He put the bowl of the pipe into the middle of the bright red fire.
"Now, little girl," said he, "just watch."In a little while they saw some puffs of yellow smoke come out at the end of the stem. The bowl too got red-hot. Then the pipe left off smoking.
"Now, Norah," said Fred, "watch again."
He put a light to the end of the pipe. A bright yellow flame burst out in a moment, and Norah gave quite a start.
"Whatever is that? "she said.
"Ah," said her brother, "we knew we should give you a surprise.
"That is gas burning at the mouth of the pipe- the very gas that burns in our streets, and shops, and houses."Norah had another surprise when the pipe was taken out of the fire. After it had got cool, Fred broke the bowl, and showed her that it was full of coke.
SUMMARY
Coal was not always in the ground, as it is now. It has been formed from the remains of great forests, which once grew on the earth. The trees, long, long ago, sank down and got buried and changed into coal.
Coal gives us gas to light our streets, and shops, and houses; and coke to burn in our fires.
Lesson 34
Leaves
"You would have liked our lesson today about leaves, Norah." said Will.
"Wouldn"t she, Fred? "