Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-31
What a Pair of Andirons Cost,

Peter" said my uncle, knocking the
ashes from his pipe, and gazing on the an.
dirons. Peter, those cost me one thousand
| dollars
Dear me |" exclaimed my amt.
''Oh, father - cried the girls.
''Impossiblep' said L.
True, every word of it. One thousand,
did | say?-yes, two thousand dollars
''Well, well, said my aunt, folding up
her knitting for the night, Il should like to
know what you are talking about ?''
My uncle bent forward and planting his
hands firmly on his parted knees, and with a
deliberate air which showed no doubt of his
being able to prove his assertions, he began
''Well, you see, good many years ago,
We had pair of old common andirons.
Your cousin Lefty says one day, Father,
don you thirk that these old andirons are
getting too Shabby? Shabby or not, tho t
they would hold up the wood as nicely as if
they were made of gold Soon after that,
Peter, your aunt took it up, and
There it goes" interrupted my aunt,
you can't get along without dragging me
into it.
Your aunt took it up, Peter, and she
said our neighbors could afford brass andi-
rons, and they were no better off than We
were. And she said Lefty and her sister
Jane were just getting old enough to see
company, and the stingy looking andirons
might hurt their market l know that wo-
men will have their own way, and there is
no use objecting; so | got the andirons
The price of them was four dollars and a
half
"Ah, that's more like itI' cried my aunt
Il thought you said two thousand dollars :"
MY dear, l wish you would not inter
rupt me. -Four and half Well, the night
after we got them, as we all SAT- by the warm
fire talking over the matter, Lefty called my
attention to the hearth. the stones of which
were cracke ed and uneven. The hearth was
entirely out of keeping with the new andi
rons, and | thought l nigh; as we'll have it
replaced first as last. The next day ma
son was sent for to examine it. He came in
my absence, and on my return home, your
aunt and cousins beset me to have marble
slab, and they put their heads together
la, me-, exclaimed my aunt, there
was no putting heads together about it. The
hearth was an old worn out thing, not fit
for pig pen.'
They put their heads to gether about it,
Peter, as | was saying, and continued until
got marble hearth, which cost me twenty
dollars-yes, twenty dollars, at least. Then
Thought was done with expenses, but |
was entirely wrong. Soon began to hear
sly hints thrown out about the brickwork
around the fireplace not corresponding with
the hearth. | stood for a month or two
against your aunt and the girls, but they at
length got the better of me, and l was forced
to have marble instead of brick And then
the old wool mantle piece was so out of char
acter that it was necessary to have a marble
one. The cost of this was nearly one hun
dred dollars. Aud now that the spirit of
had got start, there was no
stopping The new mantel put to shame
the old white washed walls, and they must
be painted, of course, and to prepare them
for paint sundry repairs were necessary.
While this was going on, your aunt and the
girls appeared to be quite satisged and when
it was done they hid no idea that the old
parlor could be made to look so spruce. But
this was only short respite. The old rag
carpet began to raise dust, and l found
that there would be no peace
''Now father exclaimed the girls,
''Till got a new carpet That, again.
shamed the old furniture, and it had to be
turned out and replaced with new. Now.
Peter, my lad count up twenty dollars for
the hearth, and one hundred and thirty for
the mantle piece and repairs What does
that make ?'
Zone hundred and fifty, uncle
swell, fifty for paper and paint
''Two hundred. u
''Then fifty for carpet, and one hundred, |
at least for furniture.
Three hundred and ifty'
''Ahem! There that clock and the blinds |
fifty more"
Four hundred, exactly" My aunt and |
cousins winked at each other
Now" continued my uncle, $50 much
for this one room. No sooner was the room
finished, than complaints came from all |
quarters about the dining room and entry.
Long before this had surrendered at their |
discretion. and handed in my submission.
The dining room and entry cost each two
hundred more. What does that count,
Peter ?''
Eight hundred. uncle. F."
Then the chambers-at least four hun
ired, to make them chime with the down
stairs" !