“But, then, Jonas,” he continued, after a moment’s pause, “what good will the charcoal do me when I get it made?”
“O, I don’t know,” said Jonas; “I wasn’t thinking of your getting any good from the charcoal. All the advantage would be, the pleasure of making it.”
“Isn’t there anything I can do with it,” said Rollo, “when I get it made? What is charcoal good for?”
“It makes a very hot fire. They use it when they want a great heat. Blacksmiths use it in their forges.”
“I wish I had a little forge,” said Rollo.
“They use it to make gunpowder, too,” said Jonas.
“How?” said Rollo.
“Why, they take some charcoal, and some sulphur, and some saltpetre, and pound it up together, and it makes gunpowder.”
“That’s what I’ll do with my charcoal,” said Rollo, jumping up from his seat. “I’ll make some gunpowder. I’ll ask my mother to give me some sulphur and saltpetre, and I’ll make some gunpowder.”