270 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



or crane from which the pots and " kittles " are sus- 

 pended, and projecting somewhat in front of it. A 

 little space is left between the sticks as they are 

 laid side by side, so they will not blanket the fire 

 too much. These screen the fire from the rain suf- 

 ficiently so that it will keep burning, and the fire 

 dries them enough so that they burn readily. When 

 the fire needs replenishing you feed it with a piece 

 of the roof dropped dry side down, and replace this 

 with another, wet piece of firewood; how 's that for 

 perpetual reciprocity! 



But after all, what less should we have expected 

 as a result of Charlie's exuberant personal and pro- 

 fessional qualifications! I have mentioned some- 

 thing about his social and political activities but 

 not a word as to his business-card, which in our home 

 paper reads as follows: 



Secure our estimate on your heating 

 plant (new or repairs). Our work 

 and materials give the best service. 

 Our figures are close. 



w & c 



Steam and Water Heating 



The unanimous vote of the bunch at " Big-Birch " 

 camp was that his services were eminently satisfac- 

 tory, and that the result of his " figuring " was be- 

 yond cavil as economical of time and energy as the 

 above literary specimen is devoid of verbiage. 



In the accompanying illustration of this arrange- 

 ment there is no camouflage about the trout frying 



