Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-10
Jogging His Memory


[OriginaLl
Mr. and Mrs. Jastrum were seated at
the breakfast table, Mr.. Jastrum scan
ming the morning paper. especially the
copper market in which he was much
Interested
"My dear" said Mrs. Jastrum. II do
wish that could rely on you to attend
to such household matters as require
your attention"
my dear" replied Mr.. Jastrum
sharply. lowering the paper, IF you
will name any especial matter requir
ing my attention instead of blaming
me beforehand | shall be happy to
oblise your
"Very well. I wish you to post
do you call that household mat
ter? I supposed you referred to a leak
In the roof or some plumbing or gas re-
pairs. Indeed, you have made as much
fuss about it as If you did. II it's only
letter you want posted should sup
pose you might have dispensed with
your structures"
THAT'S all I wish this morning." re-
piled Mrs. Jastrum in an injured tone.
Just before Mr.. Jastrum departed his
wife slipped letter in the right hand
pocket Of his overcoat. He kissed her
perfunctorily and went away. intend
ing when out Of sight to carry the let
ter in his hand that he might not for
get It, but he had no sooner turned the
corner than he met Hickson. Hickson
asked him II he had noticed the fall In
< the price Of copper. Jastrum said that
he had. whereup0n Hickson said that
It was sure to 60 lower, Jastrum hur-
ried away to his brokers' office and
( gave him an order to sell out his hold
ings In copper at once. Then he went
to his own Office and hung up his over
| coat, with the letter in 1t.
At 6 In the evening Mr.. Jastrum
! opened the front door of his house and
was greeted with the smell Of gas.
"Phew! My dear Betsy. hello!
| Where are your"
Sup here, dear"
! JuStIu we'll upoAdho anu AVAAN
! his wife sitting In her bedroom In her
| fur cloak, with the windows open.
| Good graciousw he exclaimed, TAX
| ing In the situation. when did the
| leak occurT'
| 81 noticed a faint smell Of gas this
morning as soon as l got up, but 1t
was in the cellar and not very strong
+ In hn I liant tho COLLAR door
I shut, but by noon the house was full
Of it."
"And why,s may l ask. didn't you tell
me so, that / could have notified the
plumber"
| when the leak in the water pipe
occurred | asked you to stop at the
plumbers and send him right around.
You forgot 1t. and the house was food
ed, spelling both the dining room and
parlor carpets, besides the ceilings OF
both rooms"
"And out of revenge, to show your
"Not at all. Finding l could not
trust to your memory all the way to
| the gas office, concluded to subject 1t
| to a much less strain. Both the post
and gas offices are very near yours
the postoffice across the street, the gas
Office on the same block. wrote you
| a note asking you to go to the gas
office and tell them to send man here
| at once"
"And mailed the letter this morn
ing?
"Yes. There is a mail box, as you
| know, just around the corner. The
postman takes up the mail at a. N.
My letter was dropped in the box not
two minutes after you left the house
| this morning and should have been
handed you on the IL o'clock delivery.
Didn't you get it,"
Get it? No. Doubtless you thought
you put it in, but forgot it. You're
always grumbling about my forgetting
| to post your letters, while you are the
real delinquent. Nobody knows how
many times you have claimed to have
| given me letters to post that you have
intended to post yourself and have for
| gotten"
| did you post the one l gave you
| this morning.
Jastrum looked daZed for moment,
| then frightened. He thrust his hand
! in his overcoat pocket and drew forth
| the letter.
Il met Hickson-just after-l left
you" he stammered guiltily, "and
| he
Look at the address"
He did as she asked and saw that
| the letter was addressed to himself
Read it,
He tore off the cover and read.
The gas is escaping in the celler, Send
| a man at once.
Jastrum stood looking at the letter
long enough to have read two pages.
Isn't it p.ain?" asked his wife.
Without ranIvino ha ruShad down.