The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-23

|
means that you must keep some metals
| about YOU"
eyes; that must be it. 1t stands to rea.
| son that it is. They are in the nature Of
lightning rods, you know. Put on your
| tircman's helmet, Mortimer; that is mostly
metal"
got it and put it on-a very heavy and
clumsy aud uncomi ortable thing on hot
night IN close room. Even my night
dress seemed to he more clothing than !
| strictly needed.
"2Iortimer,I think your middle ought to
be protected. Won't you buckle ON your
militia sabre, please2''
complied.
"Now, Mortimer, you ought to have
some way to protect your feet. Do, please,
put on your spurs"
did tin silencc-and kept my tem-
per as we'll as l could.
"Mortimer, it says, 'Das Gewittcr lauten
ist sehr gefahalich, we'll die Glocke selbst,
sowie der dorch das Lauten veranassto
Luftzug und die Hohe des Thurmes den
Bitz anziehen konnten." Mortimer, does
that mean that 1t is dangerous not to ring
the church bells during q Thunderstorm
Yes; 1t seems to mo that--lf that is the
past participle Of the nominative case
singular, and reckon it is. Yes; think
it means that On account of the height of
the church tower and the absence of Luft-
zug, it would he very dangerous (schr
getahrlich not TO ring the bells in time of
a storm; and, moreover, don't you see,
the very wording"
"Never mind that, Mortimer; don't
waste the precious time in talk. Get the
large dinner bell; it is right there in the
hall. Quick, Mortimer, dear; we are almost
safe. Oh, dear. do believe we are going
to be saved at lastl"
Our little summer establishment stands
on top Of a.high range Of hills over looking
a valley. Several farm houses are in our
neighborhood, the nearest some three or
four hundred yards away.
When l, mounted on a chair, had been
changing that dreadful bell a matter of
seven or eight minutes, our shutters were
suddenly torn open from without and
brilliant bulbs eye lantern was thrust in
at the window, followed by hoarse in
quiry;
"What in the nation is tho matter here2"
The windows were full Of mems heads,
wildly at my night dress and my warlikc
accoutremonts.
dropped the bell, skipped down from
the chair in confusion, and said
'fhcre is nothing the matter friends
only little discomfort On account of the
thunderstorm. | was trying 10 keep of
the lightning"
"Thunder storm Lightning Why.
Mr.. McWilllams, have you lost your mindf
1t Is beautiful starlight night; there has
been no Storm"
looked out, and was 80 astonIshed 1
could not speak for awhile. Then / said
81 do not not understand this, We dis
tInctly saw the glow and the flashes
through the curtains and shutters, and
he ard the thunder"
Ono after another those people lay down
on the ground to laugh, and two Of them
died. One of tho survivors remarked:
Pity you dindn't think to open your
blinds and look over to the top of the high
hill yonder. What you heard was cannon;
what you saw was the fash. You sec, the
telegraph brought some news, just at mid
night: Jones' nomination ard that's what's
the matter |"
Yes, MIR. Twain, as l was saying in the
beginning (said Mr. McWilliams), the
rules for preserving people against light
ming are 50 excellent and so innumerable
that the most incomprehensible thing in
the world to me is how anybody manages
to get struck
So saying he gathered up his satchcl and
umbrella, and departed; for the train had
reached his town.