Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-12-26

meanwhile he was busy with the b''t-
ton After the dafnihg needle iud
drawn the Irvine though ne 9 rs
once all the room was taken up. LIt
he cut off the Irvine and called < a
Job He then pulled off the other shoe
and looked at the other sock. These
was no hole in it. but he made one AMI
sighed heavily rs another wudSel
made Its appearance. When he had
dressed his feet again he went or mp.
tairs and brought down his nightshirr
md button that had come looTe from
his winter overcoat.
whats wrong with that shirt
asked Mrs. Bowser.
Button off, of course" was the re-
ply. Its been off for the past four
weeks, and that is what brought this
case of bronchitis ON me. ! haven't
said anything because it's no USE
Look here now. but when that shirt
came home from the laundry three
days ago the buttons were all there
and all tight. | looked them over. as !
always do When you took the shirt
Off you gave 1t a pull and sent the hut-
ton flying. 1t must have been the one
found on the floor Yesterday"
Mr.. Bowser sighed and drew his
hand across his eyes rs he placed the
big horn button opposite the small but
tonhole and prepared to sew IT on.
"For the lands sake but don't do
that" exclaimed Mrs. Boweer Cant
YOU see that the button Is forty time
too largeF'
II am only too thankful 10 get any
kind of button" was the reply. accom-
panied by several sad and solemn
shakes of the head
Button Was Too Big.
THAT'S all nonsense! Hand that
shirt over to me. You have three or
four mere and don't need to put this
on at ALL"
But Mr.. Bowser stuck TO his tailor
job and sewed on the button. He knew
hole, but he would have it there for
an ornament anyway. The effect of
the red Irvine on the white background
was picturesque, to say the least.
When the work was finished he depart
ed upstairs again. This time he rum
mayed around for a quarter of an hour
before he descended. but he had put
in his time to good advantage. He had
found an old pair of trousers and had
cut patch out Of an old vest.
"Well, what is it now?' asked Mrs.
Bowser
"These trousers have needed patch.
ing for the last FIVE years, but you
haven't ,had time to do ii. | shall now
do It myself"
But they are an old pair that you
keep to work around in"
1.-THE principle of the thing is just
the same
There's no principle about it. II
you use blue patch on a green ground
all the boys in the neighborhood win
be guying you the first time you step
outdoors"
''rhen the boys VIII be Informed that
nave w QO MY ONh cCNinpS vi lnCAt
wouldn't be any done. Don't bother
Mrs. Bowser. Just keep your nose in
that novel and never mind me. Blue
patches on green grounds are good
enough for your husband. He hasn't
long to live anyhow, and what's the
odds whether the patches are blue or
black or green?"
Wiped q Tear Away.
Mr.. Bowser snuffed and shifted and
wiped tear away. and as he began
to fit patch eight inches square to a
hole not over two inches In diameter
and sew 1t fast with the red Irvine
Mrs. Bowser could control her feelings
no longer. She burst out laughing. and
1t was three or four minutes before
she could control herself. Then Mr..
Bowser was looking at her with a cold
glare. He kept it up for two long min
utes and then laid the half patched
trousers aside and said.
II am not only neglected, but insult.
ed in my own house, and human ma
ture can stand no more"
"But had to laugh. l think that
patch Is the funniest thing ever saw.
Why. even the cat''-
"Mrs. Bowser. am going out. | am
a homeless man. and where shall 60
heaven only knows. Perhaps when
am brought home dead and you gaze
into my white face you viii cease
your merriment and realize that you
are responsible for the death Of a good
man. Good night. Mrs. Bowser-wo-
man. good night"
She tried to stay him, but In vain.
He left the house for the street with
tears In his eyes and wandered up one
street and down another. and the
south winds sighed and moaned. and
the crickets called to each other that
all was lost. and the policeman on his
lonely beat stopped him to say:
"Loolx here. old man. I've got my
eyes on you, and II you try any mon
key work In this neighborhood I'll
make your heels break your neck.
What's an old coon like you doing on
the street at this hour OF the night any.
way7 Move on with you'll"