Suddenly Ray noticed a coal-bin in one corner of the house, and taking up a piece he cried, “What queer-looking coal, it doesn’t look like the kind we use.”
“It’s not the same kind, you know,” said Mr. Pebble; “my coal is made from laughter.”
“How funny!” exclaimed Ray. “I don’t quite understand.”
“Well,” said Mr. Pebble, “if there is any laughter going around I catch it and turn it into coal. I’ll throw a piece into my fire and you will see what I mean.”
The coal burned with a blue flame, and all at once Ray could see in the midst of the flame his Uncle Josiah holding a horse and talking to a strange farmer as plainly as if they were standing before him.
Suddenly the farmer led the horse away and when they were out of sight Ray could hear his uncle laugh—
“Haw, haw! haw, haw, haw!
Best trade I ever saw!
Haw, haw, haw, haw!”
Ray laughed aloud, although he really didn’t know why, and all the Pebbles shook with laughter.