The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-06-23
THIS WAS THE LIMIT
PAPA THREATENED THE TOTAL
DISRUPTION OF HOME.
He Insisted on Having the Place Llv-
able or Moving to a Hotel,
and He Carried His
Point.

Wipe your feet. papa" reminded
oapa's eldest daughter as he stImped
muddy on the front porch. Papa &C
cordingly shuff1ed his feet diligently
upon the wire mat; then stepped upon
a strip of carpet on the porch and by
comforting himself into weird shapes
wiped the edges of his shoe soles com
paratively clean.
Don't hang your wet coat there!
called his wife Don't you know wa
ter will ruin that chair?" Papa &C
cordingly gathered up his raincoat
and carried it up to the bathroom.
"Oh, mamma" walled the youngest
daughter: look at the mud he's leav'
ing on the stairs! And just washed
them myself" But papa was put
ting on his slippers in the bathroom
standing on one foot and hopping
about like some damp stork. Then he
changed his clothes and came down
stairs.
Did you change your clothes
dear?" inquired his wife sweetly, eye
ing the chair in which he sat with
speculative eye. Papa growled and
turned over a sheet Of his paper, for
he knew all about that inquiry.
Presently he stretched. yawned and
rose. He walked over to the sofa
heaped with pillows and lay back lux
uriously just as the middle daughter
came in.
why, papa" she shrieked; you're
spelling the sofa pillows. You're ~
ing right on them" Papa sat up.
Whats this sofa for?" he demand
ed. His wife had come In by this
time and stood side by side with heI
indignant daughter.
"Certainly not to treat as you're
treating it," she said. "If you want to
take a nap lie on your bed" Papa
arose. His jaw began to grow rigid
for papa was getting mad. For long
he had put up with this sort of thing
and the limit was reached.
Take those pillows up to youl
rooms" he commanded the assembled
daughters; this sofa goes out in the
woodshed. This is no place for use
less things" Then he dragged II
out into the shed. leaving consterna
ton in his wake.
What do you mean?" stormed his
wife. Papa looked at her and she De
gan to grow uneasy under his look
He didn't say anything.
60 I'D in the bathroom and get my
raincoat and Shoes" he directed. "One
of your girls. don't care which" The
girls looked at each other.
Col" said papa. land be quick.
The Youngest daughter went. Then
papa sat on a sacred chair and put on
his shoes. The slippers. one inside
the other, he handed the oldest daugh
ter
Take them to the bathroom. he
commanded. The Oldest daughter
stared. Then she started to say some
thing and struggling her shoulders de-
parted, holding the slippers as though
they might bite. She couldn't miss any
of this remarkable situation. SO she
returned.
I'm going down to the office" said
papa; you can pawn ny
like, because we're going to store this
truck and go to hotel"
why. papa!" 1t was a chorus OF
alarmed voices. But papa was firm.
One thing is certain" he said;
we're through with this foolishness
I've had all I'll stand. Ill do 1nls
much-either you'll make this place
homeIike, beginning tomorrow morn
ing, or we quit Housekeeping. Ihat
ALL" Then he departed in the rain.
But when he returned his slippers
were in the hall. and his favorfte
chair, with the evening papers on IT,
was stationed under the light and the
family had retired.
Then papa put on the slippers, put
them on another chair and began to
read-Galveston News.