The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-08

How many rings was that ~ ask
ed Tidy. "Two long or two short 7"
Deed if l know" replied Abbie.
eve good notion not to 60 down, :
said Tidy.
"Oh one of us better go. We told
the Doctor we'd answer the pesky
thing. l didn't suppose they were
such bother r. and Abbie descended
the stairs.
mo, Doctor will not be home until
morning." she answered, and went
upstairs.
She was no sooner seated, than
ding aling ing-ing-ing" was heard.
"I'll go, this time, said Tidy. Her
hearing was not so keen as it once
was, and she couldn't make out the
name. Would she please tell the
Doctor to call the moment he arrived
at--and she conldn't make ont the
name. Where was the Doctor to
call? In distress she called Abbie to
help her. and glancing towards the
stairs she saw her descending, with
all their sewing material. mo use
to stay up there" said she, and by
the time she reached the phone the
line was rung off.
Dear, oh DEAR" walled Tidy.
''What'll do7 couldn't make out
where the Doctor is to CO."
Never mind." said Abbie. "Let
'em get another Doctor"
Amt it bout time we had our
tea?"
eyes it's. begin to feel as if 1
needed somethin' after marchin' up
and down them stairs, and there's
uuthin' like drink of hot tea," re-
piled Abbie, add together they went
to the kitchen.
Abbie turned the faucet to draw
water to make tea. "Gurg1e- gurg1e-
sh-s-" sounded the faucet, but no
water.
Come here. Tidy, whatever does
all the thingl"
Like as not you hain't turned it
right" remarked Tidy. as she turn
ed it both ways, and heard only
"gurgle- gurgle-sh b s. s." 20 b
we'll somethin's got wrong with the
critter."
"I jest wish / had some good water
from our spring. I'm that thirsty,
and to 60 without my tea" and
there we're tears in Abbie's eyes.
''I don't feel hungry" !" said Tidy.
but we can nave some bread and
milk"
A half hour later and it began to
grow dark, and Tidy turned on the
electric lights. "Ain't this nice?"
she said, as she sat down to sew; but
Abbie made no reply.
Pears to me it's rainin'," said
Tidy, as she went to the door and
looked out. 'Myl what a dark
night. So glad we don't have to be
out in it,
gazed out of window at the pelting
storm.
Suddenly and without warning,
they were left in total darkness. The
lights had gone out.
"Oh, Abbie,'' screamed Matilda,
where are you 7"
'Here / be, Tidy. Amt 1t orful
dark" They sat down together in
the darkness. Maybe it will come
back on again." said Abbie reassur-
irgly.
They waited and waited, but the
lights did not come on.
Whatever will we dor" walled
both old ladies.
eff we only knew where there was
lamp, but we DON'T said Tidy.
They saw lamp burning in house
across the street.
Let's go over there and ask 'em
to lend us lamp of some kind. We've
got to get to bed somehow" said
Tidy.
The two old ladies groped their
way out and across the street In the
wind and rain and procured a little
lamp.
They had no sooner got nicely set
tied in bed, when "ding- a-ling-ing-
ng-ing," sounded the phone.
"There goes that pesky thing
again." said Tidy.
Here now, don't you go to swarm
so. Twas only yesterday you was a
wantin' telephone in and electric
lights. Said the telephone would be
sights of comp'ny. Well, tits COM
pany. That's So"
A few minutes later, shivering with
cold, Tidy climbed back into bed.
About an hour later rushing
sound awoke Tidy.
"Abbie, wake up What is that
noise? It comes from the kitchen"
The sound continued. and the old
ladies crawled out of bed, hurried
into their shoes and in their night
clothes, went to the kitchen, where
they discovered that the water had
come on and had overhowed the sink
and was deluging the kitchen floor.
Mercy mercyl what'll we do?"
screamed Abbie, while Tidy made
her way to the faucet and finally got
it shut off.
About an hour later two very shiv-
cry old ladies went back to bed.
eve about made up my mind about
this modern Improvement question"
said Tidy, with a considerable
warmth. 81 think they are we'll
enough for young folks who can
chase around after them, but for old
folks like us, we'd better let well
enough alone"
Aud they fell asleep with the tele-
phone ringing in their ears.