Old Grumble ON THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 52, 14 October 1884, Page 3

Old Grumble ON THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Of all the many laudable objects for which- men combine to benefit themselves and their felloe creatures that, of an or ganisation to contend against fire stands foremost, anil a fire brigade is the most ''Viefufaud ennobling as it is also the most successful of all institutions ; it is useful in often being able to control the fierce • dement before it« rage has become too * great for human power to resist ; it is ennobling in stimulating men to deeds of daring and heroism, and it is invariably •uecessfni. owing to the large number , there is in ; every , community who are always ready to throw cold water upon everything, and in this its usefulness is alto apparent, by giving to such* people - - an opportunity of directing their extinfcuuhing proclivities into the proper channel. lam glad such a movement is afoot in Feilding and shall show my high appreciation bf it by enrolling myself a members Yes, the Feilding Fire Brigade •ball boast of. shaving upon its roll the great name of Grumble. No, Mrs Grumble, I shall not go skipping about ' like a"goat,up^n housetops. Neither is TOHT sinister observation correct that I ' "wire topote as a stage fairy, by standing on one leg upon the apex of some lofty facier board. I am too portly for that;;, bat the old men can be made officers, who. safely upon terra firma, give • fcders that the water shall be •'. S ot to the skies in useless columns tost, or in proud faljj magnificently lost," buthandeoupin Buckets. v There is to. be no fire engine, and in this the brigade is right ; indeed, I should have nothing to do with it if jfchere tfas a fire engine connected with the '"affair.. It just gives a phiz, a splutter, then a spasmodic squirt, and- the pumpers are. pumped out' before it can be made to -^ ir ;jfieid a stream of "water. And nowjetme ~ .' warm you against allowing your chimney "" to become foul, for the -members of the corps will be vigiledt. Not a pipe will be lighted, not a -match struck, but the ; brigade will be apprised of it, anda spa.rk ''".' 'from a chimney will bo the -sigiialior fifty : tickets in fifty willing hands to be in "' readiness^ anxious »and expectant to see , flames following. - You will be able to eo rest now Mrs Grumble without any fear . of being burned in your bed, and there wiftbe no longer any occasion to stand tile water jug by my bed-side. But, let a truant spark escape from the chimney and float lasily in the.air, and the first in- "■" fimation you will have of the occurrence will be* deluge of water rushing down k ' : the floe and if I am in command of the - • P«*<y X will convert this establishment . you and the infan- . P4Ue ; Grumbles for the fishes. Ye^, B Mr«- --/*. Grumbte, I have, resolved to become a ' memlierQf the fire brigade. My decision ';' igaii%ced as the stars, as nnaltorable as ih» laws of the Modes and Persians. ' ..rvi. v : • OID GbUMBIB.