The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-25

work. and at the end Of half an houl
he had the back yard pretty well tori
up. The capitalist who built the hous,
never intended the back yard to b,
used as a garden, That was the rea
son he filed II In with plaster, brick
bats, old cans chunks OF wood an,
Shavings, II could be turned into ;
menagerie II the buyer so elected, bu
never into garden. Farmer Bowse
worked away with right good viii
however, and before the sun wen
down his sunhower and hollyhocl
seeds had been committed 20 the keep
ing OF old Mother Earth. A few cat,
came walking along the top of tn,
fence to be present on the auspiciou,
occasion, and now and then hoodlun
going home through the alley threw .
beer bottle at the gardener, but things
went of without any riot. Other
ground would be prepared for seeds
the next evening.
~ want TO tell YOU" said Mr.. Bow.
ser when all had been finished for the
night and he had laid the tools away
and lighted his cigar. that am q bet.
ter man for what ! have done this
evening. When got of the car man
stepped on my foot and called me Il
behemoth instead of apologixing.
called him liar and intended TO 20
out after dinner and lick him. Yes,
was going to pound him TO jelly. but
the idea has fed far, far away. II be
should come along here now and ask
me why didn't use the back Of my
neck for my throat Id only laugh nj
him. The closer one gets to nature the
more he can forgive In his fellow men.
Why, II ten banana peddlers came
along here and each one stopped to
yell at the top Of his voice you wouldn't
see me get mad"
''lf should ask you FOR IS to get
new pair Of shoes with, could you
spare it?'' asked Mrs. Bowser.
Why, OF course, my dear-of course.
That is, haven't got II right in my
pocketbook this minute, but the first
time have IT to spare you can count
on II. DO you remember one night
about two months ago when you call.
ed up the subject OF my love letters to
you before We were marriedY'
"Yes."
"Well. got mad and denied that you
had single one. You said called you
deary, ducky, angel, sweetness and all
that. and / answered that IL l did
must have been a fool"
"Well?"
"Well, want TO beg your pardon. /
not only called you by all those names.
but probably gave you the idea that
was the biggest jackass In America.
II you would take club to me about
once week l should be better man."
The bats came ont and buzzed !
the evening grew old, and aft |
er reading up on sunhowers and holly. |
hooks Mr. Bowser was ready for bed !
His garden, as he saw from a back /
was lying fertile and un-
touched In the bright moonlight, and |
such a softness stole over him that he /
picked up the cat and begged her par
Ion II he had ever called her yaller
,yed and plotted against her life. He
alked agriculture for half an hour and
hen fell asleep, and Mrs. Bowser soon
thankful that nothing In the
vay of calamity had happened. Two
ours later she dreamed that she was
q South Africo and hearing the roar
I lion, and the dream was so vivid
hat 1t awoke her. No sooner were her
yes open than she found the roar TO
'e real.
1t was Mr.. Bowser roaring from a
'ack window. .lhe ran through TO him
ust as he had heaved the water pitch
r after the waahbowl. Down on the
arth beneath the window were six or
light dogs that had come in through
be alley gate. They had raked and
cratched and rolled, and his garden
nd sunfiowers and holEyhocks were no
nore.
Woman" be said as he found her
eside him, behold your work.
my work? Why, what have I got
0 do with it?'
Spite, envy, jealousy! I see your
ne italian hand at every turn.
Vanted garden; you didn't You
ave defeated me, but-but"-
And then he rushed downstairs and
ut into the yard, and, seizIng clothes
ole, he did his best to slay and to
laughter. Under the full moon, with
1e earthly smell rising TO heaven and
be crickets chirping their notes Of
he Jumped up and down and
wore that nothing short Of blood
,ould satisfy his lonRings for revenge.