The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-10
THE GATE TENDERS CHIMNEY.
Tho OLD Chimney and tho New One, 10 de-
scribed by q Convafescout,

scribed by q Convafescent.
There are times when the mind 10 espsoi-
ally sensitive" said man. when We may be.
come greatly interested In little things. re-
member that while ago. when was living In .
suburban town, l was very sick. My homo
was near q railroad crossing which was pro-
tected by gates. These gates were lowered
when trains passed. Tho gate tenders shanty
was in plain sight from my house. When
was convalescent I used to sit at window
which opened upon the shanty. and the lower
ing and raising OF the gates and the passing OF
the trains interested me very much: but there
was something there that interested me very
much more.
1T was only little shanty. but 1t was
equipped for all seasons. Tho windows were
provided with wooden shutters which opened
upward from the bottom and were held up by
sticks making little projecting awning which
Kept out the hot rays OF the sun in SUNNI
Of sh snsy had the
projecting being the chimney. Then the gate
tender had IN the shanty. Il variety OF things
these lanterns were always lighted and ready
for instant use: and II you happened to look
was sure to catch the reflection Of the red
lantern. there practically out OF sight but still
with serious almost ominous seeming
:. 1t was snug little house. though It was
go very small and from, frequent observation
IL
come quite familiar with 1t. and l knew the
gate tender we'll BUT what especially inter,
set out to tell you about was the gate tenders
chiWRnne .yn er,. ,nou Elm ,,.n.r t., o,,,,
was simply length OF stovepipe. 1t had once
been black like the pipe below. but. exposed as
twas and varied upon by the elements. it had
OF age. And while it was not exactly a dlsrep-
ptable-loo ing chimney. still 1t had rather a
battered and somewhat rakish Appearance. for
n great blast OF wind had one day inclined It
from the perpendicular and it had so RENAME ed.
As As time went vent, on it fairly wore out AROUND its
could see it from my house very plainly against
when went to led. sick ~ ' '
J.. t2r some weeks meyer gave any thought
sat at the window again. on the road to re-
TIE centre Of it the gate tenders shanty. and
but what instantly and particularly caught my
new chimney Of bright galvanized iron stand.
inc up straight and trim and businesslike;
think that ut first sight l was inclined to
resent this chimney. perhaps because it was
nut up when was. 80 to speak. away: perhaps
upon me little HIS then felt: It had a sort Of
husting look about 1t Instead Of the easy
and at first 1t irritated ne little. But that
feeling passed away very soon. and then
IOunu myself rather stirred by the new Cnlms
ney. and in sympathy with 1t. and wanted to
see 1t go.
been sitting at the window many days there
came q raw clustering day. with cold north
enst wind. and the gate tender started his fire.
Draw? ! never saw n chimney draw more
beautifully. and the strong wind that kept the
rhnsed the little chimney u hit; it stood as
firm as the funnel of an ocean steamer. and
the smoke streamed away from 1t flat as the
rushing. hurrying smoke flies from the chin
neys in gale at sen
And my friend. the gatemap. Ind his win
dows and door closed. and everything snug
within and without and here he was bidding
defiance to he wind and the weather and all
the universities Of life. and setting for me an
example to be followed"