A LIGHTNING CAGE, AND THE FORTUNE IN IT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 448, 22 February 1890, Page 3

A LIGHTNING CAGE, AND THE FORTUNE IN IT.

By Professor John Trowbridge, Author of ‘ Sailing by a Jacknife,’ ‘A Chase by Electricity,’ &c.

Copyright 1889—By tho Author. Abraham Wilkins at the age of eighteen had attained the height of six feet four inches, and was large boned and gaunt. His size was a great disadvantage to him ; for old Farmer Mark Wilkins, his father, thought that the boy was strong in proportion to his size and imposed heavy burdens upon him. Abraham, however, had grown like a weed. He was very conscious of his back, and he had moments of great languor. No one bub his mother sympathised with him. She was a delicate little woman, who was up with the dawn superintending the dairy work, and who was the last to go to bed. When Abraham scrolled into the farmhouse, leaving the hayfiela in the heat of the day and slowly dragged himself to his attic room, Mrs Wilkins had to encounter the wi’abh of old Mark Wilkins, who often vowed that he would drive such a great hulking lazy fellow off the farm and let him shift for himself. Mrs Wilkins had ceased to speak of Abraham’s delicate health to her husband, for this plea drove him into a fit of fury. She merely said, ‘ Mark, our eldest son, left us to seek his fortune. Abraham is all that is left. We must bear with him.’ Old Mark Wilkins growled like a bear, and went back to the haying field. Then the mocher, providing herself with some little simple or delicate bit of food, would mount the attic stairs and bathe the temples of Abraham, whom she generally found stretched out his entire length upon the hard floor.

One day the father had been more tempestuous than ever, and had actually struck Abraham, calling him a lazy dolt who preferred to play with his electrical machine and popguns to helping his father on the farm. Mrs Wilkins held her breath as she heard the altercation. She had felt for some days that a crisis was coming ; bh6 home atmosphere seemed to have been heavily charged, and she had groaned over her work expecting a discharge at any moment. After some altercation Abraham went to his room ; and as usual the little mother crept up the stairs, bearing this time the greatest delicacy she could offer—a little crab-apple jelly. She found Abraham busily engaged in taking to pieces the electrical machine which he had constructed with his own hands, and in packing bics of wire and jars into an old carpet-bag. Mrs Wilkins’ heart sank within her at the sight, for she knew full well the determined character of her sons. The oldest son (Mark) had gone out into the world after a similar passage with his father, and had been killed in the far West. She put the crab-apple jelly upon the table, and sitting upon the bed, sobbed as she covered her face. ‘ Abraham—Abraham ; you are not going to leave me !’

The young man stopped his packing and groaned, and then suddenly caught his mother in his arms.’ 4 Mother, I can’t stand it any longer : lam going to seek r my fortune, and your fortune, in the great world.’ The mother shuddered, and the words were on her lips— * I have withstood ib many years. Can you not suffer for my sake V She did not utter them, however. Her chief concern was her boy. There certainly was little hope for him at home ; and running through her tumult of feeling there was a belief in the ability of Abraham to make his mark some dav in the world.

4 Hard work is wearing you out, mother,’ continued Abraham, taking her toll-worn hands in his. 4 You slave from morning to night only to enable father to make more money and to buy more land.’ 4 Mark could nob stand it,’ sobbed Mrs Wilkins, trying to find an excuse for Abraham for leaving his mother. 4 Mark was stronger than I am,’ replied Abraham, reflectively. 4 I do not think I should have gone if f had been Mark. But cheer up, mother ; this is not a hasty step on my part. I have laid awake night after night thinking it over, when every living thing on the old farm has been asleep— ’ 4 Except your mother,’ groaned Mrs Wilkins. Abraham bent down and kissed her, and continued, 4 Don’t worry, little mother ; I have a fine plan to commence with. I shall write to you every day, and I shall send you money. With which I want you to hire a servant to help you in the dairy : for the work has always been too much for you. Unless I go out into the world to strive and help you, mother, you will die with such hard work.’ Abraham's voice trembled with emotion as he said this, and he stroked the little hand of Mrs Wilkins, which was lost in his great hands. Abraham Wilkins stood in that little attic room when he was an old man and wondered whether his emotions on that day of parting in his youth were keener than those called forth by the remembrances that crowded upon him. The young man’s plan, carefully thought out, was this. He had always been interested in electricity, and had made for himself an electrical machine and various other pieces of electrical apparatus. At a country fair he bad noticed the success of a showman, who instructed the farmers upon the mysteries of this great agent, which most people thought was destined to revolutionise the world. The showman bungled over his experiment, and evidently did not know anything about electricity. Abraham felt that he could be far more successful than the showman. He knew something too of photography, and if he could nob give his audience an electrical shock he could certainly take their pictures. He had gone so far in his preparations that he had actually made a showman’s tent, which he had stored with a neighbouring kind-hearted farmer— Hosea Baldwin. 4 Show !’ exclaimed the latter when Abraham applied one day for his tent, and announced his intention to leave his father. The word was customary with Hosea Baldwin to express surprise. 4 Yes,’replied Abraham, intent upon his own thoughts, ‘an electrical show.’ 4 Show !’ exclaimed Farmer Baldwin again. Abraham shouldered his tent, and offered his hand saying, 4 Will you do me aservice, Mr Baldwin ?’ Farmer Baldwin took out his leather wallet, and began to loosen the long strap which bound it.

‘Not that—nob that,’ exclaimed Abraham, pushing the wallet away with his great hand. * If I should send you money, Mr Baldwin,-for my mother, will you see that she gets it ? She must have a servant to help her bo do the heavy work that is killing her. If I send the money to you I shall be sure that she gets'ib, and I know that vou can influence mv father.’ Farmer Baldwin was never known to utt6r more than four words in response to an interrogatory. ' I will do’it,’ he replied; keeping sententiously within the limit of his reputation. He felt the young man’s heartfelt grip. He saw him pick up his large bundle, shoulder his tent, and disappear down the lane which led to the shire town. Abraham Wilkins’ strange step must be ponderously thought out by Farmer Baldwin, His mind dwelt upon the obstinacy and heart of Mark Wilkins, whom he had

known from a boy, and he thought of the beautiful girl that Wilkins had married, and had converted into a little bent and careworn woman. There had been a tender spot for the young girl in Farmer Baldwin’s heart, but Mark Wilkins had gained her love, and that was the end of it. • Here I have been a blamin’ and judgin’ folks when I ought to hev been a helpin’,’ suddenly thought Farmer Baldwin, waking from his reverie. ‘ I ought to have given Abraham my old white mare and a waggon for his show.’ Farmer Baldwin hastened after Abraham, not very fast to be sure, for he felt sure that Mrs Baldwin would never consent. Abraham had gone far out of sight and hearing. ‘ He feels sure of making money,’ thought Farmer Baldwin, as he walked homeward. ‘ I’m afraid he will find that money is hard to earn.’

Abraham walked until night came on,and then he spread his tent in a sheltered nook in the woods. Early on the following day he entered the shire town, where a fair was going on. He selected a suitable spot, erected his tent, and hung out a large placard, on which were the words : 4 Electricity explained. How to protect buildings from lightning.’ On a table at the entrance to the tent was the little electrical machine, which was of a novel pattern. It was a tiny affair, consisting of two glass discs about six inches in diameter. One of the discs was stationary, and the other revolved in front and very near the stationary disc. The revolving disc, which was set in motion by means of a pulley connected with another pulley, which was turned by a crank, had curious openings in ib which spun past paper slips pasted on the stationary disc. The little machine was healed beneath by a kerosene lamp in order to keep ib perfectly dry, so that ib might produce electrical sparks. Abraham thought that ib would be a great novelty to everybody to see an electrical machine work perfectly well in all weathers, and he was very proud of his design of the kerosene lamp. He had yet to learn that the world is apt to take very lDtle interest in our pet contrivances ; and what is of great importance to us is often of little moment with others. A few people listened to Abraham’s talk about electricity. One or two boys wanted a small shock of electricity. No one noticed the contrivance for heating the electrical machine, or thought it strange that the machine would work on a rainy day in summer. And then the entire audience disappeared at the sound of a brass trumpet, which announced that the monkey show had been opened. Abraham felt sure that he had given more information than the glib showman whom he had formerly listened to, and whose success had stimulated him to follow in a similar endeavour, but the words of the showman had held a crowd and filled his hat with silver where the ideas of Abraham had reached only a few coppers. At the end of the first day Abraham wrote his mother a cheery letter and went supperless to bed. Old Mark Wilkins said nothing when he learned from the labouring men that Abraham had left the farm ; he knew the character of his sons. It was like his own in respect to determination. * Well, let them go; sons are no help toa man; plenty of men have been ruined by sons.’ So said Farmer Wilkins; but he grew older and more tyrannical than ever. The disappearance of his eldest son Mark had been a great blow to him. He thought that Abraham might as well go as not. He was good for nothing any way. Farmer Baldwin strolled over to the hill-side farm of Wilkins occasionallyrin the evening to see if anything had been heard of the boys, and also to learn when Wilkins proposed to harvest his rye. * They haven t heard from Abraham ; I see it in Mrs Wilkins’ face,’ he said to himself as he plodded homeward one night. 4 He’s been gone three weeks, and I haven’t received any money for his mother yet. I gues3 he finds it hard sledgin’. I should feel bad if it was my boy knockin’ round the world ! Wilkins isn’t right to cut that rye to-morrer.’ Then a vision of Mrs Wilkins’ face came to him—a careworn, anxious face, curiously blended with a beautiful memory of a girl’s face. 4 1 wonder how ib would work if I should give her money as if Abraham sent it,’ thought the old farmer. 4 But how shall I account to Mrs Baldwin ?’ This train of thought was too much for Hosea Baldwin. The thought needed time for ripening, as well as the rye. Abraham wandered from town to town, varying the character of his exhibition and trying to save enough money to send a pittance bo his mother. He often, however, had to beg a meal. His strength was small, and some days great weakness came upon him, and he lay almost in a swoon on the floor of his tent. Nothing but a stern determination to succeed and develop something that spoke within him saved him from perishing. One day he entered a little town which consisted of a few straggling houses, which were situated on a street which ran over the brow of a hill. A white church spire had marked the town for miles. As Abraham dragged his weary length into the village he noticed that certain small boys ran rapidly up the avenue of a fine place which seemed to be that of some rich resident, for the stone towers of a castellated mansion could be seen above the tree tops in the distance.

‘ I do believe there’s another lightning man come to town from the way those boys tear up the avenue,’ remarked Miss Nancy Allsop, pausing in her occupation of picking a bunch of nasturtiums. ‘ High !’ she exclaimed in a shrilLtone, 4 You Lawton boy, don’t run over my heliotrope bed.’ The foremost of the boys by this time had reached Miss Nancy, and he began with a gasp, ‘He—He’ and,could.'get no farther. Then the second hoy began to gasp ‘He He.’ Nancy Allsop administered a good shaking to the boys within reach. Then the entire group, as if hurrahing the name of their base-ball club, shouted together 4 He’s come!’ 4 Who lias come, you stupids?’ exclaimed Miss Allsop, losing all patience. 4 Another lightning man,’ replied the oldest boy. 4 Nancy !’ cried a voice from a verandah of the mansion, * Nancy 1 I believe we are going to have a thunder-shower.’ ‘There’s Mrs Blinkinson, now,’exclaimed Miss Allsop. ‘Now, boys, disappear.’ Thus saying, she distributed some silver among them, and hurrying into the house quieted old Mrs Blinkinsoa’s fears, donned a bonnet, and hurried out into the village road. Mrs Blinkinson had been the victim of many a lightning-rod man, and spent money lavishly at the suggestion of any electrical crank. Miss Nancy Allsop had determined to put a stop to this imposition upon the fears of the wealthy old lady, and had directed the village boyß to give information of the advent of any electrical man or suspicious tramp. The sun was setting brightly, and there was not a cloud to be seen as Nancy Allsop picked her way across lots, with the determination of a well-possessed woman of fifty. ‘ It’s beyond me why people will make themselves miserable over thunder and lightning,’ said she, as she lifted herself over a [pair of bars. In the distance she saw a tent and a grdup of boys standing near it.

4 He’s dead,’ they cried as they caught sight of Mies Allsop. ‘ You’ll bring him to life with your shrieks,’ exclaimed Nancy, rushing into the

group, As she caught sight of a long figure stretched out at the door of the tent ‘ Here, you Lawton boy, run for some water.’ Another boy was despatched for the village doctor ; another to Miss Peacock for some of her apple brandy. In a whiff Miss Allsop had loosened Abraham’s collar, and was applying some smelling salts to his nose. ‘ He’s a young chap,’ she said, as she looked at the white worn face which she held in her lap. ‘ There don’t seem to be any end to him. My ! isn’t he a Samson ?’ Miss Nancy heard the doctor’s gig approaching, and put Abraham’s head carefully on the grass, fearful lest the doctor, who often indulged his humour even on momentous occasions, might liken her to Delilah. Dr. Graves administered restoratives, and announced his belief that the young man was starving. As he spoke Abraham slowly opened his eyes, took Miss Allsop’s hand, spoke the word ‘Mother,’ and fainted again. *He must be immediately taken to ahouseand nursed carefully,’said Dr, Graves. * He is completely worn out with fatigue and want of food.’

Abraham slowly came out of his fainting fit and tried to sit up, but his head fell upon his breast, and he was compelled to lie flat upon the grass. Nancy Allsop hailed a hay cart, and the farm labourers hoisted Abraham into it. At that moment Mrs Blinkinson was seen approaching, guided by a small boy. ‘ That Lawton boy has gone and told her, I declare,’ exclaimed Nancy. While Mrs Blinkinson approached, Dr. Graves examined the contents of the tent. He saw the electrical apparatus, and realised that it would never do to leave it unprotected. He accordingly carefully placed it in the cart with Abraham.

Mrs Blinkinson, whose nerves were unstrung by the appearance of a distant cloud, cried hysterically, ‘Nancy, where’s my chair with the glass feet? There’s a thunderstorm coming !’ ‘ Hush,’ exclaimed Nancy. ‘ Here’s a real case of suffering.’ ‘ Well !’ ejaculated the old lady, in high dudgeon, ‘ He has at least the satisfaction of knowing what has happened.’ Abraham had recovered from his fainting fit, and heard Mrs Blinkinson ask for a chair with glass feet to protect her from lightning. Like a true scientific man, ever on the brink of dissolution, he could not permit mankind to believe in a superstition. ‘ A chair with glass feet ain’t no good,’ said he, feebly. ‘ What is ?’ asked Mrs Blinkinson as a distant roll of thunder was heard. ‘ A cage,’ feebly muttered Abraham, and then relapsed into unconsciousness. M ancy Allsop jumped into the cait and assisted the doctor to administer restoratives. ‘He understands her,’ said she to the doctor, with a shrug of the shoulder at Mrs Blinkinson. * A cage is just the thing for her. I’ve always said so.’ ‘ He must be put to bed immediately, replied Dr. Graves, who was unmindful of Nancy’s last remark. * Where shall he be taken ?’ ‘To the poorhouse ?’ It was Nancy Allsop’s first intention to consign Abraham to the poorhouse, but the word ‘ Mother ’ which he had uttered, and the grasp of his hands had determined her to find a room for him in the Blinkinson mansion. The word ‘cage’ in turn had made Mrs Blinkinson desirous of seeing more of this young man, whose electrical apparatus and whose placards announcing the right method of protection from lightning engrossed her attention, while Mies Allsop and Dr. Graveswere busy in attending to the sick young man. So Abraham was conveyed to the castellated mansion at the end of the avenue, and put to bed. The thunderstorm, which had long been muttering, came up and Mrs Blinkinson compelled Nancy Allsop to retire with her to a room, from which every ray of light was excluded, and to mount a feather bed, the posts of which were insulated on glass plates. Then Mrs Blinkinson held her companion’s hand and shivered at each peal of thunder, while Nancy tried to reason with Mrs Blinkinson, explaining to her, in her downright manner, that the thunder was a sign that they had not been struck. This course of reasoning gave Mrs Blinkinson comfort until a fresh peal of thunder came.

‘ You think I am a weak creature, Nancy,’ cried Mrs Blinkinson, sobbing hysterically, * but you are just as afraid of burglars as I am of thunderstorms, and between the two 1 think my fear is of a more lofty nature than yours. What is man that you should be afraid of him ? Lightning comes from on high.’ ‘ Opinions differ about that,’ replied Nancy, snappishly. ‘ Some scientific men think it goes from earth to sky. Statistics show that not more than one person in a million is struck by lightning, while not a month passes without a case of burglary in this town.’ ‘ When the thunderstorm is over I can refute you.’ replied Mrs Blinkinson angrily. ‘ You ought not to take advantage of me when I’m weak.’ ‘ Curious woman,’ said Miss Allsop to herself. ‘ What do you suppose the young man meant by a cage ?’ asked Mrs Blinkinson. ‘ I suppose he was out of his head.’ ‘He seemed to me to be perfectly rational,’ replied Miss Allsop. ‘ I should judge from his placards and bis apparatus that he knows all about electri city,’ continued Mrs Blinkinson. ‘ Some how I feel confident in having an electrical authority in the house. He is a big man too.’

Miss Nancy was tempted to retort that there hadn’t been a peel of thunder for some time. The words ‘ a man in the house’ gave her thoughts an unwonted turn. There was strange strength in the thought. That night after the thunderstorm Mrs Blinkinson emerged from her dark room feeling perfectly courageous, andsatup late in a lonely tower reading the ‘ Mystery of Adolpho ’ without a tremor, while poor Nancy Allsop barred her door, and shivered at the noise a rat made in the adjoining room. Abraham, however, was soon able to sit up in bed, and Miss Nancy Allsop was surprised at the comfort she took in the knowledge that there was a man in the house. Dr. Graves on one of his visits looked at the two women—and apparently noticed an improvement in their appearance, for he said, * You’ve been wanting a man in the house for some time.’ ‘I find that he is wondeifully informed upon the subject of electricity,’ said Mrs Blinkinson ; ‘ you should hear him talk. He tells me that if I should build a metal cage and get inside it in a thunder storm that I should be perfectly safe—for electricity cannot get into the cage.’ ‘ Lightning knows better than to get into a cage, hey ? Well, I shouldn’t wonder,’ replied the doctor, whipping up his old grey mare. ‘They used to put crazy people in cages when I was a boy,’ he muttered to himself, as he drove down the avenue. ‘ The boy is anatural philosopher. All these women wanted was a man in the house.’

* It is astonishing-,’ thought Miss Allsop one day when a lightning rod man, who had been annoying Mrs Blinkinson with a request to be allowed to change thelightning rods on her house, was driven away by Abraham's superior knowledge. ‘lt’s astonishing how much comes from a poor beginning. This young man, who seemed,

'at first, to be another impostor, is becoming a necessity to us.’ When a lightning rod man appeared who claimed to be able to locate hidden streams of water with a crooked stick, and who had a theory that lightning rods should be placed with reference to their hidden streams, it was a great source of satisfaction to the ladies to be able to refer such an ingenious philosopher to Abraham. The young man speedily grew better under the influence of good food, and the gentle homage which his great size and his evident knowledge inspired in the two ladies. He showed Mrs Blinkinson by careful experiments that a person within a metallic cage was perfectly safe from discharges of electricity, for electricity resides on the surface of the bodies. Mrs Blinkinson immediately, ordered an outlying house to be covered with a network of wires, and the networkto be connected with a source of running water. On the first thunderstorm she shut herself in her cage, and came out triumphant after the storm, which was an unusually severe one. Miss N an °y Allsop, in her turn, when Abraham had arranged certain electrical burglar alarms, no longer felt any fear of burglars, and slept soundly, although the fall-of the year was at hand, and the rats had begun to roll nuts down the partitions. * I always told you you ought to have a man in the house,’ said Dr. Graves when he was told again of the peace that reigned in the Blinkinson mansion. This repeated remark of Dr. Graves nettled Miss Nancy Allsop, for she felt sure that Dr Graves knew that she had always been ready to hear a declaration from him. At first Mrs Wilkins received a letter from Abraham every day ; then a few days elapsed before a letter came, then a week, and then the letters ceased altogether. Farmer Baldwin was much exercised by the sight of Mrs Wilkins’ pale and anxious face. If Mrs Baldwin would only just visit her folks, as she often threatened to do, he might make a farming trade at the country fair and give the proceeds to Mrs Wilkins to hire a girl to help her, as Abraham had intended. He might say that the boy had sent him the money, but how could he frame a story that would satisfy the anxious mother ? And how could he account to Mrs Baldwin on her return from visiting her folks ? It was too much for Hosea Baldwin. He lay awake nights thinking over the problem. There was a case of dying right before him, and he was doing nothing to prevent it. At length he came to a resolution. It was like the resolution of a man who had walked past his dentist’s door for the third time. Something must and should be done. He would confront old Mark Wilkins, and tell him his wife ought to have additional help. The opportunity came bne day when old Mark Wilkins stopped at the bars of the sheep pasture and asked Farmer Baldwin if he had another cow he could sell him, for there had been unusual demands upon the dairy product. How Farmer Baldwin broached the subject of additional help for Miss Wilkins no one ever knew. He always declared that he only said four words, and then old Mark Wilkins foamed at the mouth and fell down in a fit. The doctors said it was a case of apoplexy. The old farmer lingered for a few days and then died. Everyone thought that Mrs Wilkins would be left a rich woman, but it was found that her hnsband, in his love for money, had, taken great risks in various speculations, and had lost all. Farmer Baldwin assisted at the closing auction, and advised Mrs Wilkins to the best of his ability. She had grown too feeble in health to think of-work any longer, and there was no money to support her. Her sons had disappeared. ; Abraham had probably died ; he was always a weak child. Here she broke down completely. Farmer Baldwin wanted to say come to our house and make your home with us ; but he thought of. Mrs Baldwin. Mrs Wilkins with an effort brushed away the tears, smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress reflectively, and announced her intention of going to the poorhouse. Hosea Baldwin’s heart was dreadfully .rent. He got as far on his four words as ‘ Come ——’ when the door of the farm-house oppned, a ball figure appeared, and Abjaham had his mother enveloped in his long arms. Farmer Baldwin told Mrs Baldwin about the greeting of the mother and the son. How Abraham had been appointed the agent pf a rich woman • with full superintendence of her large estates. ‘ When she she had made up her mind to go to the poorhouse, I thought,’ said Farmer Baldwin,‘that it would be neighbourly to invite her over to stay with us. ’ ‘ You didn’t, I supposeasked Mrs Baldwin. * No, I was thinking,’ replied Farmer Baldwin, looking furtively at his wife. ‘ I don’t think, much of folks that think of good actions after the day of judgment has arrived,' said Mrs Baldwin.