Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-10-09
Anticipating Shlvers.

/ II people continue to sweat all winter as
much as they have this fall over the coal
situation, there will be small danger OF
their literally freezing to death, though
/ the prospect for cold weather is certainly
not alluring.
A few inspired individuals laid in a sup
/ ply Of fuel last April at normal prices and
are now in very compliment frame Of
mind, while being held up to the admira-
| tion of the general public for their I'M
paralleled shrewdness by the coal dealers,
who predict that coal-buying in April will
become a regular fad in the future.
The poor mortals, who put of the evil
day of purchasing fuel until winter in
stead OF summer should be near at hand,
now find that procrastination is a thief Of
money as well as OF time and, in anticipa-
tion OF the rigors of January, are wearing
red noses and goose flesh while the grass
is yet green upon the earth, and snow and
ice are future possibilities. They look at
their empty bins and Immediately their
teeth chatter like chorus of bones at a
public concert and a cold chill strikes to
the marrow, though the sun may be shin
ing brightly and the Thermometer regis
tering summer heat.
There is nothing talked about at sewing
societies, Ladies' Aids, afternoon teas, at
home, on the street, at the postoffiee while
the mail is being changed, and probably
at Mason meeting, but the all-absorb-
ing topic OF coal. The ladies discuss the
matter vigorously, and the more they con-
verse about the frightful sufferings they
imagine to be ahead OF them, the more they
shiver and sneeze, and in fact become so
carried away with the theme of their dis
course as TO almost require resuscitation,
thus suffering daily in fancy some rather
improbable horrors not due for several
weeks vet.
"We shall shut up all the rest of the
house and live in the Kitchen" is usually |
the final feminine dictum, and mental |
vision of the speakers entire family hud- |
ding around the kitchen stove. with feet |
in the oven and their hands spread over |
the top, while she is trying to bake, stew |
and boil very naturally brings on an at |
tack of nervous prostration. The ancient |
advice about not crossing bridges before |
you get to them is quite applicable to the |
present case and, though the outlook is |
not altogether reassuring, there is no par
ticular use in working up a frenzy like
that Of the New York coal merchant, who
tried to kill himself with a double bar
relied shot gun, to be sure, perhaps, of get
ting before winter to warm place il there
was one.
Asa matter of fact, eight to twelve
hundred tons of coal are usually sold here
at this time Of the year, but there is now
available only six tons of soft coal, which
retails at 40 cents hundred, and the latest
ldvices from New London are to the eff
feet that the price is prohibitory for this
region. The demand for wood has increas-
I'd the price of that commodity till it
comes pretty near to selling like molasses
candy at a cent a stick. One dealer in
wood claims to be able to dispose of all he
mas at s. a cord, good body maple, but
,6.75 is the price commonly asked and
paid, with few job lots that sell as rare
bargains at IS.
Wood, instead of coal, is being used in
he two school buildings, and the church.
IS will burn wood, though the Congl
'hurch has about ton OF coal on hand.
Most of the stores have coal enough to
asst awhile, and there is always the ex-
that the strike will be settled be-
ore the present ton or two is gone. Some
are returning to stoves, while
,thers are planning to run their furnaces
with wood and spend most of their time
n the subterranean regions of the house,
tufflng in fuel. One fascinating thing
bout running furnace with wood is the
necessity of pattering down the cellar
tairs in the dead of the dark, cold wlntry
lights to see to the fire lest it go out
prospect that might reasonably cause
cute dependency in the minds of the
iremen.
YOthar lncala M, navt Y,opa l