the peterkin papers-第15章

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Indeed；　he　had　gone　so　far　as　to　make　his　invention。　It　had　been　suggested　by　　their　trouble　with　a　key；　in　their　late　moving　to　their　new　house。　He　had　　studied　the　matter　over　a　great　deal。　He　looked　it　up　in　the　Encyclop？dia；　and　　had　spent　a　day　or　two　in　the　Public　Library；　in　reading　about　Chubb's　Lock　and　　other　patent　locks。

　But　his　plan　was　more　simple。　It　was　this：　that　all　keys　should　be　made　alike　！

He　wondered　it　had　not　been　thought　of　before；　but　so　it　was；　Solomon　John　said；　　with　all　inventions；　with　Christopher　Columbus；　and　everybody。　Nobody　knew　the　　invention　till　it　was　invented；　and　then　it　looked　very　simple。　With　Agamemnon's　　plan　you　need　have　but　one　key；　that　should　fit　everything！　It　should　be　a　　medium…sized　key；　not　too　large　to　carry。　It　ought　to　answer　for　a　house　door；　　but　you　might　open　a　portmanteau　with　it。　How　much　less　danger　there　would　be　of　　losing　one's　keys　if　there　were　only　one　to　lose！

Mrs。　Peterkin　thought　it　would　be　inconvenient　if　their　father　were　out；　and　she　　wanted　to　open　the　jam…closet　for　the　little　boys。　But　Agamemnon　explained　that　　he　did　not　mean　there　should　be　but　one　key　in　the　family；　or　in　a　town；…you　　might　have　as　many　as　you　pleased；　only　they　should　all　be　alike。

　Elizabeth　Eliza　felt　it　would　be　a　great　convenience；…they　could　keep　the　front　　door　always　locked；　yet　she　could　open　it　with　the　key　of　her　upper　drawer；　that　　she　was　sure　to　have　with　her。　And　Mrs。　Peterkin　felt　it　might　be　a　convenience　　if　they　had　one　on　each　story；　so　that　they　need　not　go　up　and　down　for　it。

Mr。　Peterkin　studied　all　the　papers　and　advertisements；　to　decide　about　the　　lawyer　whom　they　should　consult；　and　at　last；　one　morning；　they　went　into　town　　to　visit　a　patent…agent。

Elizabeth　Eliza　took　the　occasion　to　make　a　call　upon　the　lady　from　　Philadelphia；　but　she　came　back　hurriedly　to　her　mother。

〃I　have　had　a　delightful　call；〃　she　said；　〃but…perhaps　I　was　wrong…I　could　not　　help；　in　conversation；　speaking　of　Agamemnon's　proposed　patent。　I　ought　not　to　　have　mentioned　it；　as　such　things　are　kept　profound　secrets；　they　say　women　　always　do　tell　things；　I　suppose　that　is　the　reason。〃

〃But　where　is　the　harm？　〃　asked　Mrs。　Peterkin。　〃　I'm　sure　you　can　trust　the　lady　　from　Philadelphia。〃

Elizabeth　Eliza　then　explained　that　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　had　questioned　　the　plan　a　little　when　it　was　told　her；　and　had　suggested　that　〃　if　everybody　　had　the　same　key　there　would　be　no　particular　use　in　a　lock。〃

　〃Did　you　explain　to　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃that　we　were　not　all　to　have　the　　same　keys？　〃

〃I　couldn't　quite　understand　her；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃but　she　seemed　to　　think　that　burglars　and　other　people　might　come　in　if　the　keys　were　the　same。〃

〃Agamemnon　would　not　sell　his　patent　to　burglars！〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　　indignantly。

〃But　about　other　people；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃there　is　my　upper　drawer；　the　　little　boys　might　open　it　at　Christmas…time；…and　their　presents　in　it！〃

〃And　I　am　not　sure　that　I　could　trust　Amanda；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　considering。

　Both　she　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　felt　that　Mr。　Peterkin　ought　to　know　what　the　lady　　from　Philadelphia　had　suggested。　Elizabeth　Eliza　then　proposed　going　into　town；　　but　it　would　take　so　long　she　might　not　reach　them　in　time。　A　telegram　would　be　　better；　and　she　ventured　to　suggest　using　the　Telegraph　Alarm。

For；　on　moving　into　their　new　house；　they　had　discovered　it　was　provided　with　　all　the　modern　improvements。　This　had　been　a　disappointment　to　Mrs。　Peterkin；　　for　she　was　afraid　of　them；　since　their　experience　the　last　winter；　when　their　　water…pipes　were　frozen　up。　She　had　been　originally　attracted　to　the　house　by　an　　old　pump　at　the　side；　which　had　led　her　to　believe　there　were　no　modern　　improvements。　It　had　pleased　the　little　boys；　too。　They　liked　to　pump　the　handle　　up　and　down；　and　agreed　to　pump　all　the　water　needed；　and　bring　it　into　the　　house。

　There　was　an　old　well；　with　a　picturesque　well…sweep；　in　a　corner　by　the　barn。

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　frightened　by　this　at　first。　She　was　afraid　the　little　boys　　would　be　falling　in　every　day。　And　they　showed　great　fondness　for　pulling　the　　bucket　up　and　down。　It　proved；　however；　that　the　well　was　dry。　There　was　no　　water　in　it；　so　she　had　some　moss　thrown　down；　and　an　old　feather…bed；　for　　safety；　and　the　old　well　was　a　favorite　place　of　amusement。

The　house；　it　had　proved；　was　well　furnished　with　bath…rooms；　and　〃set…waters〃

everywhere。　Water…pipes　and　gas…pipes　all　over　the　house；　and　a　hack…；　　telegraph…；　and　fire…alarm；　with　a　little　knob　for　each。

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　very　anxious。　She　feared　the　little　boys　would　be　summoning　　somebody　all　the　time；　and　it　was　decided　to　conceal　from　them　the　use　of　the　　knobs；　and　the　card　of　directions　at　the　side　was　destroyed。　Agamemnon　had　made　　one　of　his　first　inventions　to　help　this。　He　had　arranged　a　number　of　similar　　knobs　to　be　put　in　rows　in　different　parts　of　the　house；　to　appear　as　if　they　　were　intended　for　ornament；　and　had　added　some　to　the　original　knobs。　Mrs。

Peterkin　felt　more　secure；　and　Agamemnon　thought　of　taking　out　a　patent　for　this　　invention。

It　was；　therefore；　with　some　doubt　that　Elizabeth　Eliza　proposed　sending　a　　telegram　to　her　father。　Mrs。　Peterkin；　however；　was　pleased　with　the　idea。

Solomon　John　was　out；　and　the　little　boys　were　at　school；　and　she　herself　would　　touch　the　knob；　while　Elizabeth　Eliza　should　write　the　telegram。

〃I　think　it　is　the　fourth　knob　from　the　beginning；〃　she　said；　looking　at　one　of　　the　rows　of　knobs。

　Elizabeth　Eliza　was　sure　of　this。　Agamemnon；　she　believed；　had　put　three　extra　　knobs　at　each　end。

〃But　which　is　the　end；　and　which　is　the　beginning；　…the　top　or　the　bottom？〃　Mrs。

Peterkin　asked　hopelessly。

Still　she　bravely　selected　a　knob；　and　Elizabeth　Eliza　hastened　with　her　to　look　　out　for　the　messenger。　How　soon　should　they　see　the　telegraph　boy？

They　seemed　to　have　scarcely　reached　the　window；　when　a　terrible　noise　was　　heard；　and　down　the　shady　street　the　white　horses　of　the　fire…brigade　were　seen　　rushing　at　a　fatal　speed！

It　was　a　terrific　moment！

〃I　have　touched　the　fire…alarm；〃　Mrs。　Peterkin　exclaimed。

Both　rushed　to　open　the　front　door　in　agony。　By　this　time　the　fire…engines　were　　approaching。

〃Do　not　be　alarmed；〃　said　the　chief　engineer；　〃the　furniture　shall　be　carefully　　covered；　and　we　will　move　all　that　is　necessary。〃

〃Move　again！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Peterkin；　in　agony。

Elizabeth　Eliza　strove　to　explain　that　she　was　only　sending　a　telegram　to　her　　father；　who　was　in　Boston。

　〃It　is　not　important；〃　said　the　head　engineer；　〃the　fire　will　all　be　out　before　　it　could　reach　him。〃

And　he　ran　upstairs；　for　the　engines　were　beginning　to　play　upon　the　roof。

Mrs。　Peterkin　rushed　to　the　knobs　again　hurriedly；　there　was　more　necessity　for　　summoning　Mr。　Peterkin　home。

〃Write　a　telegram　to　your　father；〃　she　said　to　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃to　'come　home　　directly。'〃

〃That　will　take　but　three　words；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　with　presence　of　mind；　　〃and　we　need　ten。　I　was　just　trying　to　make　them　out。〃

　〃What　has　come　now？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Peterkin；　and　they　hurried　again　to　the　　window；　to　see　a　row　of　carriages　coming　down　the　street。

〃I　must　have　touched　the　carriage…knob；〃　cried　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃and　I　pushed　it　　half…a…dozen　times　I　felt　so　anxious！〃

Six　hacks　stood　before　the　door。　All　the　village　boys　were　assembling。　Even　　their　own　little　boys　had　returned　from　school；　and　were　showing　the　firemen　the　　way　to　the　well。

Again　Mrs。　Peterkin　rushed　to　the　knobs；　and　a　fearful　sound　arose。　She　had　　touched　the　burglar…alarm　！

　The　former　owner　of　the　house；　who　had　a　great　fear　of　burglars；　had　invented　a　　machine　of　his　own；　which　he　had　connected　with　a　knob。　A　wire　attached　to　the　　knob　moved　a　spring　that　could　put　in　motion　a　number　of　watchmen's　rattles；　　hidden　under　the　eaves　of　the　piazza。

All　these　were　now　set　a…going；　and　their　terrible　din　roused　those　of　the　　neighborhood　who　had　not　before　assembled　around　the　house。　At　this　moment　　Elizabeth　Eliza　met　the　chief　engineer。

〃You　need　not　send　for　more　help；〃　he　said；　〃we　have　all　the　engines　in　town　　here；　and　have　stirred　up　all　the　towns　in　the　neighborhood；　there's　no　use　in　　springing　any　more　alarms。　I　can't　find　the　fire　yet；　but　we　have　water　pouring　　all　over　the　house。〃

Elizabeth　Eliza　waved　her　telegram　in　the　air。

〃We　are　only　trying　to　send　a　telegram　to　my　father　and　brother；　who　are　in　　town；〃　she　endeavored　to　explain。

〃If　it　is　necessary；〃　said　the　chief　engineer；　〃you　might　send　it　down　in　one　of　　the　hackney　carriages。　I　see　a　number　standing　before　the　door。　We'd　better　　begin　to　move　the　heavier　furniture；　and　some　of　you　women　might　fill　the　　carriages　with　smaller　things。〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　was　ready　to　fall　into　hysterics。　She　controlled　herself　with　a　　supreme　power；　and　hastened　to　touch　another　knob。

　Elizabeth　Eliza　corrected　her　telegram；　and　decided　to　take　the　advice　of　the　　chief　engineer　and　went　to　the　door　to　give　her　message　to　one　of　the　hackmen；　　when　she　saw　a　telegraph　boy　appear。　Her　mother　had　touched　the　right　knob。　It　　was　the　fourth　from　the　beginning；　but　the　beginning　was　at　the　other　end！

She　went　out　to　meet　the　boy；　when；　to　her　joy；　she　saw　behind　him　her　father　　and　Agamemnon。　She　clutched　her　telegram；　and　hurried　toward　them。

Mr。　Peterkin　was　bewildered。　Was　the　house　on　fire？　If　so；　where　were　the　　flames？

He　saw　the　row　of　carriages。　Was　there　a　funeral；　or　a　wedding？　Who　was　dead？

Who　was　to　be　married？

He　seized　the　telegram　that　Elizabeth　Eliza　reached　to　him；　and　read　it　aloud。

〃Come　to　us　directly…the　house　is　NOT　on　fire！〃

The　chief　engineer　was　standing　on　the　steps。

〃The　house　not　on　fire！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃What　are　we　all　summoned　for？〃

〃It　is　a　mistake；〃　cried　Elizabeth　Eliza；　wringing　her　hands。　〃We　touched　the　　wrong　knob；　we　wanted　the　telegraph　boy！　〃

〃We　touched　all　the　wrong　knobs；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Peterkin；　from　the　house。

The　chief　engineer　turned　directly　to　give　counter…directions；　with　a　few　　exclamations　of　disgust；　as　the　bells　of　distant　fire…engines　were　heard　　approaching。

Solomon　John　appeared　at　this　moment；　and　proposed　taking　one　of　the　carriages；　　and　going　for　a　doctor　for　his　mother；　for　she　was　now　nearly　ready　to　fall　into　　hysterics；　and　Agamemnon　thought　to　send　a　telegram　down　by　the　boy；　for　the　　evening　papers；　to　announce　that　the　Peterkins'　house　had　not　been　on　fire。

The　crisis　of　the　commotion　had　reached　its　height。　The　beds　of　flowers；　　bordered　with　dark…colored　leaves；　were　trodden　down　by　the　feet　of　the　crowd　　that　had　assembled。

The　chief　engineer　grew　more　and　more　indignant；　as　he　sent　his　men　to　order　　back　the　fire…engines　from　the　neighboring　towns。　The　collection　of　boys　　followed　the　procession　as　it　went　away。　The　fire…brigade　hastily　removed　covers　　from　some　of　the　furniture；　restored　the　rest　to　their　places；　and　took　away　　their　ladders。　Many　neighbors　remained；　but　Mr。　Peterkin　hastened　into　the　house　　to　attend　to　Mrs。　Peterkin。

Elizabeth　Eliza　took　an　opportunity　to　question　her　father；　before　he　went　in；　　as　to　the　success　of　their