The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-14
Warming un the House.

"This," observed Mr.. Niles, as the
postnan tumbled down the cellar stairs
with registered letter, ''this is what
call hard lines" and the worthy gentle.
man fired brick into the furnace, and
ratified around outside with huge poker.
What's hard lines What are you
doing p asked the postman, handing
over his book and card for signature.
"Trying to keep those people upstair:
warm, " replied Mr.. Niles. ''Hallo - he
/ continued, as bell over his head began
to peal, ''there's the fellow on the TOP
floor again, and he opened and slammed
the door and banged away with the
poker.
% But why don't you build fire?' de-
manded the postman, looking IN at the
empty furnace.
Mr. Niles desisted for a moment and
looked over the tops of his glasses IL
mild indignation.
Do you know the price of fuel ?" he
inquired, as soon as he recovered his
speech. Have you any notion what
coal costs ?" and he bumped the furnace
vigorously. Build a fire Well, ]
guess not If they hear me rafting
around down here, they think there's q
big head of steam on, and when | COM
I their windows. See that load of bricks:
That's my fuel for this winter, and Mr..
Niles poured in a couple of handfuls and
began to rake down savagely.
Well, here, sign these anyway, shg-
gested the postman.
Wait a minute" retorted Mr. Niles,
as another bell rang. That's n shock
headed newspaper man on the second
floor. He don't get enough to eat to
keep warm, and Mr. Niles fetched the
furnace some prodigious thumps and
slammed in more bricks. 4 plugged up
the pipe to this register with carpet SC
the cold air couldn't get up, and yet he's
bowling around with q chill. B thai
top floor fellow" he CALCULATED, rs the
first bell tolled once more. ''1ou JHsi
rattle the poker, will you, while L burn
some straw in his pipe. When he smells
the smoke he'll begin to peel.
What's that other bell? 2" asked the
postmal, as another bell rang violently.
Somebody's got company in the par
lor, replied Mr.. Niles ''Hit it couple
of lieks around on the far side. That's
it Say, you wouldn't mind raking it a
bit, would you, while l give that barrel
a few turns. It's fall of stones and il
sounds like putting in another load of
coal. Shake her up hard -
'HelIor' exclaimed the postman.
9 What's that quarreling upstairs?"
" Never mind him, " replied Mr.. Niles,
that's friend of mine. He come here
three times a day with a shovel and bas-
ket and hollers for his money for putting
in two hundred tons since the first OF
November. I've done him some favors
and he helps me out Don't shake any
more, you'll break the bricks. Now
kick the door a couple of times, while 1
beat with the poker. It's lucky for me
that this is going to be a mild winter.
I've got to go, said the postman.
al wish you'd sign for the letter"
Just roll the barrel of fire bricks
while go up for a pen, that's good
fellow" pleaded Mr.. Niles, land if a
bell rings, hammer around inside the
furnace. Don't be afraid, there's no
CRATE there, and once IN awhile Just
drag that shovel across the floor a couple
of times and then kick the door 1t
sounds beautiful upstairs"
When the postman left him Mr.. Niles
thanked him for his trouble, and the last
the pOstman saw of him he was scraping
the cold-air box with hoe TO give the
impression of a tremendous draft
brooklyn Eagle.