The Sauk Centre herald., 1912-05-09
Fresh Air

Bamberger's wife has gone away for
q much-needed rest and his sister'is
keeping house for him. The children
miss their mother, but, after all, It's
rather spicy having Aunt Nan around.
One evening while Bamberger was
taking OF his overcoat in the hall, he
called out to whom it might concern:
Il sincerely hope, for thu sake Of the
rest of you, that the air Of this house
Is not so vitiated as 1t seems to me-"
Hello, daddy! What's that?" 1t
was his high school daughter, answer
ing from the living room.
Il was saying that you need fresh
air in here" He appeared in the
doorway and viewed his three chill
dren. snuggled together under the
lamp, reading In stuffy content. His
sister was not there.
Kenneth, get up and open the win
dow, and do 1t quick" the man OF the
house commanded. 1.-The air in here
is vile. You could cut It with .
knife"
'Vile!" The echo sounded from the
dining-room. Then the curtains part
ed and his sister faced him. "Vile!"
she repeated. emphatically.
well, Mamie, you there?'' His tone
became conciliatory. II mean. you
know-coming in from the fresh air
outside"
There certainly can be nothing In
the air of this house as offensive as
your word-vile!"
"Oh, we'll, didn't mean it as strong
as it sounds. But, really, now, have
you had any of the windows open to-
day?"
ANY windows open! Before you
came down to breakfast this morning
opened the dining-room window, all
three in here, the parlor window, and
the front door! After you'd gone to
the Office they were all open again,
for cleaning and busting. One win
dow In the kitchen is down from the
top all the time from morning till
night. The bedroom windows were
wide open half the forenoon. The
window on the stairway has been up
all day. 1 just closed things little
while ago to have it comfortable when
you came"
Bamberger suppressed retort that
rose to his lips. ''Oh, all right" he
said jovially. I'm glad it's better
than it seemed. It struck me as pref
ty hot as well as Close" Then he
looked at the thermometer and smiled.
Remembering the children, his Sis
ter swallowed several remarks which
she felt would have been good for
him, before she said calmly: Really.
George, it's out of place to ask an
Intelligent woman whether any win
dows have been up during the day."
She turned back into the dining-room.
where she was giving last touches to
the table. "Cut 1t with knife!" they
heard her say Indignantly. THE
Ideal"
The children looked on in open-eyed
delight. There was nothing new in
daddy's criticising the air of the
house, but to have anybody dare to
talk back-that was the spice of hav-
ing Aunt Nan around.
At about five o'clock next day things
began to get spicier than ever. Aunt
Nan, with spirited motions, went from
room to room, finging up every win
dow in sight.
"Whew! It's cold," Kenneth grum-
bled, but word from Aunt Nan turned
his scowl to grin. Down to the base
ment he hurried and turned OF the
hot air from every register in the
house except Aunt Mans. Then into
that warm and cozy spot, by Aunt
Mans invitation, he and his brother
and sister merrily trooped.
''It's just little April fool joke on
daddy" Aunt Nan explained. IF we
could get him to complain of too much
fresh air for once, you see, it would
be great success"
Il say, Aunt Man." somebody pro-
posed, wouldn't 1t be better If we
were sitting down there enjoying 1t
when he comes? We could put on our
coats and things"
Eyes, and spoil the whole ehect!"
the high school daughter objected.
1.-THE right way would be to put on
double clothes underneath and look
as If we were just dressed for the
house."
A little later four puffy-looking per-
sons, bubbling over with giggles, met
In the living-room. Aunt Nan, looking
unusually plump and matronly, pro-
posed that they all pretend to be read
Ing At the last minute Kenneth, with
a brilliant inspiration, presented each
one in the groYp with table knife.
AS soon as daddy should comment on
the cold every one, instead of answer
ing, was to lif. this knife and begin
to cut the air.
In the dinin groom a disapproving
maid sneezed and sneezed again, won
dering if every body was crazy.
"'Sh! Here he comes" whispered
Aunt Nan for the seventh time, but
the step outside passed by once more
and died away.
The high school daughter began to
cough. MY feet are like Ice" she
confessed.
''It can't be long now," Kenneth en-
couraged her, and as he spoke every
one jumped.
Just the telephone bell on the desk!
Aunt Nan, being nearest, took down
the receiver.
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