THE HUMOURIST.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 170, 5 November 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE HUMOURIST.

CATCHING A -MOUSE. Mrs. Cobliegb, says the ‘Danbury Noavs,’ had gone to bed. Mrs. Cobleigh bad been canning berries all day, and a tableful of cans showed that it had been a day of industry. So she had gone to bed and to sleep, leaving Mr. Cobleigh up to read the paper. \\ bile he was thus engaged ho thought lie heard a movement in the kitchen. He stopped to listen. The sound stopped for an instant and then resumed. . It came from the rustling of paper. Mr. Cobleigh made up his mind that a mouse Avas about. lie Avalked softly to the doorway leading into the kitchen and stopped to listen again, the sound continued. It avus in the dish closet, and appeared to be close to the floor. Mr. Cobleigh got the light and crept softly into the kitchen and to the door of the closet. There lie saw a paper bag of something, and knew that the mouse had bored its Avay into it. As softly as ho had come he had moved aAvay after .lAvcapon. Ho saw the broom and immediately chose that article. He set the lamp on the table, in Avliich position it shone full into the closet. Mr. Cobleigh got the broom, and cautiously approached the bag to dislodge the mouse. It Avas at this juncture Mr. Cobleigh realised lioav impotent avus the broom to bring out the mouse and slay it too. A mouse is very quick in its movements. Mr. Oobiiegh stood Avouilering how to compromise to advantage when lie heard a step, and looking up saAV his Avife. .She had awakened and got up to see Avhere he was. J[e made kinnvn to her the situation, and suggested that she stand on a chair and move' the bag Avith another broom, and he Avnulil take position on the door, and when the mouse scud across the room he Avould fetch it a disastrous Avipe Avitli the broom and drive it against the opposite wall Avith iniflieicnt force to destroy any spark of life that might remain in its body after the blow. This seems like a very great parade over the killing of a mouse. Mrs. Cobleigh stood on a chair placed near the closet, and reached over with the broom to prod the paper bag, in Avhich she had gathered a number of crusts for future bread puddings. Mr. Cobliegh took the position he had indicated. It Avas a remarkably formidable position too, and calculated to * 1 i.;tress a mouse just to 1 ’ok at it. In' had his legs braced apart to a distance of Jelly three feet, liis body was a\ ell settled down into liis loins. The broom was cluteheu with both hands and raised enough to give it considerable force ill the descent. ‘ A 1' said Mr. Cobleigh in a suppressed voice. Airs. Cobleigh gave the hug a sharp prod, and cried ‘Shoo!’ The mouse jumped into sight, paused a Hash, and then slid out into the. kitchen. Down came tie- broom in a tremendous SAVcep, and bounding from the Moor tore around in a circle Avith such A'eloeilv as to nearly throw Mr. Cobleigh s back out of joint, and to quite throw him from his balance, and wound up by catching under the projecting end of the board on which stood ‘.he cans of berries, and throwing it and its precious freight to the liter as if both had been no more than so many straws. M r. Cobliegh being on his back did not have as full a view of this calamity as Mrs-_ Cobleigh got by being on a chair. Otherwise lie might have fainted dead away tiio ve.iy instant she did. The mouse cowardly lied. —‘ Danbury Noavs. ’