American inventions and inventors . he could to the nearest course he hurried, for was not mother all dressed and nota bit of fire in the house? The fire must have died down toomuch the evening before; and although the coals had beencarefully covered with ashes before father and mother wentto bed, mother could not find a tiny spark anywhere underthe ashes in the morning. Thomas kept up his run until he was tired, and then fellinto a brisk walk. When he reached neighbor Wallaces, hewas glad to warm his numbed fingers over the raging fire inthe fireplace. But he knew that he must no
American inventions and inventors . he could to the nearest course he hurried, for was not mother all dressed and nota bit of fire in the house? The fire must have died down toomuch the evening before; and although the coals had beencarefully covered with ashes before father and mother wentto bed, mother could not find a tiny spark anywhere underthe ashes in the morning. Thomas kept up his run until he was tired, and then fellinto a brisk walk. When he reached neighbor Wallaces, hewas glad to warm his numbed fingers over the raging fire inthe fireplace. But he knew that he must not stop long, so hestated his errand, and Mrs. Wallace placed some live coalson his shovel and thoroughly covered them with rested a moment longer and then hastened home;for if those coals should be out when he reached the househe would have to make the trip over again. This disaster did not befall him, however, and soon hismother had placed the coals on the hearth and had laid upon 52 AMERICAN INVENTIONS AND THOMAS CARRYING FIRE. them a few shavings. These kindled at once; small stickswere soon ablaze, and in a very short time the fire was burn-ing as vigorously as the neighbors had been. The boys of two centuries ago fully realized what it meantto have the fire go out. Perhaps the nearest neighbors were not always so far distant,but it was no pleasant taskto be sent for coals anydistance on a winter morn-i n g . If, however, noneighbors were near andcoals could not be bor-rowed, how under circum-stances like these could anew fire be kindled? Ifwe wanted a fire nowadayswe might say, Strike alight, because we should obtain the light by striking a match ;but, before matches were invented, the expression used wouldprobably have been, Rub a light. An early method of producing a light, and from this afire, was by rubbing two sticks together. If this process becontinued long enough the wood will become heated andsparks will fly off. Then, in order to start th
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