Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-10-15

Once there, however, he did not ex-
anime the hole first, but hunted up the
solder. Then he looked for the iron
Grandpa had used; but that was no
where to be found. He thought a heated
poker would do as well, though, and by
this time he had quite decided to do the
mending himself. Grandma had asked
him to go for the milk; but, of course,
she would rather have the pipe fixed, and
wouldn't she be surpriseds He could not
heat the poker in the kitchen without
some one noticing or asking questions;
but there was in one part of the cellar
an old stove that Bridget sometimes used
on washdays, and he could make fire
in that.
"It's awful hard work, though" he
said to himself, when he had shaken out
the ashes and got his fuel together. Tad
die was not used to making fires, and he
grew very dusty, sooty and tired before
he could make this one burn. Just as it
began to blaze nicely he heard Kitty's
voice in the yard:
"Taddie! Taddie"
He did not want her calling him in that
way and she would be sure to search I'M
! til she found him, and, besides, it would
be pleasant to have her help, so he
! climbed up to one of the small high win
dows and answered softly:
Kitty"
Why what are you down there for?"
asked Kitty.
Hush! Don't say anything to any
body, but slip down here when they're
not looking" said Taddie. II want to
tell you something"
The prospect of secret brought Kitty
very speedily. "WeIlg" she said eagerly,
when she stood by Taddie's side.
lyon see," explained Taddie, Grand
ma wants this pipe mended, and I'm
going to do it all by myself, if you'll
help me. Well s'prise her"
Eyes, WILL" said Kitty, nodding her
head approvingly. She liked surprises
and had great faith in Tadoie's ability to
do most things. "Oh you've got a
fire~
Dent talk so loud" whispered Tad
die. Il built the fire so ] can get this
poker real hot to mend with" showing
long iron poker he had picked up. I'm
going to heat it now. You watch and
then you'll know, too, Kitty"
But heating the iron took some time
because Taddie was so impatient that he
pulled it cut every two or three minutes
to see if it was beginning to turn red.
0Iduuuid bcuS WuGH ucI Hdt-iIOuS
are hot this way" said Kitty at last,
holding it up near her cheek.
"Oh! Yoar hair, Kitty. You're burn
ing your HART" cried Taddie.
My! how it frizzles up said Kitty,
dropping the poker and looking at her
curls in dismay. "Now one side will be
shorter than the other and Pll look all
crooked. i guess your old poker is hot
enough for ANYTHING"
. "Well, I'll go and mend now; only
don't know where the pipe is broken"
answered Taddie.
Kitty knew. She had been downstairs
in the morning when Bridget tried to
pump, and had seen where the water ran
out
"And it's where the pipe goes through
the coal cellar, way up high, where you
can't reach it, Taddie."
Improved to be SO, indeed And while
they talked and looked the iron cooled,
and had to be placed in the fire once
more.
"We can pile up tubs or something for
me to stand on" said Teddie. And the
two went busily about it.
Hard work it was, too, lifting and drag
ging tubs and boxes into the place they
wanted them, andtrying to do it SO very
quietly that no sound of the moving
should be heard upstairs. They an
ranged an empty box, with tub turned
bottom upward upon it, and a. small cask
on top of that That would be quite
high enough, Taddie thought; but Jumps
OF coal did not make very even floor
for the box to stand upon and it shook
and tilted so that he had to climb up very
carefully.
e. Now bring me the poker, Kitty" he
whispered, eagerly.
"Ohl it's beautiful and red now" said
Kitty, in delight, bringing the iron with
her handkerchief wrapped about the
handle, to keep it from burning her
fingers.
Taddy took it and melted some of the
| solder easily enough; but he could not
make it stick TO the pipe. He could not
| think how Grandpa managed it.
=" | s'peet maybe you'd better heat the
| pipe real hot" said Kitty.
SO Tadaie tried that, and held the hot
| poker over the spot, until he suddenly
discovered that he was melting the lead
| pipe and had made the hole three times
as large as it was at first.
"Oht dear!' he cried, starting back.
And with that movement the box tipped,
and away went tub, cask, Taddie and
poker, rafting and crashing down upon
the coal, while Kitty screamed loudly
enoEgh to raise the household.
Grandma and Bridget came running
downstairs in great haste, and Grandma
certainly was as much surprised as any
body could wish
Why, Taddia Nelsont How came you
hereY thought you had gone for milk
Long ago"
| - was mending the pipe" said Tad
die, family.
Mending the pipe! I'll be thankful
II all your bones don't need mending
nowp exclaimed Grandma
They did not Every bone was whole
but he had bruised his back, cut his fore
head on the coal and burned his hand
with grasping the hot poker as he fell,
and was altogether so sober and forlorn
as he lay on the lounge that evening that
kitty's tender httle heart was very
anxious to col lfort him.
CCaldn't You muse yourself with your
private counts, Taddie." she asked, in
| uOcantly