The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-02-25
LOOKOUT FOR FIRE!
BY HENRY WARD BExcnEn.

dense smoke, but in q minute the
smoke IL gone, and the flame is
running merrily through every
crevice Of the wood This is the
fire in it's amiable mood.
Sometimes it sulks. 1t will not
be coaxed. The whole house is
cold. The shivering children are
crying. The wood is green There
are no kindlings. The poor wild
owed mother lays the green oak
wood upon the few gathered en-
bers, and STOPPING to the Goals,
blows with her own scant breath,
to bring the fire to a fame. The
sickly blaze hovers a minute, seems
not to like the prospect, and van
ishes. All, the cold winter morn
ings in the houses of the poor
Like all other things. fire seems to
be docile to those who have enough,
and fractions to all who suffer lack
But what a generous anil frank
way a good fire of wood-the royal
hickory-has! The space above
is all flame; the space below, solid
Goals Of fire; while the middle
space is filled with network of
brilliant effects, on which one
might gaze for hours with delight.
We do no. underya!ue the artificial
fireworks, md enjoy as much as
any other boy of our years
the grand displays of emulous
pyrotechnists. But, after all, there
is more ho,nely pleasure in gazing
Into transmu;a'ions, ahe figures in
tue Goals. the showers of sparks,
the coquetting flames, that wink
and blink along the edges of the
fire, than in all the transient glory
Of wheels and rockets. A fire is
90 domestic! 1t is so obliging, so
benevolent, SO obedient, so open.
hearted!
Don't trust to appearances. The
maid has just carried forth buck
ct Of ashes. Only yesterday you
said to the husband, "Be sure and
bring home an iron pail for ashes.
Bridget has nothing but the wood
en- pail 1t was forgotten. The
ashes were cold. There was no
fre-at least only a mere spark.
That lay near the wooden bottom
1t got hold of the wood. 1t was
not III haste. A whole hour il was
in persuading the wood to a part
nership. Little by little it ate
through to the air TLen it toos
courage, got out upon the floor.
ran into the Dashboard, and c-ep,
up the partition. All night il
mined and wrought; and too late
when the outcry was raised, it haC
gained q victory. Down went the
walls. Away went the small house
hold treasures. - ~
II thou art poor, here is five
years blow. 1t may be setback
for life. If thou art rich, none,
will rebuild. Yet there are som,
things that money cannot do. /
cannot make cradle in which
your children laid 1t cannot bring
back the little couch on which
your boy lay divinely beautiful
beautiful before The dust returnet
/ TO dust 1t cannot give you hacl
the little souvenirs of friendship
nor the pictures that you hav
looked at in joy and in sorrow. til
they seemed to become partners @
, your inward life. A home is nc
built by money, but by the hear
Money can build a house, br
where is your homer What wi
bring back from the ashes the 8:
cred associations of sorrow, hop
worship, courage and love :?
We once heard plain man e,
press his feelings when be stoo
over against his house and saw
burning. "Just as soon as I kne
that every thing was out OF it,
: didn't care farthing just sla
D ped my hands, and eaid: See b
burn! She burns as we'll as al
rich mans house, But when
saw the blaze shoot through Il
1 bedroom. and thought of he
a the children's cradle. was ther
and Of how many times I'd kne'
81 ed down there in prayer / couldI
help it, the tears would come
There was generous touch of n
a ture. 5sy. .5r.a s
~ Better be insured! Better y.
II don't let your house burn 7! TIE
o are some things in every house til
q no insurance can cover.
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