The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-23

kAS
peddler turned pale and mounted his
wagon and got around the nearest cor
ner as fast as he could. There he met
another Of his kind coming from the
opposite direction and shouted to him:
Say, IL you turn into Third place,
look out for old Bowser."
"Why?"
Hes home and sitting on the steps.
and he tried his best to lare me inside
the gate by talking soft. Say, If I'd
gone in he would have tossed me ten
feet high. You beware of him unless
you want to leave a widow behind
you"
Between that hour and IL o'clock
Mr.. Bowser encountered an old man,
a boy distributing bills and a member
Of tinware, and his reception of them
was so kind and gentle that Mrs. Bow
ser told the cook TO have lunch on the
very minute and to hold herself in
readiness to run the instant she heard
any strange rumbles. At the lunch
table she asked:
You were not thinking of painting
the house today, were you?"
"No, dear"
Nor of fixing the water pipes, nor
anythingT
"No."
When lunch was over, be stood
around for awhile, and then, putting
Of his hat, he strolled over to the
butchers. As he never entered the
shop except to kick, the butcher began
to bristle up and get ready for a row.
None came, however. Instead of a kick
Mr.. Bowser softly observed:
Il have noticed such an improve
ment in the meat during the last three
months that I thought I'd drop in and
tell you how pleased and satisfied I am.
If every one had as conscientious a
butcher as you are things would run
smoother"
"Bowser, do you mean it?' asked the
butcher as he wondered if he had heard
Alright.
"Of course I mean it."
"Then shake. I have said that you
were a chronic kicker, but I take all
back"
From the butcher shop Mr.. Bowser
went over to the drug store. He and
the druggist had given each other
many a hard rub, and as the latter
caught sight Of him through the win
dow he said to his clerk:
There comes that old kicker, Bow
ser. Wonder what the devil he is home
this time Of day for? If he gives me
onu 0f hiS ohin ~,S;a Y,I ou5o. L.-
out"
He didn't have to proceed to that ex-
tremity. Mr.. Bowser sauntered in with
a smile on his face, and after asking
for a cents worth of slippery. elm he
said:
"Grimshaw, I don't know but you've
got the impression that I'm a sort Of
kicker"
"Well, you are a little eccentric"
That's all, and that's only when my
sciatica bethers me. l have repeatedly
recommended you as the best druggist
in town and shall take pleasure in con-
tinuing to do So"
Thence, he went to the coal Office.
Every week he had been in the habit
Of telling the coal man that he was
cheating on the weight. He now meant
to drop In and apologize. Unfor-
~tunately the coal man was out, but
word was left with his clerk, and Mr..
Bowser returned home. From 100 to
8 o'clock he lay on the lounge and
dozed.
From 3 to 4 he smoked and read.
From 4 to 6 he sat on the front steps
and let street fakirs yell at him and
made answer in the gentlest tones.
At 6 he ate dinner. From Z to 9 he
talked with Mrs. Bowser on various
subjects, always placing her opinions
in advance of his own, and at 9 he
locked up the house. turned off the gas
and went to bed. Mrs. Bowser trem-
blingly followed, wondering what
calamity impended, and four or five
times during the night she awoke and
listened to hear if he was breathing all
right. She was dreaming that he was
dead when his old time voice aroused
her. 1t was morning, and he vas
dressing and saying:
who in the old Harry kicked my
collar under the bed? If this isn't the
blamedest run house in our states
then l don't know enough to come in
when it rains"
And she clasped her hands and
thanked heaven hat he was himself
once more. NJ. QUAD.