She leaned over and communicated it to Mrs.Bunnel, in the pew in front; and when the Bunnels all had it, they sent it on to the people next to them, and so before the doctor reached "thirdly" the whole congregation knew that he wanted to borrow Butterwick's lawn-mower on Monday morning early.
A day or two later, while Butterwick was crossing the creek upon a train of cars, the train ran off the track and rolled his car into the water.

Butterwick got out, however, into the stream, and as he emerged, spluttering and blowing, he struck against a stranger who was treading water.

The stranger apologized, and said that Butterwick might not recognize him in his dilapidated condition as Martin Thompson, but while they were together, he would like to put in a word for that lawn-mower when the parson was done with it.
[Illustration: TREADING WATER] At last Butterwick grew tired of lending, and refused all applicants.
Then the people began to steal it, and six respectable citizens only escaped going to jail because Butterwick had consideration for their families.

Finally he chained it to the pump, and then they sawed off the pump and operated the mower with the log as a roller.

Butterwick at last put it on top of his house, and that night fourteen ladders were seen against the wall.