THE LIGHTNING-SOD MAN'S MISTAKE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1812, 23 October 1874, Page 3

THE LIGHTNING-SOD MAN'S MISTAKE.

Tip in. Blowburg, the otter day, a lightning-rod man drove up in front of a handsome edifice standing in the midst of trees and shrubs, and spoke to Mr. Sutaxners* who was sitting on the steps in front. Ho accosted Summers as the •wner of the residence and said— "Isee you hare no lightning-rod on ihis house."

"No," said Summers. '♦ Are you. going to put any on ? " ." WeU, 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." "Certainlyyou may, if you want to. I haven't the slightest objection," said Summers. During the next half-hour the mtin 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. He said to Sum-mers.-r " JTOw, that is all well enough; but, if it was my house, I'd have another rod Eut on the other side. There is nothing ke being protected thoroughly." " That s true," said Summers; it would lie better." " I'll put up another—shall I? " asked th« man. ■ i " 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 eyeing it. "I like such a man as you are—bighearted, liberal, and not afraid to put down a dollar for a good thing. There's

some pleasure in dealing with you. I like you so much that. I'd put a couple m«'i"c rodt! on tho house','one on the north end and one on the south, for almost nothing." . , "It would make things safer, I supi pose said Summers. "Certainly it would. I'd better do it —hadn't I—hey ? " 41 Just as you think proper," said Summers. So the man ran up two more rods, and then he came down.and said, to Summers— " There, that's done. Now let's settle up." V Do what?" " Why, the job's finished, amd now I'll take my money." _ " You don't expect me to pay you, I hope?" Of course I do! 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! Ib.woulil have been ridiculous. Why. man this is the courthouse, and I am here waiting for the court to assemble ! I'm ou 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 Jightning-rod man tore around town and indulged in profanity was fearful. But when he get his rods off tho courthouse ho left permanent. Ho didn't fancy the place.—American paper.