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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 16, 19 October 1907, Page 31

The Fussleys had started for the country. That is, they .had reached the depot, and their train was about due, when Mrs Fussley suddenly caught her husband by the arm a£.d excitedly exclaimed : “Charles, I am sure we forgot to close the window in the library, and ” “Now, don’t have a nervous fit, Julia!” cut in Fussley. “Every summer we go away you hang around this old depot for hours, while I’m sent home on fool errands; but this time I’m prepared for you. For the past three weeks I’ve been jotting down the little things that you’re always so nervous about, and I have carefully attended to them all. Here, I’ll read you the list, and you’ll see that I’ve checked off everything: “ ‘Put out the cat—O.K. “ ‘Dock all doors and windows —O.K. ** ‘Take in the clothes-line—O.K. “ ‘Give front-door key to Brown—O.K. “ ‘Leave canary-bird at Smith’s—O.K. “ ‘Notify postman where to leave mail —O.K. “ ‘Put covers on parlour-chairs—O.K. “ ‘Put cellar-boards over gratings— O.K. “ ‘Take in chairs from verandah—O.K. “ ‘Pull down window shades—“‘Take in’ ” “Hold on, Charles!” interrupted Mrs Fussley. “You haven’t an ‘O.K.’ after that last item.” “N-no, I haven’t; but I must have attended to it. We wouldn’t go away without noticing the shades.” “But we left in such a hurry. Dear me! the sun will ruin that new parlour carpet in a week or two. Oh, I’ll never take a moment’s comfort while I’m away —not a moment’s comfort! You’ll have to go back, Charles;” Fussley did not reply for a time. He took out his handkerchief and mopped his perspiring face, and then savagely tore up into little bits the list of things he was to remem her. Finally 'he heaved a deep sigh, and slowly arose and said: “Oh, I suppose I’ll have tv do it, or you'll worry us both' to death. We’ll have to take the 2.20 train if I can get back in time. Mrs' Fussley, do you know what we are going to do next year to end this sort of thing?” “What, Charles’?”

“We are going to close up the house and board somewhere in the neighbourhood for a week or two, and that will give you a chance to : go home every day and see that nothing has been forgotten.