The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-11
FRIENDS COR
Punishment of the Man Who Wished
for an OId-Fashioned Winter.

He, a blase individual, poked his head
out from under five comforts and three
overcoats Friday morning and viewed the
heavy frosting upon the window panes
with composure. He arose and, after
breaking the ice in the water pitcher,
performed his daily ablution. He dressed
hurriedly and went Down stairs, where
his wife was trying to get breakfast over
a one-candle power fire.
This is the kind of weather we had
when l was a boy living in York
State" he said, hustling about and trying
to keep warm.
Il hope you are happy" replied the wife,
who was shaking within her sealskin
cloak, which she wore.
He went for a pitcher of water, but the
pump was frozen and all the pumps in
the neighborhood were found to be in the
same condition. He walked around through
the neighborhood, but could find neither
well nor cistern from which water could
be obtained. He returned thoroughly
chilled and, without saying anything, he
put on his heavy ulster. His wife turned
the Kitchen fire up as far as 1t would go
and then he and she sat down before the
parlor CRATE. he in his ulster and she in
her sealskin.
DO you see thai little flame in this
C2Aid hCo LIE VILE. liza rs oil
yours and this one over here is mine.
Now let us keep warm"
went to look at the Thermometer. He Won Won
dered why 1T was that he was cold, but
when he saw the mercury had crawled down
INTO the bulb he returned to his place by
the crate. He couldn't. sit very near the
nre Tor the cold air coming down the
in the room. He swore that it was never
so cold in York State, that is, he never
felt the cold 50 severely. He sat and shiv-
arAd and fipnIHr pr,tti, 80 l.- 49,
marked that he could not wait for break
fast TO cook, as he had to go downtown.
de went to the car line and stood twenty
minutes on the corner va ting tor a car.
Several OF his friends were on the car
and they all booked smilingly at him. He
was so cold that he could hardl, stand.
They asked him what he thought of the
weather and they told him wonderful tales
told them by truthful thermometers. Four
squares were passed and the car broke
down. The motors got out of fix and
after waiting fifteen minutes for the motor
cut and walked the remainder of the way.
The York State mans face felt like a
Football when he entered a restaurant
near his office. The clerk who sat behind
the counter, with his overcoat about him
casually asked:
rs 1t cold enough for your
He made no reply, but took a seat. He
drank his lukewarm coffee, but the food
brought him was too cold Tor a digestion
he had often remarked that everybody's
digestion would be better If 1t were colder.
L kCA AK ANStdulQAL dIQ went 10 ms or
nee, but that was cold. An attempt had
been made to heat the building with wood
and all the offices were filled with smoke.
He couldn't write, nor could he open his
morning mail. His office thermometer regis
tered 40 degrees above zero. During the
to talk about the weather. They all ex-
pressed the wish that he was satisfied. One
month. Another said it was not near
so cold as it used to be in York State. The
owner of the last remark came from Vir-
cileln mi HI GaiH h q a nrI - 80. oil
in York State. The blase Individual was
asked If he ever saw any colder weather in
time but the words caught in his throat.
Other friends. called him up by telephone
and asked if he was cold, how he liked the
weather, ii he were warm. if he were
satisfied. and a thousand and one other
annoying questions. He became weary of
these taunts. and took down his telephone
receiver, SO he would not be disturbed. He
began to lose his .blaseness."
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon he started
home. He thought the breakfast would
surely be done by that time and perhaps
the fire in the kitchen had improved some
thinking he would get warm in that way.
on his way home he met other friends, and
each had some cheering and comforting
remark to make; At home he found his
wife sitting by the kitchen fire with her
sealskin still on, and her feet in the oven
He gave a cry of pain as he entered the
We're frost-bitten.
well. John, this is your kind of a win
ter remarked his wife, between shivers.
That's right; joke with a man when he
lii frozen. j am in a horrible condition,
horrible condition. ] expect amputation
will be necessary"
You wanted it to turn cold.' replied
his wife, coldly.
Now. look here. l don't want to hear
any more about that. Come and help me
get off these gloves and this coat, and don't
let me freeze
While he danced about the kitchen, up
setting two chairs, she helped him off with
i1lnfiV n2fnftll Then he sent his Wffa hnr-
ryfng about searching for cooling applica-
lions and remedies for frostbites. The
neighborhood was aroused. The doctor was
sent for, but he remarked that Ii was moth
ing but a little frostbite." That night
which was Friday, he sat for hours by the
kitchen stove with his feet and hands in
ice water. while his wife poured hot teas
down him. He groaned and cursed inward
ly. Several of his friends hearing of his
condition dropped in TO see II they could
be of any assistance. They gathered around
him, all of them bundled up in winter
wraps, and offered advice and consolation.
One re.ated how "A great uncle OF his had