The fable, only It ain’t a fable, of The grasshopper and the ant really comes home to a heap of folks when the mercury begins to hit the skids.
This applies especially to those who depend upon floor furnaces for warmth and comfort. Take that little matter of the pilot-light on the same. Maybe these promoters who designate such-and-such a seven-day period as *'Eat More Turnips Week", or "Go to the Movies Week", or "Plant a Tree Week" could schedule a "Get that pilot-light lit Week".
If they do, we suggest the last week of August as the Ideal setup, with mid-September for your deadline. At that time of year, your plumber might have the leisure to cooperate. But when you wait until the wild geese fly over, then there just aren't enough plumbers to go around.
We speak from experience, for we used to struggle with a pilot- light over on Eureka Street that was every bit as temperamental as a second-string quarterback or an opera star.
Sometimes the thing worked, sweet as pie when we pushed down on the key and lowered the match to the pilot burner. But sometimes the little ring of blue flame would snuff out when we released the pressure on the key. Again the push-down and the lowered match, and again the snuff-out.
After using up half a penny-box of matches we would call Montrose Davison who, earlier in the day, had reminded us that (there was a war on and that a plumber wouldn't be available until next week.
"Get a brick and weigh your pilot-light key down with it,” suggested Mr. Davison, "so the burner will get good and hot before you let up on the key. Then maybe it will stay lit when you switch. over to your furnace burners."
Maybe was right, Monk, and on one occasion we left the brick on the key so long that we forgot and tripped over it when we came home that night. And still, the pilot-light went out. Then again your prescription was Just what the doctor ordered, with the furnace corning to life, and we knew how Archimedes fell and what he meant when he shouted "Eureka."
Sometimes the factory that turns out floor furnaces helps to compound the misery of us grasshoppers when the first frost is falling. Like the model which requires keys, one for the furnace and one for the pilot, with neither interchangeable. If a key Is misplaced, then you must rely on pliers to put the deal in gear.
Anyhow, beginning with next August, let's see what It's like to ants for a change.
A great favorite of ours amongst the connection-kin accosted us not so long ago, quote: -
"Cousin Brodie, I read your directions for making hurricane- lamps out of broom-sticks and tuna cans. Well, I might be able to locate the broom-sticks or reasonable facsimiles thereof, but those tuna cans are something else yet."
We asked why so simple as an empty tuna fish container should pose a problem. After all, it should be available in most households.
"Not in ours", replied the lady, "you see when we first started housekeeping I'm afraid I went all-out with tuna. Nowadays the family won’t let a can of It in the house."
In that case, cousin, you'd better contact the Kings Daughters Hospital Diet Kitchen of a Friday morning. Tuna cans or "salmon* cans, either one will do, and Friday is fish day.
B.C.
