The Lightning-Rod Man’s Mistake.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 263, 13 October 1874, Page 3

The Lightning-Rod Man’s Mistake.

(American Paper.)

Up in Blossburg, the other day, a lightnings rod man drove up in front of a handsome edifice standing in the midst of trees and shrubs,' ahd spoke to Mr Summers, who was sitting on the steps in front. He accosted Summers as the owner of the residence and said—

“ 1 see you have no lightning-rods on this house.”

“ No,” said Summers. “Are you going to put any on 1” “ Well, I hadn’t thought of it,” replied Summers.

“You ought to. A tall building like this is very much exposed. I’d like to. run you up one of my rods—twisted steel, glass tenders, nickel-plated tips—everything complete. May I put you up one to show you ? I’ll do the job cheap.” “ Certainly you may, if you want to. I haven’t the slightest objection,” said Summers.

During the next half-hour the man had his ladders up and his assistants at work ; and at the end of that time the job was done. He called Summers out into the yard to admire it. Bo said to Summers—- “ Now, that is all well enough ; but, if it was my house, I’d have another rod put on the other side. There is nothing like being protected thoroughly.” “ That’s true,” said Summers; “it would be better.” “ I’ll put up another—shall I ?” asked the man. “ Why, of course, if you think it’s best,” said Summers. Accordingly the man went to work again, and soon had the rod in its place. “ That’s a first-rate job,” he said to Summers, as they both stood eying it. “1 like such a man as you are—big-hearted, liberal, and not afraid to put down a dollar for a good thing. There’s some pleasure in dealing with you. I like you eb much that I’d put a couple more rods on that house, one on the north end and one on the south, for almost nothing.” “ It would make things safer, I suppose,” said Summers. “ Certainly it would. I’d better do it—hadn’t I—hey ?” “Justus you think proper,” said Summers. So the man run up two more rods, and then he came down and said to Summers— There, that’s done. Now let’s settle up.” “Do what?” “ Why, the job’s finished, and now I’ll take my money.” “You don’t expect iho to pay you, I hope ?” “Of course Ido ! Didn’t you tell me to put those rods on your house ?” “ My house ! ’’ shouted Summers ; “ thunder and lightning, I never ordered you to put those rods up ! It would have been ridiculous. Why, man, this is the courthouse, and I’m here waiting for the court to assemble ! I’m on the jury. You seemed to be anxious to rush out your rods, and, as it was none of my business, I let you go on. Pay for it! Come, now, that’s pretty good ?” The Blossburg people say that the manner in which that lightning-rod man tore around town and indulged in profanity was fearful. But when he got his rods off the courthouse he left permanent. He didn’t fancy the place.