The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-05-04
HE KNEW HIS BUSINESS.
A Bright Youngster That Cleverly Caught
Minister on a Prayer.


The writer paid visit to the Mechanics
fair at Boston and stood for q moment neal
an engine in the basement. The engineer
In charge possessed bright little son
whom he had taught the method of stop
ping and starting the machine. The little
boy, who did not seem to be over 10 years
of age, was standing by the engine when
gentleman came up to him and said:
You seem to be pretty small boy to
run such big engine
II suppose I am pretty small" replied
the boy, 'but can do it all right
'You think you understands your bust,
ness'" continued the visitor.
ayes, sir, do"
"Can you start the engineP"
81 can"
Lets see you start 1t. +"
The boy opened the valves, and the fly
wheel slowly started to revolve
You really can do it, can't your" said
the visitor.
YES, sir, F" modestly ans wered the boy.
Can you make it go Backward" asked
the man.
Backward or forward, 1t doesn't make
any difference to me-" replied the young
engineer.
LEU llC oCC yOtI Tlll DdChWdTu
The boy stopped the engine and quickly
reversed it, so it ran in an opposite direc-
ton.
We'll, declare, my boy, you seem to
understand your business perfectly. ~ r
The boy said nothing for a moment but
eyed the stranger suspiciously. Suddenly
an idea seemed to strike him, and he said:
May ask what your business isf"
tWhU aartaiDly- 7 nm O oiniStar ~ 4 no
gospel
Where do you reside?"
"Oh, right across the river here in Cam
bridge"
DO you understand your businessi"
further questioned the youngster.
II believe I do" replied the minister
good naturally.
"Can you repeat the Lords PrayerP'
'Why, certainly"
"Say it for me-" requested the boy.
The clergyman did so.
You really do know how, don't your"
laughingly said the little engineer.
'Why, of course do. repeat it several
times day."
We'll, now, say it backward. You know
ran the engine backward for you"
The clergyman, after moments hesita-
ton, said he could not do it.
well, you see 1 understand my bust
ness great deal better than you"
The clergyman appeared to think so and
retired. -Elmira Telegram.
A Burglar Trap.
81 went one night" said the retired
burglar, Into the room of a man who had
his clothes stacked up ON chair alongside
tl,oh nl NIT 81, for
in a careless sort of way, as though he had
been too tired or too lazy to straighten 'em
out The right hand pocket looked invit-
ing and l reached into it. There was a
pocketbook there, but when tried to pull
it out my hand was held on the sharp
points of a dozen wires.
you've seen those mousetrapS with lit
tie cone shaped wire tunnels for the mouse
to run his head into? He can get his head
in easily enough, but when he wants to
pull it out the ends of the wires stick into
his head and neck and hold him. Well,
this man had fixed up continuance like
that in his pocket. could have freed my
self by taking little time and using a lit
tie more patience but said to myself,
why not carry the trousers off and take
my time about it?' 1 gathered them up
and started. 1t was a mistake. hadn't
got six feet before felt a little tug, and
the points were pulled into my hand deeper
than ever. OF course knew at once what
it all meant. There was cord attached to
one of the trousers legs, and the other end
of it was tied to the mans hand, and that
was what had brought up against.
"He was out of bed in n minute made
bluff at him, but hampercd as was with
practically only one hand 1 really wasn't
in it at all, and in less than two minutes
he had me tied up waiting for the police.
New York Sun.