The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29
The Handy Man.

TUESDAY morning Mr.. Throcmorton
was about starting to the office N1en his
wife timidly asked him if he wouldn't
have the timer come up and mend a
small hole in the bottom of tn, wash
boiler. Mr.. Throckmorton paused.
"pll mend it myself" he said throw
ing off his coat.
Mrs. Throckmorton sighed. She would
have much rather had the timer do it.
But Mr.. Throckmorton, like all handy
men, never missed an opportunity of
being handy. He got out the boiler and
found the hole, tiny orifice no larger
than pin head He founl a shady
place on the side porch at which to work.
Then he went out to the wood shed and
opened his tool-chest, and presently re-
turned with three-COrnered file, the
Ratchet, a tack hammer and lump Of
resin. Then he went back and got a
block of wood to set the boiler on. Then
he went into the house and brought out
a chair to sit on himself. Then he sat
down and took the boiler on his knees
and looked at the hole long and earnest,
ly, whistiing softly the while.
He rose and went out to the shed and
got piece of lead pipe and a pewter
spoon and chisel. Returning, he
scraped the bottom of the boiler very
clean around the hole. Then he wert
into the kitchen and got big iron spool
which he filled with bits of pewter AM
lead pipe, and proceeded to melt tie
same at the kitchen fire. 1t was veE
warm, and as Mr. Throckmorton pokel
the lead with piece of stick, to encour.
age it to melt, he almost wished he had
sent for the timer. When it was melted
he went out to the little improvised
workshop on the side porch. He set the
spoon down on the floor and propped it
up with bits of stick while he picked up
the boiler and set it on his knees. Then
he thought of the resin. He had not
used it yet, and he knew that the thinkers
always used it for some purpose or other
He pondered over it for a moment, and
then, rubbing it on his fingers so as to
get firm hold of the spoon, he picked
that article up, and made as though he
would pour the molten lead out on the
hole
1t was hard and nearly cold, thank
you.
When Mr.. Throckmorton laid the boil.
er down to 60 into the kitchen again, ii
brought Mrs. I. and the children to the
door to see if he had fallen down. He
propped the spoon up in position on the
hot Goals, and then, seized with another
inspiration, went out to his tool chest
and brought back with him a brace and
a bit, the bench plane, the dental forceps
and railroad spike, and bestowed them
around the porch in picturesque confu.
sion. Then he went in and picked up
the spoon. 1t was very warm as to the
handle and he dropped it with a shout
that made the windows rattle.
While he was melting the next spoon
full not a sou; dared stay in the kitchen.
The domestic looked in through the win.
dow and saw great lump of resin melt.
ing on her clean hearth, filling the room
with odor and smoke; she saw Mr.
Throckmorton running the iron spoon
she saw him take clean dish towels to
hold the spoon with; she saw him take
the kitchen fork to stir the reluctantly.
melting mass; she saw him throw every
thing he used down on the floor, and she
hardened her heart against him and
wanted to kill him.
Mr.. Throckmorton went out, seated
himself, got the boiler in the right position,
poured on the lead successfully, smiled
at his work for moment, and triumph
antly carried the boiler into the kitchen
and set it on the table. In answer to his
shouts, the family and servants came in.
" There" he said pointing to his work.
They looked. They did not smile; they
did not praise him. They only looked
and wondered
There" said Mr.. Throckmorton, as
he began gathering up his tools, there's
ten cents saved and the job as well done
as any timer in Burlington can do it,"
But his audience giggled in a very an.
noying manner, and Mrs. Throckmorton
said timidly:
But l can't see where you have
mended it,"
The handy man dropped his utensils
with crash, strobe into the kitchen, and
pointing to the boiler was about TO ex.
claim with great haughtiness: Therep'
when his jaw dropped and an expression
of amazement crept over his face.
There wasn't a sign of lead or pewter
about the boiler. 1t had dropped off