Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1878 — How He Cured a Smoky Chimney. [ARTICLE]

How He Cured a Smoky Chimney.

Yesterday as a citizen of Woodward avenue was helping a tinsmith to elevate a smokejack to the roof of an addition on the windy sid3 of thq house, preparatory to hoisting it atop of a smoky chimney, an old man with a ragged bundle under his arm came along, halted, and soon became deeply interested. “That chimbly smokes, don’t it? ” he finally inquired. “It’s the worst one in town,” replied the citizen. “And you wants to stop the nuisance, eh?” “Yes, I do.” “And you think that smoke-jack will doit?” “I hope so.” “Well, now, I kin stop that smoking in ten minits, and I won’t hurt the chimbly nor put up any smoke-jacks,” continued the old man, as he laid down his bundle. “If you’ll do it I’ll give you $5,” rejoined the citizen, who disliked the idea of disfiguring his chimney with the clumsy jack. “Kin I have the kitchen for five minutes? ” asked the man. “Yes.” The cook was instructed to vacate, and the old man took possession. Removing the top of the stove, he poured in enough water to put out every spark

of the fire. Then going out he called to the citizen on the roof: “ Has she stopped smoking? ” “ Well, I don’t see any smoke at all,” was the reply; “ what hare you done ? ” While he was coming down the ladder the old man made off, eating a pie he had taken from the oven. The last half of it he had to bolt down while on the run, but at no time in the race did the citizen, tinsmith or servant-girl get within twenty rods of him. — Detroit Free Press.