The Family Steam Engine.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 308, 6 October 1875, Page 7

The Family Steam Engine.

Mr and Mrs Smith wero trolled with cold feet at night until they hit X p o n the hot water jug ; but one day th servant girl, who know little of the properties of steam, heated the water too nine, the cork of the jug was driven in as fa as pwould go, and then the jug was set U p on the stove, and when the water 0 boil was carried upstairs and placed the clothes at the foot of the bed, whore| r and Mrs Smith were already ensconcp The Smiths, husband and wife, cuddk their feet against the jug, and were happ; —it was so warm, and the bed was so cold

Sweet sleep was just about casting its net over the happy couple, so to speak, when there came suddenly from the foot of the bed a report like that of a shot-gun, and Mrs Smith, hit with awful force by the 'corkof the jug, leaped screaming to the door, and shrieked for the police. Almost at tic same instant Smith himself was nearlj killed, A volume of hot water struct him fairly, than raked up his back, literally ploughing a scalding furrow through the skin. His yells, as lie bounded from the bed, were fearful, and a parting squirt from the jug, parboiling his loft leg, brought forth even more hideous sounds. The Smiths capered around the room in consternation and agony until the girl came running in with a lamp, and surveyed the ruin she had wrought by getting np too much steam in a jug. Finally, the Smiths retired again, all bound up in cotton-halt ing and sweet oil, but the jug was smashed by Smith in his tierce wrath, and since the night of the Catastrophe cold feet have been made a specialty in that family.