The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-13

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near the hole in the ground where the
house itself was going to be, each
thinking how it would gradually dawn
upon them. Besides, it was very in
teresting, as holes go, and Fred pro-
rOunced the excavated earth wonder
full in color. He took a clod of it
back to his studio in town and asked
some of his pals if they did not think
it wonderful. They said they did.
But there was one thing which
troubled them both at this time,
though each, hoping that the other did
not notice it, kept silent about it,
after the foolish manner of many mar
ried people, especially young ones.
They feared that some dreadful, ire
parable mistake had been made; the
outline of the house as shown by the
foundation was so disillusionizingly
diminutive. Such is always the effect,
of course, at this stage of house-build-
ing, but no one had prepared them
for it, as is the case with many I'M
necessary little establishments in
life which would not hurt so if only
the older generation took the trouble
to explain to the younger generation
in advance. Perhaps they forget.
Well, it got on Molly's nerves to
such a degree one night that she
could not sleep. So, arising at dawn,
she dressed quietly and tiptoed down
stairs so as not to disturb Fred in
the next room. Then, having spent
five minutes in a vain search for the
long tape measure (already purchased
for marking out the tennis eourt), and
finally compromising upon short one
in the sewing machine drawer, she
crept stealthily out of the house and
across the dewy lawn to measure that
foundation and settle the matter once
and for all. But when she arrived at
the scene of establishment, there was
Fred, leaning over, absorbedly measur-
ing the foundations with the long
tape measure.
"What are you doing?"
'F'What are you doing?'
Nothing
"Nothing.'
Each looked at the others tape
measure, then at the others eyes
moment, and burst out laughing. Viii
son Peters, the architect, arriving
that day, put their minds at rest by
explaining the optical delusion.
Lumber arrived, a gang of carpen-
ters came, the heavy timbers were
set up, the frame of the house fairly
flew together, like Wendy's house in
the second act of Peter Pan. With
the merry music of rhythmic hammer
ing, the delightful odor of clean lum-
her, and the prospects of limitless
kindlings for the new house, these
were happy days.
"You're going to have a mighty
tight, well-built house, Mr.. Carroll, "
said the contractors superintendent.
owe believe in having 'em tight"
nodded Fred. with a wink at Molly,
who was smiling at his attempt to
sound practical.
"At the present rate, said Wilson
Peters, who seemed to be paying par
ticular attention to this job; cat the
present rate your house ought to be
turned over to you by September
first. +" That meant a month ahead of
the contract.
"Nothing like having a friend for
your architect said Fred to Molly
When the ridge pole was erected,
there was another ceremony, treat
for the workmen. called, "topping
the cedar brush The CAROLS, hav-
ing become landed proprietors, be-
lieved in encouraging these quaint old
guild customs. It took place on Sat
urdav half-holiday. One of the men
climbed up and nailed a young cedar
tree to the end of the ridge pole.
Thereupon a key of beer was opened,
which Fred had ordered for them,
along with a box of cigars and an
enormous number of sandwiches. 1t
was served in the dining or what
was eventually to be a dining-roOm.
''Here's to Mr.. CARROLL said the SUI
perintendent, raising a foaming mug
of beer; "mav he live long and be
happy in his new house! -
Fred didn' t feel so much like
landed proprietor when it came to
making a speech. but he said he was
very glad to have as his first guests
in the new house the men VINO Were
buiIding it. and building it so well.
He told them how much he respected
honest workmen who took pride IN
their work. Then. fearing lest this
sounded patronizing, he added that he
knew what he was talking about, be-
couse he. too. toiled with his hands
and knew the joy of "making things
come out the way you want them to.
Tbav thought his hands didn't look
much like if. but didn't mind his
thinking so if he wanted to, and con-
eidared him all right for setting up
+ba beer. especially as he straightway