The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-04-27
MRS. JUDSON PROFITED
WHEN HER LIEGE LORD APPLIED
SHELLAC TO The STAIRS.
Further Proof, if Any Was Needed,
That Man as Help at House.
Cleaning Time Has His Dis
tinct Limitations.

Mr. Judson laid aside his evening
paper and looked about the neat liv-
ing room, House cleaning's about
over, isn't it, Martha?" he asked.
Almost" responded his wife;
there's the kitchen to clean, and the
cellar to be whitewashed, and the
front stairs ought to be freshened up.
What would you use on them, Will
liam?'
"Shellac," said Mr.. Judson, with
prompt interest; that will dry quick
ly, and as we have no back stairs,
that's an important point. I'll bring
home the stuff tomorrow night, and do
it before | go to bed You can go up
first, and stay, SO that the stairs won't
have to be used, and by morning
theSll be as good as new"
Accordingly, the next evening, Mr..
Judson sent his wife off to bed at ten
promptly, although he did not leave
his reading until silence reigned up
stairs. Then he donned a big apron
and got out his brushes and shellac
"Just as we'll to wait until there's no
one round to make suggestions" he
unused; women never understand how
much better man can work by him
seff!"
Mr.. Judson was deliberate and
conscientious worker, sighting no de-
tail, and in an hour or so the flight
of stairs glistened in all it's original
freshness. Mr. Judson surveyed it
proudly from the lower hall Then his
jaw dropped.
''Thunder!" he muttered, disgusted-
ly. Il ought to have begun at the bot
tom and worked up!"
But out of momentary mental
chaos he clutched at the important
fact. He must go up backward, and
as he went, varnish over each foot
mark on the stair below. Mr.. Judson
was portly and his sense of humor was
not keen. AS he backed cautiously up
the sticky stairs at midnight, can and
brush in hand, stopping to touch up
each abandoned step, with due regard
to his blue bingham draperies, he be-
gan to breathe hard; but at last he
reached the top, and looking down,
congratulated himself that no one
need know of his blunder. How beau
tifully the surface shone!
Then it slowly penetrated his con-
seriousness that one reason for the
pleasing illumination was the gas in
the lower hall, the two burners of
which had been turned high to light
his earlier labors. Mr.. Judson hest
tated, thought of the gas bill, remem-
bered that the front door was not
locked, and restrained himself with a
sternness Of self-control that Jared
his nerve centers. There was only
one thing to do, and he descended-on
t1ptoes. He left his large, sticky slip
pers at the foot of the stairs, to save
the hall carpet, locked the front door,
turned out the gas, resumed his slip
pers, and began his second occasional,
obliterating each footstep by the I'M
certain light of the upper-hall gas. It
was not quick job; the distance to a
celebrated spot in Ireland seemed to
Mr.. Judson insignificant in compari-
son, although he made no audible COM
ment until he stepped on his blue
Bingham tail and sat down unexpect-
edly on the top step. Then, forgetting
caution, he expressed himself in loud
and irritated tones.
A substantial vision in pink flannel
cite appeared at the bedroom door be-
hind him; but realizing that baromet-
rio pressure was high, it retired as
silently as it had come, with superb
wifely tact, before he had time to de-
tach himself from the step and apply
the final brushwork to his master
piece.
At breakfast Mrs. Judson's praise
was unstinted, although she casually
deplored the traces of varnish on the
apron and slippers.
Yes" Mr.. Judson admitted with
out looking up from the morning pa
per, I'm afraid did spill little. By
the way, Martha, isn't it about time
for you to think of a new hat?-
Youths Companion.