WHAT JACK OVERHEARD IN THE CELLAR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 34, 26 August 1893, Page 143

WHAT JACK OVERHEARD IN THE CELLAR.

‘Tins cellar is awfully damp,’ said the Rat-trap. ‘l’m afraid I’ll catch malaria.’

‘ If you don’t catch malaria any better than you catch rats, you needn’t be afraid,’ said the Kindling Wood. ‘ You seem to have a cold,’ said the Milk Pail to the Refrigerator. ‘ Yes ; in my chest,’ said the Refrigerator with a smile. ‘ I hate being locked up here in this dull place,’ said the F urnace.

‘ Oh, I don’t think it’s so bad,’ said the Fire. ‘ Oh, it’s easy enough for you to talk,’ said the Furnace. ‘ Fires can go out, but Furnaces can’t. ’

‘ How did you happen to see all these things you tell us about?’ asked the Coal-bin of the Saw.

* The same way I saw everything else,’ said the Saw ; * with my teeth.’ ‘ I bear you called on the Refrigerator yesterday,’ said the Wood-box to the Pail. ‘ Were you received pleasantly ?’ ‘ No. The Refrigerator treated me with great coldness,’ said the Pail.

‘This house is beautiful upstairs,’ said the Furnace to the Poker. ‘ The flues are going up there all the time, and they told me all about it.’

‘ Oh, please stop poking me, said the Furnace Fire to the Poker. ‘ You tickle.’

‘ I hear you are quite a sportsman,’ said the Snow Shovel to the Coal.

‘ Never handled a gun in my life,’ said the Coal. ‘ Why, I’m certain I overheard somebody saying that he’d seen the Coal chute,' said the Snow Shovel.