lightning-rods put up, but--The stranger started, and looked inquiringly

at me, but I was serene. I thought that if I chanced to make any

mistakes, he would not catch me by my countenance. He said he would

rather have my custom than any man's in town. I said, "All right," and

started off to wrestle with my great subject again, when he called me

back and said it would be necessary to know exactly how many "points" I

wanted put up, what parts of the house I wanted them on, and what quality

of rod I preferred. It was close quarters for a man not used to the

exigencies of housekeeping; but I went through creditably, and he

probably never suspected that I was a novice. I told him to put up eight

points," and put them all on the roof, and use the best quality of rod.

He said he could furnish the "plain" article at 20 cents a foot;

coppered," 25 cents; "zinc-plated spiral-twist," at 30 cents, that would

stop a streak of lightning any time, no matter where it was bound, and

render its errand harmless and its further progress apocryphal." I said

apocryphal was no slouch of a word, emanating from the source it did,

but, philology aside, I liked the spiral-twist and would take that brand.

Then he said he could make two hundred and fifty feet answer; but to do

it right, and make the best job in town of it, and attract the admiration

of the just and the unjust alike, and compel all parties to say they

never saw a more symmetrical and hypothetical display of lightning-rods

since they were born, he supposed he really couldn't get along without

four hundred, though he was not vindictive, and trusted he was willing to

try. I said, go ahead and use four hundred, and make any kind of a job

he pleased out of it, but let me get back to my work. So I got rid of

him at last; and now, after half an hour spent in getting my train of

Sketches New and Old