Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-17
THE FlRE.ALARM.
How the Kitchen-clock Happened to Get
Cleaned.

How the Kitohen-Clock Happened to Get
Cleaned.
Up in grandma's attic, one bright,
sunny day, Lulu and Hotty were play
ing with thcir dolls.
II was such Charming place to play,
with no end Of old spinnlug-whccls.
that tho girls called Their harps, and
big loom that they called their pipe
organ, and chests full of funny old
dresses, that grandma allowed them to
dress up in to their hearts content and
bandboxes with the queerest old bon-
nets.
Each kept house in one ond OF the
attic, and then visited each other back
and forth. and they always felt sure
that before tea-lime Mite. grandma =
help, would come toiling up tho steep
stairs with tray Iu!l OF goodies for u
ten a-party.
Lulu was sitting in an old, old rock
lng-chair, sing ng TO s.eep hcr youngest
doll, Bonnibel, for Bonnibel had scarlet
lever, with touch OF whooping-cough,
and was very "worrisome.
As Lulu rocked far back in the old
chair, softly singing DAISY Dale" she
CHANGED 10 glance up among the brown
rafters. and ner eye caught Sight OF II
thin place in u shingle, whore tae sun
slone Trough, making spot as red as
blood
"Helty Warren" she said slowly and
with emphasis, "this house Is a-iirc"
"WhercP where?' cried Hetty, rush
ing along from her end OF the attic,
leaving u trail of dolls dresses and
clothing generally in her wake.
up there" gaspcd Lulu, pointing
with enc trembling finger at the reI
spot
Hetty looked up aud saw; then turn
Ing. she Ted down stairs us swift as n
bird. while Lulu came, painting and
breathless, after her
Into the sitting-room burst Hetty.
surprising grandma, as she sat there
sewing with the little gir.s' two moth
ers. by the startling announcement;
THE house Is ahrel tho house is
aiire! ~
"WhereP Where is itP" they all
cried at once, jumping up.
"Up In the rooil" said Hetty, and
Lulu, painting in just then. added her
testimony; Tho house is all ahre up in
roof all red coals!' and Mittie came
rushing in from the kitchen To hear
what the tumult was about
Run out into the street and holler
'Firep Miltie," said grandma.
Tell somebody to ring the firc-bell,
Hctty," said her mother, seizing pail
Of water and hurrying upstairs
Lulu's mother was one Of the kind
who faint easily, so she dropped into a
chair and groaned, and famed horaelf
with n newspaper. looking all the while
as white us ghost, and Lulu clung
tight to hor apron.
Grandma took China cup down of
the bracket, and, rushing out into tho
backyard, set it down under big ap.
plc-tree, then hurrying in, went 10 tax
Ing down the kitchen clock.
Mittlc ran into the middle Of the
treetand stood there trying to scream
'firep but though sie opened her
mouth wide, the "firer' oniy came in
a loud, hoarse whisper. /
Hctty went tearing along tho side.
walk, looking for some one to ring the
iire-bell. The first man she mot was
old Judge Brown.
20 MIR, Brownr gasped Hotty,
won't you go and ring the iire-bellPl !
''What's a-fireP" asked the Judge.
"Grandma's house is a-ire, and
grandma's away, and / don't know
what we shall dol'
Judge Brown stared hard ut the house
with no traces OF smoke about ii, and
looked puzzled. 4
"Where is 1t a-frcp" f (
"Up in the roof-it's all live GOALS =
red as blood"
'I'll run along where can soc the
other side of the roof" said Judge
Brown, and along he ran as fast Us h 8
age and flesh would allow, with Hetty
still ahead. He ran clear around the
house, Watching the roof, but no sign
or smell Of fire could be discovered.
"Must be inside" he said and went
in at the front door, and there was Het-
ty's mother coming downstairs laugh
ing, with the pail Of water in her hand.
She explained to the Judge how the lit
tie girls at play in the attic had seen a
red spot in the root, and thought it was
fire. M
Come in, Mittiel'' she called to the
girl, who was now leaning against the
fence. all in o tremble. There's no
fire, after all.
"Well,n said grandma, when they
brought the good news into The kitchen.
.'l've got this clock about taken
down, so I'll finish the job, and send it
off to be cleaned. 1t hasn't run for
year"
And that was how the kitchen-clock
happened to get cleaned. : YOuths Com
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