Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-17

I
brother, having politely waited un
til the ghost had finished, began
again: t
"All these groans are exactly
alike, She said, considering. "That,
odd, isn't iti win, III tell you
what. The ghosts up the chimneg.'
Once more the sound came, as
though to confirm his words. And
it certainly did appear to proceed
from the region of the fireplace.
"Still," resumed my brother,
thoughtfully, ga ghost in chimney
Is an uncomfortable sort of thin &
Will, we'll have that chimney
swept. Fancy a ghost coming
down with the SCOT. Well see
about it the first thing tomorrow"
This awful threat appeared too
much for our unearthly visitor, for
he gave tongue no more that night.
We went to bed, and dreamt that
the spirit of a chimney-sweep APP
peared to me and confessed to the
murder Of one of the little boys
who we're still employed in those
days IN his profession. However,
| got some sleep. l got none the
previous night.
We left the Office early in the
afternoon. We secured the services
OF an intelligent sweep and a
sharp, bright-eyed little boy
The chimney was amply wide for
the youngster to climb, and up he
went. We waited in suspense.
When he came down he reported
that be had nothing. We question
ed him eagerly, but he had seen no
ghost or anything belonging to
one. We sent him up again.
This time he found out some
thing. This chimney communicated
with the one next door.
"That will be the kitchen chin
ney next door," said my brother.
ave must explore that
Our landlady was considerably
amazed when we presented our
selves and asked to be allowed to
explore. After a little demur,
she consented. There was but a
small FIRE in the crate, and this was
taken out.
81 don't make it up until eleven
o'clock at night" she explained.
"Not until my master comes home
tired after his days work. Then
we have our bit ofsupper and drink
our grog, and we like to see a cheer
ful blaze. But in the day | don't
trouble about it"
The boy went up smartly, and
shortly reappeared.
"Why, you've got a smokeJack
up there, missis," said he.
"What's q smoke. Jack ~ said my
brother, hastily.
The sweep explained.
"It's a happaratus for roasting
meat fixed in the chimbly. 1t has
little sails, like, just ike a wind
mill, only they are laid fiat instead
ofbeing upright. The hot air comes
up from the fire and blows these
sails round. Then there's a cog
wheel, and that communicates the
motion to a fywheel. A chain pass
es round the fywheel, coming
down to the crate, and turns the
spit"
"But where are the chainsW
"Oh, they've been took of, | sup
pose, isn't used now"
81 didn't know it was there, said
our landlady.
"Doesn't it make noise? asked
my brother, with a quick look at
me.
ave don't hear It," replied the
landlady, indifferently.
"Will,' said my brother, 'Just
run back to the bedroom and listen.
belelYe we've got it. Pm going
to send the boy up to turn the
thing
did as he requested. When |
got into the room the ghost was
grooming in splendid form. He
was going far faster than l had
aver heard him before.
The mystery was solved.
During the day the current of
lot air was not strong enough to
lct on the blades and set the re-
portion Of the machine in
notion. But when the great fire
vas made up at night the force was
nipple. The revolving portion OF
ack is raised to a small extent from
he frame, and bearing on the pivot
rom which 1t revolves. Reduce
he force of the current by letting
he fire 90 out, and the blades OF
- llo U1Lo ,o,1l,,f;ono |