“They do happen and would happen very much oftener if the city did not have public servants who come to carry such dangerous things away.”
“Public servants—oh, mother, do you mean the ash and rubbish collectors?”
“Yes, Walter; you know they come regularly for ashes and rubbish. If they did not, there would be many more fires, I fear.”
“I should think that if people knew of the danger they wouldn’t keep such things.”
“What would they do with them, Walter?”
“Why—I didn’t think about that. I don’t suppose that each family could have such things carted away for themselves, could they?”
“No, it would be impossible to keep our cellars and yards in good order without the system that the city uses. How untidy and unsafe we should all be. Besides the danger of spontaneous combustion, the rubbish would make hiding places for rats and mice, and would become a source of disease and uncleanliness.”
“Isn’t it splendid that the city attends to such things!” cried Walter. “Why, I never expected to say, ‘Three cheers for the ash man! Three cheers for the rubbish collector!’”
A Parade of Ash and Rubbish Wagons