Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-23
JOHNNY BURNS HIMSELF WITH.
OUT FIRE.
BY ADAM STWIN.


other day, and set to work to make it
shine by rubbing it on a piece of woolen
cloth.
"Isn't it bright ?" he said, after work
ing awhile. Just like gold"
He rubbed away again for moment as
hard at he could, then-to brush off some
chalkdust that chung to the button, for l
had told him to chalk the cloth to make
it brighten the button quicker-he put the
brass to the back of his hand.
owl" he cried, dropping tie button.
whats the matter"
cts hot"
"Hot!" echoed Mary, laying down her
book. GLOW can it be hot?"
q don't know" said Johnny, "but it
burnt me-"
"Nonsenser' replied Mary, picking
up the button: cts as cold as anys
thing"
cit is cold now, maybe" Johnny ad-
mitted. "But it was het-wa7ma, any
way"
"What silly boy! You just imagined
it."
al didn't" retorted Johnny.
Seeing that they were likely to do as a
great many older people have done, dis
pute about matter that neither under
stood, l took the button and rubbed it
smartly on my coat sleeve, and put it to
Mary's cheek.
"Therep' exclaimed Johnny, as Mary
cried "Oh!' and put her hand to her face.
81 shouldn't have thought your arm
could make it so warm, " she said.
rubbed the button on the table-cloth
and placed it once more against her
cheek, saying, cit couldn't have been
my arm that warmed it this time"
"Of course not" observed Johnny,
patronizingly.
What did warm it?" Mary asked, her
interest fully awakened.
"That's a good puzzle for you two to
work at" | said. Don't rub the button
on the vanished furniture or on the
marble table, for it might scratch them !;
but you can try anything else"
They worked at the puzzle long time
and still were puzzled.
Maybe the heat comes from our fin
gers" Mary suggested at last
| thrust a stick through the eye of the
button so that it could be held without
touching the hand, rubbed it a moment
on the carpet, and it was as hot as ever
81 guess it's just the rubbing" said
Johnny.
GA very good guess indeed, for that is
precisely where the heat comes from"
| replied. "H0ao it comes is not so easy
to explain to those of your age. The
simple fact that heat comes from rubbing
is enough, perhaps, for you to know
about it now. We say that rubbing
makes friction, and friction develops
heat. When you are older I'll try to
make it all clear to you"
81 thought heat always came from
fire." said Mary, " or else from the sun"
"Sun-heat is fire-heat too, it is be-
lieved," l REPLIED but there are still
other sources Of heat-our bodies, for in
stance. We keep warm when out of the
sunshine and away from the fire."
Il didn't think of that" said Mary.
"DO you remember the day the masOns
were pouring water on pile of quick
lime to make mortar for the new house
over the way? The lime Missed and
cracked, sending up great clouds of
steam. have piece Of quicklime here,
and see! when | pour water on it how it
drinks up the water and grows hot
saw a wagon loaded with lime set on fire
once by shower ofrain."
Fired told me about that, and | didn't
believe him. Who'd expect fire from
water ?''
"Get me small piece of ice, and I'll
show you how even that may kindle a
fire"
While Mary was getting the ice, took
from my cabinet a small vial with metal
bead at the bottom.
els it lead ~ asked Johnny, when l
showed it to him.
ct Is potassium I said, "and Pm
going to set little piece of it afire with
/ Il har hr.r,7
Isn't it Splendid" cried Mary, as the
metal flashed into fame
You can do anything, can't you?" said
Johnny, admiringly. His confidence In
my ability is something frightful. Really,
| if were to tell him could set the moon
afre, I think he'd believe me!
mo, Johnny" I replied. "There are
very feWthings that can do, as you will
discover in time. But now, while we are
talking Of heat, let me show you another
way OF warming things Please fetch me
a fat-irOn, Mary, while Johnny brings my
little hammer. Thank you! Now watch
me while pound this piece OF lead, and
put your finger on it when stop. Now"
Does the pounding heat it,"
1t does. L have seen a blacksmith
take piece of cold iron and hammer it
on cold anvil with cold hammer until
1t was hot enough to set wood abre."
Where did the heat come trOm?"
From the blacksmith's arm, but IN
such roundabout way that should
| only puzzle you if tried to describe 1t.
You have seen that heat does come from
fire, from the sun, from our bodies, from
rubbing, from pounding, and from mix
ing things such as quicklime and water;
hon it comes in either case you Will learn
by-and-by, when you are older
But we have got long way from
Johnny's button. Can you think of any
other time you have seen things heated
by rubbing?"
We rub our hands when they are
cold" Mary said, seeing Fred go through