Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-01
The Patent Step-Ladder,

The Patent Step-Ladder,
Tom. dear. the Nails loose that
holds the picture over the parlor man.
tlepiece. and 1t will fall down il you
don't fix it, screamed pretty little Mrs.
Peewlt. as he was leaving the breakfast
table for a cigar and glance at the
morning paper before starting for busi-
ness.
Hang the pictures! l never saw
such a house?' he exclaimed, irritably
throwing down his lighted match and
unread paper.
Hang the picture. That's it exact
ly. DEAR said his wife, willingly, look
ing at some mosquito bites on her
round fair arm.
Peewlt forced mechanical smile.
and started off in search of the family
hammer and something to stand on
and for the next ten minutes could be
heard all over the house, throwing
things around and grumbling,
What's the matter now Tom. Tom"
called up his wife, from the foot of the
stairs.
Matter enough. Where's the step
ladder kept" yelled Pecwit, who was
standing on his tip toes on a chair, try"
ing to reach about fye yards over his
head.
Can't say. Pm sure, as we never
had any, said Mrs. T., coming up stairs
and looking in at the door.
Then I'll buy one this very day OF
onr Lord; but it seems to me we ought
to have a dozen of them laying around
the house, he argued, jumping down
from the chair.
And amt you going to fix it, after
all?' inquired his wife, as she saw him
moving away.
Fix nothing! Do you expect I'm
gong to fly up there to do it p he asked,
face.iously, going out, putting on his
oyercoat, and starting off to ba.in ess.
On his way down Fulton street, lie
stopped in at large house-furnishlng
store, and inqulring for frst-class
step-ladder. the salesman produced Tor
his inspection a patent spring, self ex-
extending and doubling ladder, called
Our Belle
There. sir. is one Of the greatest in
yentons Of the nineteenth century.
Took the first prize at the Queen coun-
ty fair. and won the silver medal at the
Beanville exhibition over all competi-
tors. Here you have light, tasty, end
elegant article, possessing at the same
time the durability, strength and use
fulness of a heavy, awkward, clumsy
one. when you desie 10 open it from
its present case-form, you simply pull
this handle, and 1t undoubles itself into
a firm step-ladder mounting it, should
you find it too short, press this knob
and it extends itself TO twice the length
without your dismounting.' explained
the salesman, talking at the rate of two
hundred and fifty words minute, and
touching as he spoke, the handle. The
case opened, nnfolded itself, and stood
up q full hedged step-ladder; then,
pressing a knob, it gave whIr and ex'
tended itself nearly double. Here are
the directions for using, printed in full
on the slde.'
by George, that beats alteration y
exclaimed Peewit, looking on admiring-
ly.
Greatest thing out, assure you,
said the salesman, mentally adding ten
per cent to the figure he had intended
to charge, and a few minutes later
Peewlt was the possessor of Our
Belle, and having gwen directions for
having it sent home, went on his way
rejoicing.
The ladder duly arrived at the house,
and Mrs. p, inspected, read the duec-
tons, and immediately thought Of some
hanging baskets ofnowers IN the exten'
sion which must be changed. So, carry
ing the ladder into the room, she pulled
the handle, there was a rumbling
round, and the next moment the case
had unfolded, aud a ladder stood before
her.
What a funny conlrivancep she
murmured, watching it admiringly.
i k,mting the steps with a dower-pol
in her hand, she could not reach the
hook, and remembering the directions,
she stopped and pressed the knob, and
Our Belle suddenly extending herse.l
with a rush. pretty Mrs. Peewlt flew ur
like skyrocket, snd come down head
first, creating terrible havoc among the
: flower pots, leaving very pretty pan
of blue and.white striped hose sticking
out among the rose bushes.
/ Nasty, gOod-for-nothing, jim-crael