The bee., 1909-01-28
SPEAKING TO
THE BUTCHER
BY John n. MoNeeIy.


speak to the butcher in the morning,
calculated Mrs. Ramfounder, as her
husband reached his family domicilc
| from the office. There was pre-
| monitory tone in her voice.
Certainly" replied Ramfounder.
'Mr. Ramfounder. can't you pay at
tention to what say without turning
everything Off with an Affirmative re-
ply when you really don't know what
I am trying to impress upon your
mind? l just stated that I would like
to have you speak to the butcher in
the morning"
"Of course I will speak 70 him. Don't
l always speak to him every morning
as l pass his shop on my way to the
Officer"
There you go, Mr.. Ramfounder, pre-
tending you don't understand. but l
can see that you are merely feigning
ignorance. You take delight in irri-
tating me so that have to go into the
long details. The butcher. MIR. Ram
founder, has been giving us such mis-
cradle meat that l have been com
PEELED to warn him on several occa-
sions. He doesn't pay the slightest
heed to me. He sends us the poor
steaks out Of pure meanness and ras-
cality. Now, suppose you compre-
bend in your shallow brain what
mean, although am certain that you
understood from the very beginning.
Now, don't want you to speak to the
butcher when you go past his shop in
the"
Il see what you mean now, Mrs.
Ramfounder," interrupted her hus-
band. You want me to stop speak
ing to him after this. / was under
the impression when you first spoke
that you wanted me to greet him every
morning, but of course, II you have
changed your mind and"
"Mr Ramfounder, will you be so
kind as to stop acting like dwelling
simpleton? l want you to speak to
the butcher in the morning about Civ
ing us bad meat and tell him that you
will not pay for 1t If he doesn't do
better. Then, Mr.. Ramfounder
don't want you to speak to him at all.
He is so contemplate and despicable
that do not care to have my husband
talk to him. Surely. Mr.. Ramfounder,
you do not intend to lower yourself
and sacrifice your wife's self-respect
by speaking to a man of his character.
If he had any principle he would send
us good meat instead OF accepting our
money and then giving us nothing in
return. Remember, do not speak TO
him again as long as you live or you
will regret It. / shall show him a
thing"
Il won't speak to him then"
That's right, Mr. Ramfounder, keep
saying that you won't speak to him
when have Just finished explaining
that l want you to speak to him in
the morning and rake him over the
Goals. l want to ask you If you intend
to stand there all evening now and re-
peat the same statement that you are
not going to speak to the butcher
about the meat when have said moth
ing except request you to tell him in
an emphatic manner that you are
tired OF eating his poor steaks and
chops? suppose will have to get a
cleaver and whack you over the head
to let little light in upon your brain.
Just give me your attention for a mo-
ment, Mr., Ramfounder. Speak to the
butcher In the morning and then stop.
Do you comprehend now or shall I
write it out on a large sheet OF paper
for your benefit"
Il think / see what you mean" said
Ramfounder. Il am to speak to the
butcher and then STOP" --'s'--'
Certainly! And why couldn't you
understand that before, Mr.. Ram
founder? 1t is so simple. But just
a moment; you are not to speak to
him in the morning and then stop be-
fore you have told him about the mean
meat he has been sending and also
that you will not pay him, IL he
doesn't give us better meat. and in ad-
ditiOn you might take a final fling by
declaring in strong terms that we will
so TO another butcher unless there is
a marked Improvement in the very
near future. Then, Mr.. Ramfounder,
you can stop speaking to him, and
don't you dare defy me by speaking to
him again as long as you have breath
In your body"