The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-08-12
. BATH NIGHT
(By Ed Sin Pugh.)

TlSu DOU rOy W his Olu iliShu bASh
Swami, whom he had lost sight of for
nearly ten years and just found again.
why not bring 'em around to my
place on Sat'day night?"
Don't be fool, old man." said
Swami, appealingly. Amt Satday
bath night?"
81 don't know" replied Foy.
"You will when you bin married long
enough to feel calm about it, like
ave" said Swami.
Bob Foy stared at him and smoked
refectively. We'll, now l come to
think of it," he remarked. Il do seem
to remember, when was a nipper my
self, how my mother" He left the
sentence unfinished, continuing to pull
hard at his pipe.
"Ah! and the custom is still KEEP
up," Swami Informed him. II used to
get out of it first; but now there's six
of 'em to be done, in course have to
lend the missis a hand, like But look
ere. You said as you'd like to see
more O. my kids. Well. you come
round to my place sat'day evenin'
about and you will see more of 'em-
much more"
'I'll be there" said Bob Foy, "at 3
SHARP" And he was.
AS he knocked at the door OF
Swann's house he heard the sounds OF
great commotion taking place inside.
A woma1s shrill voice exclaimed,
quite audibly Pest it all! Who the
plague can that be now? Funny thing!
but sure's ever start on this game
if you can call it game-some tom.
fools bound to take fancy to playln'
the frogs march on that there knock
or. Do go and see who it is, Dick.
Don't sit there as if you were a part
O. the decoration s-cos you anti"
AS Bob Foy listened he rather
wished that he had not come, after all
He could hear his old friend grum-
bling and humping about; but some
minutes elapsed before the door was
finally opened.
Swami winked, artfully. You'll
find us in bit of muddle, old man, l"
he said, in strident tones. But come
in quick, will you, COS O. the draft?
It's my youngest-but-two's turn at this
moment, and she's got nasty cold.
Bob Foy found himself in dense,
white fog, through which he caught
a first impression of pink, through
which he caught first impression Of
a pink, plump little form, stark naked,
standing in tub before fierce fire.
There were five more children hud-
died together in a corner in various
stages of undress, and there was Mrs.
Swami herself, kneeling beside the tub
with a huge swab in her hand. AS
Bob entered they all t-rEed and tafed
at him.
your friend, Mr.. Foy, must excuse
me, Dick, if l don't get up and bow
and scrape to him like I'd jest stepped
out of bandbox," said Ms. Swami,
resentfully, as she resumed her labors.
I'm sure" Bob was beginning,
when the naked little Swami raised
an indignant outcry.
"'Tain't fair!" she walled. you've
washed my ears once already"
Wont hurt to ave 'eE washed
agin,'' remarked Mrs. Swami.
That's all you know" protested the
infant. ut do hurt!"
81 was good little boy when l was
bein' bathed, wasn't mumma?" said
one little pharisaical member of the
group in the corner.
"You was as good as gold," assented
his mother.
"D'you know enough" inquired Mrs.
Swami of her husband, ito leave OFF
scratchin' your 'ead, as if you'd got a
grudge agin it, and take and dry Err
myntrude while get on wi Bernard!
And dry her properly, mind! Don't
dab at the poor child as If she was a
punchin' machine. Now, Bernard"
But l amt really dirty, mumma,
this week." urged Bernard earnestly.
Mrs. Swami stretched out long arm
and pulled the malcontent into the tub.
"One thing about my wife, observed
Dick. "She never argues"
"All the soaps got into my eye"
gurgled Bernard.
Not all of it-as you'll find out, ii
you don't keep your mouth shut, my
son." said Mrs. Swami, grimly.
81 was a good boy, though wasn't
| mumma when" the Pharisee was
beginning, yet again; but this time his
father cut him short.
why, yes! In fact, it's pleasure
to bathe you," he broke in. And I've
more than 'alf a mind to do you all
over agin', myself, SO l ave-"
20, no. dadda!" pleaded the Phari-
see, aghast.
'T wish 1 could be bathed WI my
clothes on" muttered Harold, aged
nine, as he slowly undressed.
You'll be fogged wi your clothes
on if you don't hurry up said Mrs.
Swami. Think you're livin' picture,
or what? Bernard, if l ave to speak
to you agin!-"
"Well, that's over, thank goodness"
she painted, half an hour later, when
the last child had been bathed and
put to bed.
almost seems waste of time,
bath night does," observed Dick
Swami, ruminatively. They'll be jest
as dirty agin this time tomorrow"