“What’s that, sir?” innocently inquired Alfred.
“Why, Alfred, that means telling short stories.”
“We like them ever so much,” said Alfred, “and we shall remember what you tell us better, because we can’t forget your stories--yarns, I mean.”
Amongst several other experiments which Mr. Cottenham performed was one in which he took some powdered sugar and some other white powder, called _chlorate of potash_, moistened a rod in an acid (oil of vitriol) and touched the mixed powders. Immediately they caught fire, and all the powder turned black.
“Mind, boys, that you always wash your hands after touching any chemicals, as many of them are poisonous, and also, never do any experiments without first asking, as some things explode, and might seriously injure you. I had an accident when I was a boy, through being too conceited to ask. I thought I knew everything, and so I made some gas (it was _hydrogen_), and lit it without taking the proper precaution of seeing that there was no air left in the flask. Immediately there was a loud report like a pistol-shot, and my apparatus was blown all to pieces. You see that scar just above my eye. Well, that was where a piece of glass struck me, and I am thankful that I did not lose my sight. Boys too often think that making an explosion is a big joke, but it is also a very dangerous one.”
“Do you teach chemistry, sir?” inquired Alfred.
“Yes, at the grammar-school, and I am going to ask Mr. Harmer to let me give you a course of lectures at your school next autumn, similar to those I give at the grammar-school.”
“Please do, sir!” exclaimed Walter; “and let me help you with the experiments.”
“That I certainly will, Walter, as it is a pleasure to teach you chemistry, you take such an intelligent interest in all I do here.”
“What is that for, sir?” inquired Steve, pointing to a very complicated piece of apparatus.
“That is for water analysis,” replied Mr. Cottenham. “I am the borough analyst, and have to test the milk, butter, and anything else that may be brought to me.”
“I should like to be a chemist, sir!” exclaimed Walter. “I hope that when I leave school father will let me be one.”
“Please, sir,” inquired Steve, “can you do any kind of analysis?”