A WAN.
One day there was heard a tremendous explosion in the department of Sky-High. Mrs. Van Buren came running down-stairs. Lucy followed her, all eyes and ears. Irish Nora met them, running up-stairs. The kitten fled out, and jumped over the fence. The parrot was shrieking.
Above Sky-High's door, Mrs. Van Buren saw a strange black character on a big red paper. It was a square character and somewhat like a heavy "X" and also somewhat like a heavy "H."
Sky-High stood calmly ironing inside his little house at the end of the grape-arbor.
Nora followed her mistress to that abode of mystery.
"It's dynamated we are to be sure!" said she. "I shut my eyes and run, for I thought it was Sky-High that had gone off—but there he stood ironing! And there he stands now!"
"Sky-High," said Mrs. Van Buren, "what was that sound I heard?"
"Crackers, mistress."
"We are only allowed to fire crackers on holidays. Why did you light crackers?"