The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-13

filling the lamp. Where Is the harm?
1t ls bit unpleasant, 1t is true, but
that's all there is to 1t. We will have
to trv again, for the machine works
all right. of that we ought to be con-
vinced now"
Held" objected father, lifting his
hand with a protesting gesture toward
the coffee machine, "no more of this
monkey business. would rather that
Anna make us all a cup of coffee now in
tho old ia shioned way. and later you
may continue your experiments as long
as you like. The machine is just splen-
did children he continued, land I
thank you heartily for your thoughtful
ness in giving it to me. but there is
something strange and odd about 1t to-
which | must get used first. and that
takes time for man of my age
"Before we go any further with it," l
added, "let us tell the girl to give 1t a
thorough cleaning. Lottie," to the
cook--"take this machine into the kitch-
ell and scald lamp and boiler with hot
water and soda or some such stuff.
The girl went off with her burden.
Shortly after we We're startled by loud
report. followed by frightened screams
from the Kitchen and by a sound Of fall
ing and breaking pieces Something
told me that again II was that ill-fated
machine I opened the kitchen door.
Sure enough the girl in a dark corner
had stumbled with her burden and the
self-ac tor ex traction coffee-and-tea ma
chine lay broken on the floor The
poor, frightened girl sobbed, Fannie
scoldeG, my wife wrung her hands in
despair; I bit my lips underneath my
busy nustache, and father looked
plea ased and relieved.
Never mind. children" he said "it
Is best so. | take this for sign from
above. Providence has interfered. I
am conservative in my ideas. and am
therefore not overfond of the present
era of machinery. Stop crying, girl
this to the cook-"and brew a good cup
of coffee for my company. And now no
more s,oout the matter. ] do not wish
to have my birthday spoiled"
"How about our bet, Anna ! asked
my wife.
You have lost that she quickly re-
spondet. 1.-THE machine was in perfect
order, if only"
"yes, if only it had not been so i'm
have lost and not /. You had better
get ready to go for my rocking chair"
what bet are YOU quarreling about,
you two?" asked the old man.
I told him all, and called on him to
decide who had won.
Both of you,'' was his diplomatic
opinion, which. created another contro-
versy between Anna and myself. Mean
while Lottic appeared with the coffee,
made in the "old- fashioned" style, and
the conve: sation drifted into other
channels and soon became general.
On the following morning. however.
there appeared messenger in our
dwelling, delivering a rocking chair for
me, a splendid piece of furniture. by the
way. and exactly five minutes later an
other messenger came bringing
brooch for my wife, Il veritabe little
gem. To each of the two presents was
fastened fathers visiting cards with
the inscription: This is my revenge
for icOpardiZing my life with your self
aCtor-eXtraction offee-and-tea ma
chine"
Say" I remarked to my wife. COM
tly stretching myself in the new
fociing chair, you seem to have been
in the right, after all, for your self
and-so-forth machine has proved itself
to be very practical. indeed-in its re-
sulls.'-Fron the German.