Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-06
NE Rurued Col.

A prominent lawyer of Battle Creek.
Mich, who has been much pestered by
troop after troop of boys coming into his
office slamming doors and committing
other anpnyances every time load Of
! wood is left in the street In front OF the
stairway, with the same inquiry, SIS this
your wood {" determined TO break them
of 1t. He burns coal, and the nuisance
has become so great that when load was
left at the stairs for the tenant in the attic,
who was not at home, and after seventeen
boys had inquired for the job of carrying
1t up, he began to grow furious, but, keep
ing hls temper, determined to use strata
| gem. A light knock at the door. 'Come
In. said the lawyer. A boy opened the
door. ''Cold day; sit down by the fire and
warm yourself comfortably"
The boy, rather dazed by the suavity
and kinoness of his reception, mechanical.
ly did rs LIE was bid. Finally, recovering
his assurance. he timldly inquired if '1hat
was his wOodl"
My dear young friend, said the limb
OF the law, In his most beguiling accents,
lit pains me to disappoint the desires of a
young lad whose honesty impels him even
TO seek the lowliest labor, instead of re-
naming in idleness. But painful duties
must be discharged. You will observe,
by allowing your optics to rest upon the
stove, and logically arrive at the fact
which am compelled 10 disclose to you
We burn anthracite coaL"
The boy was dazed at the magnanImIty
and grand eioquence of the information,
and slid Out OF the room with his thumb
In his mouth, vaguely comprehending that
the wood did not belong there.
Another knock. Programme repeated
with slight change of incIdent and cha acter
Again b tapping at the door.
"Your woodf"
Don't know. Is it veneering, finished
in oil, and carved, with close ftting JOINTS,
warranted not TO separate or crack Z"
The lad was shrewd enough to see that
he was made game of, and disappeared up
the second iiIgnt of stairs.
Rap tap.
"lour wood down stairs"
Cant say; bring up some. and We will
anal, ze II; disclose its component parts.
See If 1t is labelled, and has an aged ap-
pearance. IL may be some lost several
Years ago, when a fifteenth amendment
cluzen resided next To my house. / un-
derstand he has ''got relIgioii.'
That boy did not bring up a sample.
Again:
want the wood brought up?"
What DO you ask p
twenty-five cents"
'1'n give you that to staEd down at
the foot oil the stairs the remainder of the
day, and tell every boy you see that it Is
not my wood"
The boy did not accept the offer.
Tne door burst suddenly open, and in
rushed u gang of Street Arabs.
Il II bring up your wood Tor twenty-five
ceGis.' '.Pl do 1t for twenty" Fifteen"
ten" five, and then throw you in
chrumo.n
The dignIfed exponent of justice, with
suppressed homlcidai intention. pointed
calmly to the coal stove. They slid.
''Can l bring up this wood - inquired
an Ethiopian face thrust in at the door.
"You may"
He went to work industrIously, and
soon had 1t all carried up. Then ne went
10 the lawyer for pay.
ibid say the wOO0 was mine }"
"N-o,h and the light suddenly dawned
through his woody head.
Tue lawy er had his revenge.
a person VINO enters that hall may be
surprised 10 see the sign on the door under
the nrm name:
This office burns coal.