The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-04-13
Warming On the House.

"This," observed Mr.. Niles, as the
postman tumbled down the cellar stairs
with a registered letter, sthis is what ]
call hard lines" and the worthy gentle
man fired a brick into the furnace, and
ratified around outside with a huge poker.
whats hard lines? What are you
doing ?" asked the postman, handing
over his book and card for signature.
"Tryfng to keep those people upstairs
warm" replied Mr.. Niles. "Hallo !" he
continued, as a bell over his head began
to peal, 'tthere'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 q fre?" de:
manded the postman, looking in at the
empty furnace.
Mr.. Niles desisted for a moment and
looked over the tops of his glasses In
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, 1
guess not If they hear me rafting
around down here, they think there's a
big head of steam on, and when I COM
mence to heave bricks they all open
I their windows. See that load of bricks!
That's my fuel for this winter" and Mr.:
| Niles poured in a couple Of handouts and
began to rake down savagely.
"Well, here, sign these anyway, sug-
gested the postman.
"Wait a minute" retorted MIR. Niles,
as another bell rang. "That's a shock
headed newspaper man ,on the second
floor. He don't get enough to eat to
keep warm" and MI. Niles fetched the
furnace some ~prodigious thumps and
slammed in more bricks. 81 plugged up
the pipe to this register with carpet so
the cold air couldn't get up, and yet he's
bowling around with a chill. B. that
top floor fellowl' he CALCULATED, as the
first bell tolled once more. "You just
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?" asked the
postman, as another bell rang violently.
Somebody's got company in the par
lor," replied Mr. Niles. "Hit it a couple
of ticks around on the far side. That's
it! Say, you wouldn't mind raking it
bit, would you, while I give hat barrel
q few turns. It's fall of stones and il
sounds like putting in another load Of
coal. Shake her up hardI"
"Hellol" exclaimed the postman,
"What's that quarreling upstairs?"
"Never mind him." replied Mr.. Niles
"that's a friend of mine. He come herr
three times a day with o shovel and bas
ket and hollers for his money for putting
in two hundred tons since the first O
November. I've done him some fayorl
and he helps me out. Don't shake any
more, you'll break the bricks. Nov
kick the door a couple of times, while
beat with the poker. It's lucky for m
that this is going to be a mild winter"
Give got to go" said the postman
"I wish you'd sign for the letter."
"Just roll the barrel of fire brick
while I go up for a pen, that's a goot
fellow" pleaded MI. Niles, "and if
bell rings, hammer around inside tn
furnace. Don't be afraid, there's n
CRATE there, and once in awhile jus
drag that shovel acros the floor a coupl
of times and then kick the door. ]
sounds beautiful upstairs"
When the postman left him Mr.. Nile
thanked him for his trouble, and the las
the postman saw of him he was scrapinI
the cold-air box with. a hoe to give tn
impression of a tremendous draft
Brooklyn Eagle.