Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-01
The PIumher,s rf,nc


Now comes The plumber. He has been
oldlnR his tine through all the long months
OF summer and autumn, patient IN tue
thought that after Thanksgiving daN s'the
INST wind that should sweep from tue NORTH
would bring TO him the clash. not OF resound
lrg arms. but OF frozen and bursted water
pipts- He has rested confidently in the
knowledge that the day OF hts dominion was
cming surely, IL slo WY; and 10 day he Is a
monarch enthroned upon the kitchen table
whtre ne sits aud ree is fragment OF some
old newspaper. or chats with the tomes;ic
deity of that particular apartment, while his
assistant goes out 20 fetch the tools; for a
plumber never does bring his tools when ne
Is summoned 10 treat an invalid or chill
blamed water pipe. He brings an assistant
always, but no other implement accompa-
mics him. He asks what the matter is, and
learns that YOU do not know. Then ne inves-
tigates for time, and learns that he in his
turn does not know also. Then he sends MS
assistant TO the distant shop for the Satchel
of tools, and takes his seat upon the Kitchen
table 10 await the young man's return. Tue
Two hours passed on the table are not wasted
however. The householder who thinks them
aeain-in the bill.
When the assistant returns the plumber
renews his search. He has no idea what the
matter Ii. OF course. He 10 ks n the exposed
parts OF the pipe with profound interest,
wondering what they mean, whence they
come, and whittier they go. The anatomy,
40 10 speak, OF the circulatory system OF the
house Is a. great puzzle 10 him as IL is TO
yourself He does not understand IL. and
impatient housekeepers are apt 20 declare
that he does not know his business" for
getting In their impotence that il is the
especial business OF the plumber rot 10
Know. lie takes great pains TO avoid know
lhg anything about the general principles OF
plumbing arrangements. He must do so,
indeed. ~ he would prosper. Time is pre-
cious 10 him, not for boarding, but invest
ment. and he wishes to invest as much OF a.
a. possible in the business OF finding ont
about your particular water-pipes. He in
vests l. rslly and cheerfully. He IL never
IN the least haste. The Arctic wave" has
uShered in his harvest season. and he is not
tlnkeriDg at your water-pipes half SO dill
pay. lie is sure 10 lind the frozen spot after
awhile, III The weather does not moderate too
soon; and II IL does, you can never know
whether his tinkering or the warmer tenn
me circulation in your houses leaien veins
You Know only that the water runs, that the
plumber has gone 10 make out the bill, aud
mat any skiliul carpenter, with the assist
ahce OF painter or two, can repair the dam
age done 10 the woodwork in The plumbers
attempts 10 study the arrangement OF your
supply and waste.
The plumber goes away when the water
cofnes, but he takes no leave or you. He
means TO come again presently, aud you ex-
pect him confidently whenever the mercury
begins TO grow modest in your Thermometer.
The man who put your waterPipes in knew
his business, and neglected not to provide
for his own. His skill in SO pla cling the tubes
that the water within must freeze every time
The wind changes 10 &. e north was acquired
during his apprenticeship; and while no hu-
man performance is perfectly adapted 10 its
end. II Is due to the plumber To say that his
work rarely ever fails TO serve the great pur-
pose of its being. IL gives Job" 20 the
ueme regularity and precision,-N u. Erea-
ing Post.