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Page 42
LIVING SILVER.
BY MARY H. SEYMOUR.
The ground was covered with snow, and now it had begun raining. There
was no prospect of a change in the weather, which made Fred's face
rather gloomy as he looked out of the window. Harry was turning over
the leaves of a story-book. You could see they were both disappointed
that the morning was stormy; for when they came to grandpapa's in the
winter, they expected bright days and plenty of fun.
"What shall we do?" said Fred.
"Let's go into the garret!" exclaimed Harry.
This plan evidently suited both of them, for they made a rush toward
the door; and the dog, awakening from his nap, entered into the idea,
too.
At this moment, Aunt Carrie came into the room. They wished it had been
grandmamma, for she never laid the least restriction on their sports,
but smiled on every request and allowed them to do exactly as they
pleased.
"Now, boys," said Aunt Carrie, "where are you going?"
"Only into the garret, auntie."
"Be sure to leave things exactly as you find them," she replied, with a
laugh and a little groan.
"We always do, Aunt Carrie."
Away they went, with Gyp at their heels, and every footstep resounded
through the old house until they reached the upper floor.
"It is no wonder that garret is never in order," said Aunt Carrie; "but
the children must enjoy themselves."
"Of course, they must, Carrie," replied grandma from the depths of her
heart.
First, the boys pulled out a box of old books and papers, and busied
themselves reading the queer names and advertisements of old times.
Soon they turned from these to a shelf of chemical instruments. Most of
them were in perfect order, and they knew they must keep their hands
off, for the bulbs and tubes of glass were too delicate to be touched
by unskilled fingers.
"Here is an old broken forrometer," exclaimed Harry. "Let's ask grandpa
if we can have it."
"You mean _thermometer_, don't you?" said Fred. "What can we do with
that?"
"Don't you see? There is a great deal of quicksilver in this glass
ball, and we can play with it. I'll show you how." And away they went
downstairs to find their grandfather.
"Grandpa, can we have this?"
Mr. Lenox looked up from his newspaper.
"Let me see it a moment. What do you wish to do with it?"
"We will break it and take out the quicksilver, and then I will show
you. Let me ask Ellen for a dish to catch the drops."
"Not quite so fast; wait a moment, Harry," replied Mr. Lenox. "I wish
you to notice something about it first. The top of the tube is slightly
broken, which makes it of no exact use, for to measure heat or cold the
quicksilver must be entirely protected from the air. If you had noticed
it when you first came in, you would see that the warmth of the room
has caused it to rise in the tube. This is shown by the marks on the
plate to which it is fastened. Now, if you hold it close to the stove,
the quicksilver will rise still higher. Let it stand outside the window
a moment, and it will sink."
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