FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Clang, clatter, bang! Down the street came the fire engines.



Driving along ahead, oblivious of any danger, was a farmer in a

ramshackle old buggy. A policeman yelled at him: "Hi there, look out!

The fire department's coming."



Turning in by the curb the farmer watched the hose cart, salvage wagon

and engine whiz past. Then he turned out into the street again and drove

on. Barely had he starte when the hook and ladder came tearing along.

The rear wheel of the big truck slewed into the farmer's buggy, smashing

it to smithereens and sending the farmer sprawling into the gutter. The

policeman ran to his assistance.



"Didn't I tell ye to keep out of the way?" he demanded crossly. "Didn't

I tell ye the fire department was comin"?"



"Wall, consarn ye," said the peeved farmer, "I _did_ git outer the way

for th' fire department. But what in tarnation was them drunken painters

in sech an all-fired hurry fer?"





Two Irishmen fresh from Ireland had just landed in New York and engaged

a room in the top story of a hotel. Mike, being very sleepy, threw

himself on the bed and was soon fast asleep. The sights were so new and

strange to Pat that he sat at the window looking out. Soon an alarm of

fire was rung in and a fire-engine rushed by throwing up sparks of fire

and clouds of smoke. This greatly excited Pat, who called to his comrade

to get up and come to the window, but Mike was fast asleep. Another

engine soon followed the first, spouting smoke and fire like the former.

This was too much for poor Pat, who rushed excitedly to the bedside, and

shaking his friend called loudly:



"Mike, Mike, wake up! They are moving Hell, and two loads have gone by

already."