Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-14
MRS. TOPHAM'S
INVENTION
A New Years
Resolution
By MILDRED JERNECAN

4: By MILDRED JERNECAN (:
sssssssssssssssssssssssssi
The Tophams grew poorer every
year. On the LIST day Of January
Samuel Topham registered solemn
VOW that on the very next day be
would set forth in quest Of work FOL
the ensuing year-work that would
bring him in a steady income with
which to support his growing family
On the I'd day Of January Mr.. Top
IAN usually had a brilliant idea-a
brain splitting conception Of a patent
| rlishwashing machine or a baby tender
That might take the place Of q paid
nursemaid. or an automatic fapjack
riddle which not only would grease
itself. but would also tp suspended
pitcher of batter 40 that one might
have q continuous succession Of well
Drowned dapjacks as fast as one could
,cmove them from the self greasIng
nonburnlng. self adjusting griddle.
Anything In the way Of work saver
or labor ellminatOr appealed to the In,
ventive faculty Of Samuel Topham.
As these Ideas attacked Samuel Oh
the second day Of the new year. of
course he then abandoned the ilea OF
seeking manual labor and devoted
himself exclusively to the perfecting of
this latest putent. Under these cir
culnstances 1t became necessary for
Mrs. Topham to find some means OF
supplying her husband and seven lit
tie daughters with food and clothing.
This she did by home baking. She did
1t chrerfully and without complaint.
for the Tophnms. great and small. had
infinite fifth In pas" inventions and
contentedly scrimped and suved SO that
one day all of them might live sumptu.
ously OIL the proceeds Of his Success
when It should really come to pass.
On this particular New Years morn
ing Samuel had registered his custom
ary VOW with more than his nccustom
ed vigor.
"There's no use talking. Sarah" hp
said sinking heavily into kitchen
chair and looking appcalingly ut hi.
plump little wife from his prominent
light blue eyes. II haven't got the
heart to see you 30 through another
year like the last. Tomorrow morning
| shall set out and find u job, some
thing that will ut least bring us in
bread and cheese"
You've said that before. Snln." re
turned Sarah placidly. You haven't
got 10 wor! about that. I'm nnklna
enough from my bnking to pny the gro
Ger and butcher. aud we can wear our
old clothes for little while longer.
am sure the automatic griddle will tie
Il money maker. Why, whenever feei
extra tired ! just think how easy we
will have II when thut automatic grid.
die IL on the market and you
Samuel lifted a fat hand und shook
his head sadly "l'm afraid that the
automatic griddle Is not II success" h.
announced In II hollow voice.
Not u -slIcress!" Sarah Tnphanl'>
voice showed more genuine dismay
than II had done In the case Of The
failure of the dishwasher and the baby
tender. which had been the lhsi two
Inventions Of her husbands restless
brain. Now she removed her hands
from bowl of HOur and surveyed
Saulur's gloomy countenanre with Il
severe look on her usually good na.
tured face You have heard some.
thing new" she asked
"Yes ! had q letter-a most pecuI-
iarly wUrded letter from Mr. Bow
man." admitted Samuel. taking an en-
velope from his pocket and surveying
the superscription resentfully.
well. what did he say. Samueli
You know you asked him for a candid
opinion Of its merits He's your sec.
ond cousin ana ought not to be afraid
to speak right out"
"He spoke right out" muttered Sam
ael bitterly.
"What did he sayT
He said." returned Samuel reluc-
tantly, "that 10 one except an unmiti.
gated idiot and a coustitutionally lazy
and shiftless loafer would ever have
spent u year Of Gods good time In
perfecting such FOOLS ideu as my
automatic griddle. believe you might
call that a candid opinion"
why -the-idear gasped Sarah Top
ham angrily.
81 shall seek a Job tomorrow" went
on Samuel weakly.
He was surprised at his wife's
prompt reply. Its good idea. Sam.
nel." she said energetically. I'm
afraid that we haven't capital enough
to walt until the griddle Is a success"
"Of course, Sarah. when you lose
faith In me ! must 90 to the wall"
said Samuel Topham with dignity. and
so. folding the frankly written letter
Of his second cousin. the inventor left
the kitchen and str0lled into the par
lor of the cottage. where bis morris
chair was drawn before glowing lit
tie air tight stove.
From the window he could see bis
seven dimInudve daughters coasting
down the hill that sloped from their
cottage to the highroad. He sighed
deeply. II his wonderful schemes bad
only carried out successfully these sew.
en- daughters would each be an heiress.
wearing rich fur coats and ermine
hoods Instead of bright little red caps
rud cloaks fashioned by Sarah's busy
hands.
"Ha-humr' sighed Samuel. filling his
pipe and reaching for the morning
newspaper. 1t was necessary for Sam
nel to subscribe to New York daily
paper IN order to keep track Of the
latest Inventions Of "ilIcr creative
braius. Il must Eo out aud look for
Job nf some kind tomorrow. II my
eyes didn't trouble me so much I'd try
bookkeeping. but what's the use?
believe Sarah has boiled dinner to
day. Well. I'm glad Of that II there's
one thing enjoy It Is an old fashion.
ed boiled dinner"
Evidences Of the dinner Of corned
beef md cabbage permeated the little