THE LIGHTNING-ROD MAN'S LITTLE MISTAKE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1224, 30 October 1874, Page 3

THE LIGHTNING-ROD MAN'S LITTLE MISTAKE.

The following is from aa American paper: —Up in Blossburg, the other day, a lightning-rod man drove up in front of a handsome edifice standing in the midst of trees and shrubs, and spoke 10 Mr Summers, who was sitting on the steps in front. He accosted Summers as the owner of the residence and said—- " I see you have no lightning-rods, on this house." "No" said Summers. " Are you going to put any on it. ? " "Well, 1 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—everthing complete. May I put you out one to show you ? I'll do the iob ' cheap. "Certainly you may, if you w.int to I haven't the slightest objection," said Summers. During the next half-hour the man had his ladders up and his assistants y.X work; and at the end of that time the job was done. Hr called Summers out into !o yard to admire it. He 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 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 eyeing it. " I like such a man as you are —big. hearted, liberal, and not afraid to put a dollar down for a good thing. There's some pleasure in dealing with you. I like you so much that I'd put a couple more rods on that house, one on the north and: one on the south, for almost nothing " It would make things much safer, suppose," said Summers. " Certainly it would. I'd better do it—hadn't I—hey ?" "Just as you think proper," said Summers. So the man run up two more rods, and then he came down 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 me to pay you, I hope?"

"Of course I do. Didn't you tell me to put those rods on your Louse ?" "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 court house, and I'm here waiting for the court to assemble. I'm on the jury. Tou 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 court house he left permanently. He didn't fancy the place.