Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-07-04
MRS. PRINGLE'S
INCUBATOR
1t Was a Questionable
Success
By CLARISSA MACKIE

1''t't''t''t~t't--tt''t-''t-ttt ftfTftt'rT'ff'
Mrs. Pringle found the advertisement
In the pages of her favorite magazine,
and after she had read it carefully for
the third time her great idea came.
Times were rather hard with the
Pringles. Mr.. Pringle, the wage earn
er of the family, had been sick for
three weeks, and he had suffered a
consequent loss of salary, while his
expenses had gone relentlessly on,
with the addition Of Doctors fees and
bills for medicine. Now he was back
at his desk In the insurance office, and
his loyal little wife racked her brains
to think of some way to earn money
and thus help George out Of his finan-
cial difficulties.
Then she saw the advertisement, and
the great idea came to her. She put on
her hat and went directly to the saw
ings bank. Then she went home and
wrote letter.
The Pringles lived in an apartment
in New York, and, besides a parlor,
dining room, kitchen and two bed
rooms, the architect had allotted them
an extra room, small and cubbyholey
with one window opening on an air
shaft. This room Mrs. Pringle had
used for wardrobe, but In the zeal
of her new endeavor she now packed
her pretty gowns into all sorts of i'm
possible places and had Mary, the
maid, scrub the cubbyhole and wash
the one window.
you're laying yourself liable, man,"
warned the expressman gloomily,
when the great idea had materIalized
in the form of huge express crate.
"Liable to what2" Mrs. Pringle had
demanded, with her haughtiest air, at
the same time forgetting to remind
the man that he had not given her 30
cents change.
Nothing. ma'nm," said the man
hastily. and he disappeared as If glad
to get away from the fourth floor OF the
Myona apartments
II suppose he thinks forgot that 30
cents" smiled Mrs. Prlngle trium-
phantly as she called Mary to help
her carry the crate into the cubbyhole.
For the love of hivin, mum. what
liver have yez hereT gasped that hand
maiden us the crate dropped from her
fingers.
TITS an incubator, Mary" said her
mistress lmpressively.
IAN Incubator? And WHATEVER would
vaz no doIn' with n here9"
"Raise chickens" explained Mrs.
Pringle.
"Chickens! Maybe Yell be kapln' a
COW. too. mum, and bit of pig"
suggested Mary with irony.
THAT will do, Mary" said her mis-
tress severely. 81 am taking you into
my confidence because ! want your
help in this matter, and | want to keep
It a secret from Mr.. Pringle until 1t
proves itself a success. I've bought
several books ON chicken raising, and
know them by heart. I've bought eight
dozen eggs Of White Leghorn fowls
you know they are very small and just
the thing for an apartment house incu-
batOr! | have n brooder ordered, too,
and when the chicks are Matched the
brooder will hover them like mother
hen"
Seems like them chicks oughter have
sight of Gods blessed sunshine.
num-" commented Mary as she drag
ged the remnants OF the crate away.
1.-THE sun shines directly down the
skylight at noon, Mary, and they will
have some then; but. you see. being in.
cubator chicks, they probably do not
require sunshine. should think cleo
tric light would do very well"
"Humph" snorted Mary from the
kitchen.
"MaryT' called her mistress little
later
Yes, num-" responded Mary.
ado you remember that blue velvet
suit had last wlnterT
"And winter before last" added Mary
guardedly.
"Of course. though it's almost as
good as new this minute"
Except fer the skirt beIn' cut too
wide fer this sayson's style" corrected
Mary, standing pudgy and fat footed
In the doorway.
81 was thinking Of giving 1t to the
laundress. Mary. She's about the right
size," observed Mrs. Pringls, with fine
diplomacy. 81 knew you wouldn't
care for It."
There was an uncomfortable pause.
But would be likin' II, num-"
cried Mary explosively. "'Tis me that
always thought It the purtiest dress
Paz ever had. Shure, that Ann Ma.
guire could never get into the coat,
she's that stretched with washin' and
bendin' over the tub. Thank you kind
ly, Mrs. Pringle. I'll take the blue suit
as soon as yea is ready to hand II over.
An for them blessed chicks. I'll watch
over them like an old hin mesllf until
they come out and divvle worrud I'll
brathe to Mr.. Prlngle until some foine
day poke billed chicken under his
nose az the table, poor man."
VERY well. Mary" smiled Mrs. Prin.
gle. I'VE will have to SEQ that the
lamp doesn't get to naring, and we
must be careful that tho temperature
Is kept Just 30. n you'll run out and
get some kerosene I'll start the thing
going"
There was much enthusiasm over
the installation Of the incubator in the
prinQia ann rfmanf Srha aIauaoN n.