Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1881 — Something Missing. [ARTICLE]

Something Missing.

On a train going up the river yesterday morning was a young man in farmer’s drees, who had his overcoat pockets full of purchases. After Inspecting two or three parcels he took the wraps oft of a twenty-flve-cent thermometer and examined the instrument with the closest interest. He looked at the face, then at the back, and tlie longer he looked the more puzzled he seemed. A gentleman who had been observing him Anally remarked: “Been buying a thermometer, I see?” “Yes: I liought her for a neighbor of ours.” “What’j* the temperature In this ear just now ?•” The young man took a long squint at the thermometer, turned it over two or three times, and then answered: “It’s alout middling, I guess.” Gothing further was said for ten minutes, and the gentleman was busy with his ]>aper, when the other touched his arm and said: “Hay, are you used to thermometers?” ‘ 3' “Yes; slightly.” “Well, I’m a little green, and I’m willing to own up. Seems to me there’s something wrong about this ’ere.” “I guess not; it’s'a cheap instrument, but it seems to lie all right.” “Well, it may be; but I had made up my mind there wah something missing. I can't find any keyhole, and if it ever Iqnl any hands on the face they'er gone now for sure,” It took alioat live minutee to enlighten him and when he realized “how she worked,” he put it in his pocket with the remarks: “I’ in going home and tell the old man none of us know enough to tell when we get chillblains!’ —IFiriZf St. Daily News.