Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1893 — Poet Carpet-Cleaner. [ARTICLE]

Poet Carpet-Cleaner.

The poet Tennyson had his little mishap-, just as less gifted mortals do. One afternoon he called on some friends, learned that they were not at home, and decided to leave a note. The housemaid took him to tfie drawing room, and gave him pen, ink and paper. When signing bis name to his polite little missive, Tennyson, by a jerk of the elbow, overturned the ink-bottle; and great was his dismay at seeing a large pool of ink spreading rapidly over his friend’s new white Persian carpet of matchless beauty. Horror-struck he rang the bell. Up ran the servant. “Do please help me!” cried the poet. It happened that the milkman had just left a can of frothing milk at the door, and the intelligent housemaid remembered in the nick of time that new milk, if thrown over wet ink, would remove all traces of the despoiling fluid. Accordingly she overturned the jug upon the large black pool, and with house-flannel and cloths set about rubbing and scrubbing at the stain. Down went Tennyson on his hands and knees, rubbing and scrubbing with his little helpmeet. His agony of mind lest his old friend should knock at the door and suddenly appear on the scene of disaster he often described in later days, declaring that it “reached the infinite.” But with such a good-will did this strange couple work together that every trac« of ink was removed. “Hefe is a 5-shilling piece, my goo 4 girl,” cried the poet, “and God bless you!” With that he seized his hat and made for the door. Some weeks later an invitation to dine with his friends reached Tennyson. He went: and the carpet was in no way alluded to on either side.