nor breath, she took
the bright-colored rolls of knitting
from the bureau. and spread them
out on the white Counterpart. 1t
was a work Of tine to arrange the
colors in harmonizing rows, and then
all the inmates of the Home were in
vited in TO give an opinion before
Mrs. Dodd could begin her sewing.
Taken all in all, it was firing
day, and when the clock struck nine
that evening, both old women were
glad to go to bed.
Mrs. Wells, being nimble little
body, was soon in bed, while her
roommate still moved ponderously
about. She took off her cap and laid
1t on the bureau, and unpinning her
breastpin, thrust it into her cushion.
Removing the counterpart, she fold
ed 1t and placed 1t on chair. turned
down blankets and sneet, and reached
under her pillow for ner night-dress.
1t was not there. She lifted the pill.
low and felt vaguely over the surface
beneath 1t. but in vain.
Where's my nightgown?" she
cried, Sharply.
Il don't know" answered Mrs.
Wells. Isn't it under your pillow"
mo, ana ii you've taken it for a
joke" irascibly continued Mrs.
Dodd.
'Of course haven't. I guess you
made it up in your bed this morning."
"Oh, so l might Mrs. Dodd strip
ped down the Clothes from her coucn.
but the missing article d.. not appe ar.
Look under the mattress" sug.
gested Mrs. We.:s. Don't you re.
member the das you put your petit
coat under the mattress?"
Il Didn't turn ii. | was in such a
hurry, confessed the searcher.
Mrs. Dodd began spleading up the
clothes, but Mrs. Wells sprang out
OF bed, saying, Let me take one side.
1t doesn't seem, Sereny, as il you got
ahIs ad much making tits up fore
breakfast"
The rules of the mouse were
Lights out and inmates in bed at
nine thirty" Ii was now ten minutes
later, and Miss Timpkins, the mat
ron, stood at the door.
Whats the matter?" size asked.
Mrs. Dodd did not speak. but MIS-.
Wells, who had jumped into bed. said,
SHE'S lost her nightgown.'
"Nonsense!" responded Miss Timp-
kins. You can't lose your nightgoWn
in little room like this" She pick
ed up the pillow, locked under 1t and
into it, and with vigorous hand strip.
ped the bed, saying, You've made 1t
up in the bed
Mrs Dodd opened her mouth to
speak, but Mrs. Wells sno:n her head
warningly.
You've turned it under your mat
tress, just as you did YOU, petticcat
last month";" pursued tie matron,
briskly throwing over the mattress.
Il" began Mrs. Dodd; but look
from her roommate kept her silent.
1T isn't around your bed, announc-
ed the energetic matron, and she gaz-
ed upward. as if expecting to see It
on the ceiling.
You haven't got it on, have you,
Mrs. Wells?" she continued. Prob
ably with an accent of fHlief, you've
got Mrs. Dodd's on, and yours is I'M
der your pillow"
$. Wells choked wits indignation.
"Me!" she exclaimed. III takes four
yards to make ME nightgown, and
1t lakes ten for Sereny Dodd. Look!'
She once more jumped from the bed,
and held her night-dress out as lit
tie girl does her frock at dancing
school. Don't you want to pull my
bed to pleces?" she questioned. scorn-
fully.
why, yes" said MISS Timpkins,
that's good idea" and she prompt
ly acted upon it. while Mrs. Wells
glared wrathfully.
81 didn't dare to tell her made my
bed before you were up" whispered