The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-08-22
"REMINISCENCES.
A DEVIL IN THE WOOD PILE.
Another Chapter From The Elusive nemory OF An
Old Resident OF Elkton.

of the wood pile against loss. but the
| saving of their own labor. aS in those
days. they rs clerks. We're not only en-
prrtcd to wait upon customers in the
store. but also to keep the fires running
Jonathan particularly. thought it enough
to split and carry wood for Mr.. Sharp
lry'S fires, and vrhcmrntly objected to
supplying needed fuel for anybody rlSc'S
fires. He couldn't say who anybody else
meant in this case. but he had suspicious.
which the sequel proved were correct
ones. and which subsequent events con-
iirmed.
He proposed to his fellow clerk. that
number of good thick sticks of the fire
wood be bored with II good size augrr,
ana the holes after hcing filled with II
quantity of Dupomt'S hest Eagle Gun
Powder, be plugged tightly with good
wooden plugs. well driven home. and the
loaded sticks he placed conveniently on
the top of the pile. upon the side of il
facing the Pot House. George first OBJ
jrcted to the Sherlock Holmes plan of
detection. protesting. if more than one
stick of the wood should be loaded to-
grthrr on the same fire. that in the event
of double explosion some one might be
seriously injured. or even killed. and
that they would be accessories to the act
and become guilty of mnnSaughter.
But Jonathan, was not so conservative
as George.
He had made mp his mind to find ont
who waS stealing Mr. Sharplry'S wood.
that he Jonathan had the labor of split
ting. and, if the thief chose to take the
risk nf ,rnttinp hlnwu ~,
fault. That the evil was desperate and
required Il desperate remedy.
Fortifyng himself with this argument.
Jonathan loaded the sticks and early in
the night laid the bomb shells on south
side of the pile. and they sat up late into
the night awaiting results. Nothing oc-
CURED however during the night. no I'M
usual sounds or noises were heard. and
the clerical twain crcpt into their beds
far on in the morning
The next day was Saturday. and in
tn" morning business was unusually act
i've in the store. numerous country GUS
toners being on hand. and the clerks
both were busy.
At the Pot House. II similar activity
prevailed.
Next day was Quarterly Meetin. the
PreSidin' Elder was to be on hand. and
Love Feast was to be held in de mornin.
Unusual preparations for gnStronomic
us well as II spiritual feast were ON.
In every Fireplace. the pots We're boil
in. and the chicken was a'Strw From
every oriicr in the walls of the old Pot
House the odors of Snvory mcSSeS were
borne upon the morning air.
H..
hanccd the activity of its busy Interior
Heap on more wood the wind is chill,
But let it whistle rs it WILL
Wen keep our Quarterly happy still"
Fatal, tho pleasing injunction.
Suddenly. in the twinkling of an eye.
first Il tizZing. then IL tizz. and Il booming
explosion rent the air.
From the old chimney crane. on whose
pendant limbs, there hung in vain secur-
ity II pot of boiling soup. were hurled its
bliStcring viands.
Squat ON the floor aS by some invisible
but Titanic hand. Aunt Charity Young.
and old Aunt Hannah We're tossed in
rude confuSion while pumpkin pies be-
spattcred the walls. and fcathcrlesS
chickens flew up the chimney tlue.
Confusion worse confound"d for the
moment reigncd. hut luckily no one was
hurt.
The devil was in the wood pile. and
some weak, unconscious rogue had put
him on the pot house fire
While the mystery of that explosion
hung like II pail over the old Pot House,
two young men in John Sharpley's store
exchanged knowing winks and laughed
up their sleeves. The public was none
the wiser. and the wood pile marnudcr
hied himself to other less dangerous
fields. 1t was ii risky trick but it kept
John Sharpley's wood at home.