The Cairo bulletin., 1909-03-12
That Puzzle
1t Made Trouble in the
Earnsworth Family.

consists of about ! 900 pieces of wood
or heavy cardboard that. when prop
" put together form a square on
which there is an attractive picture
what are you doing?" asked Mr.
Farnsworth seeing his wife and son
earnestly bending over the component
parts of the puzzle.
Don't bother us. dear" replied Mrs,
Farnsworth. "Were getting it. We
have found six blocks that fit to-
gether."
Il should think" the gentleman said,
with some severity, that you were old
enough to leave such things for chill
dren. O, ! don't mean to insinuate that
you are getting ancient or anything
like that-but you're not mere child
any more. You'll admit that, | think.
Haven't you any better way to put in
your time? How about dinner? Is 1t
anywhere near ready? I've got TO
work on a report | shall have to make
to our directors tomorrow, and | want
to have dinner early this evening"
20, well, if you are going to be a
bear, | suppose | shall have to run. Be
careful, Albert, not to scatter the
pieces we have fitted together"
While Mrs. Farnsworth was down
stairs helping the maid to hurry the
dinner, her husband watched little AL
bert. as the boy hunted for the elusive
sections of the puzzle.
Here" he said, leaning over and
picking out small block that Was
without shape, this fits in here,
doesn't it,"
He tried to put the piece into the
place that he had indicated, but il
would not go, Then he sat down be
side little Albert and began to help
him. Fifteen minutes later Mrs Farms.
worth called from the dining-room:
Come to dinner Lverythings ON
the tablet"
Tn minute" her husband replied.
Say, Albert. here's a piece under your
thumb that belongs In this corner
Albert tried 10 fit the piece into the
corner his father pointed out, but ii
could not be done. Five minutes later
Mrs, Falnsworth called:
Are you coming to dinner? Things
are getting cold"
Yes, in minute" replied the head
of the house. "Hurrah! here's one that
| fits
1t really did, and Daniel Farnsworth
| got up with a look of triumph, say,
| ing:
There's nothing very puzzline
about this. Come on, Albert, let's &c
| to dinner"
| He disposed Of the meal in short
order, and without waiting to partakc
! of dessert left the table II was nearly
eight o'clock when Mrs. Farnsworth,
looking over his shoulder, said;
Papa, it's time for Albert TO be so
/ ing to bed now, and ! thought you
had to prepare report for your di.
| rectors."
Yes, yes" he replied, Il must really
! get to work at it. Confound this puz
| zle What was it ever brought into the
house for, anyhow? Albert, go to bed
Don't let me hear WHINE out of you
either You can work at puzzles dur
ing the daytime"
Albert reluctantly permitted his
! mother TO conduct him to his room
and there, when his shoes had been
taken off, she discovered that his
stockings needed immediate mending
Forgetting her other troubles, she
hunted up the darning implements and
went to work. II was nearly ten
o'clock when she put the stockings
aside, and little Albert was sleeping
peacefully,
Daniel" she called. stepping out
into the hall. ARE you still working p
"Uh, uh," he answered.
Well don't stay up 900 late. | an
/ going 10 bed. I'm tired. and you're
no company when you have to prepar,
reports. anyway"
"All right" Mr.. Farnsworth an
swered.
| It was 1916 when Mrs. Farnswortl
awoke from a dream in which she haC
seemed to see a great castle which
| had been built OF cards suddenly tum
! bic to the ground. As she sat up in
! bed there was a sound as of man,
small, hard particles being dashed
against a wall, and then she heard hel
husband muttering in a way tha
| frightened her.
What is II, dear?" she cried, jump
| ing out of bed and running to him.
! She found him standing beside the
table on which the puzzle blocks haC
been heaped, bat they had all beer
swept off upon the floor
what are you doing here?" the lady
asked. 81 supposed you were in the Ii
brary working on your report"
Mr.. Farnsworth looked severely a
his wife and pressed his lips firml,
together. perhaps to keep from saying
things which he might regret. Wher
he could control himself he said:
Don't you worry about my report
You don't have to prepare it, do you.
Well. then, don't let it make you nerv
Gus. It's mighty strange that cam
/ sit up and work even in my own house
| without having to be cross-questioned
| Go back to bed and don't bother me
/ a. -fz all 4-L