Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-11-09
Didn't Know His
Own House
By EDITH V. ROSS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871

the beauty or her form was INSTRUCTED
by dozen petticoats and her shapely
feet were covered with wooden sabots
was really a comely girl-so comedy
that when AIRY Van Schoonhoven pass
ed her house one day padding on the
canal he quite fell in love with her.
Not long after this AIRY met the girl
at a dance where the sound of the
wooden shoes on the floor was like the
hammering in carpenters shop. The
couple danced together AIRY whirled
Katrina around like a top.
Whether so much whirling turned
the young peoples brains or whatever
the cause, they fell violently in love-
But in Holland young girls cannot
marry without dowry. and Katri-
ma had no dowry. Old Van Schoon-
hoven, who sold cheeseS was we'll off
and could have set the couple up very
readily, but he would not. He told his
son that if he chose to marry a dotless
girl he might do so, but they would get
nothing from him.
The old man, though he was an al
derman and much respected on ac-
count of his position. was given to
tipling. There was a place near his
house where he used to drink schnapps
till late at night. then go home and to
bed. He lived in row of dwellings,
all precisely alike and each built with
its gable end on the street
One night AIRY determined to play a
prank on his father. He had no object
in doing so except fun, but before he
he got through there was more i'm.
portant result than mere fun.
Van Schoonhoven when he came from
the taproom was used to counting the
houses till he came to the sixth. which
was his own. Since they We're all alike
he had no other way of determining
his own domicile. The door was one
of those double ones cut in the middle.
One night when the cheese merchant
went home full of schnapps he count
ed the houses, as usual. and when he
reached the sixth endeavored to put
his key in the lock and open the door
But he was long time finding the
keyhole, and when he did the key
didn't fit it. Then he noticed that
instead of his own double door the
one he was trying to open was a single
one. While he was standing stupidity
trying to get through his Dutch noddle
how he could have made a mistake in
his count an upper window sash was
raised and head in nightcap put
out Then a cracked voice oalled:
"Who is trying to break into my
house?"
II beg pardon" said the man below
II thought this was my house."
"And who are you?"
I'm Van Schoonhoven. the alder
man.
and a pretty alderman you are to
be breaking the peace at night prowl-
ing around breaking into peoples
houses. l have n mind to call the
watch and have you taken in"
pray don't do that. I've only mis-
taken this house for my own"
'Do you mean to tell me that you.
who have been born and lived ever
since in the same house. don't know
where you liveT'
Sctlll 10 nave Dppn mistaken.
''You mean that you have been so
long at the taproom tonight and have
drunk so many bottles of schnapps
that you are fuddled"
Cant you direct me to my house,
"NOt l. Do you suppose that | am
going to dress myself and 90 down and
walk you, an alderman of this respect
ohln of r.,
This loud talking aroused those living
next door. and up went their sashcS
and out went their heads to learn VINO
was disturbing the peace 1t We, .ry
that had hcen talking to his father
He had taken the double door off the
hinges and put on another one Then,
watching for his father when the old
man came. he had lectureI him in
feigned voice Those living next door.
being perfectly sober, had recognized
Ary's voice and entered heartily into
the joke.
II know who you are" said a wo-
mans voice next door You are Van
Schoonhoven, with but one son who
wished to marry Katrina Vedter.
CIR! far too good for such n father-n-
law. You who are an alderman should
set an example to others instead of
getting drunk and breaking the peace
of the town at midnight"
Here an idea entered Ary's head.
Eyes; that is right. You are keeping
two lovers apart, and tomorrow you
will be paid for your meanness This
matter will be the talk of the town.
But | tell you what l will do. I will
give you bed here till morning, and
If you will then promise to mend your
ways we will keep your secret"
This brought the old man around
His son threw him key with which
he opened the door, and, mounting the
stairs. found himself in his own room
The next morning AIRY went down
early and changed the door. The wo-
man who had done a part of the talk
ing came IN and told him that II he