"'_Got any ole boots?_' "We'll give the rascals a caution, they won't neglect soon, I'll warrant them. Bring me the hammer and nails; that's a man; now get uncle the high chair; so, that's it; now I'll fix this shelf up over the top of the door, on a pivot--bore this hole through here--put the string through that way, here, umph; oh, now we'll have a trap for the scoundrels. I'll learn them how to come pulling people's bells, clean out by the very roots, making us drop all, to come wait on them, rot them-- "'_Got any ole boots?_' "I'll give you old boots, by the lord Harry; I'll give you a dose of something you won't forget, to your dying day." And thus jabbering, fixing and pushing about the revolving shelf, over his hall door, Mr. Mansfield worked away at his trap. Like that of most dwellings in Boston, Uncle Henry's front door was _sunk_ some six or eight feet into the face of the house, reached by a flight of six granite steps--side and top lights to the door, in the ordinary way, with brass plate and bell pull. It was in a neighborhood not _plebeian_ enough to induce butcher boys to enter the hall, with the pork and potatoes, nor admit of the servant girl heaving "slops" out of the front windows; yet not sufficiently parvenu to impress pedlers and "_Got any ole boots?_" with aristocratic or "respectable" _awe_, ere venturing to mount the steps, pull the bell, and mention tin pots, scrap iron, rags and old leather. Mr. Mansfield was inclined to _chuckle_ in his sleeves at the _ruse_ he would be enabled to give his tormentors through the agency of his revolving battery--charged with ground charcoal and brick dust, to be worked by himself or Philly, by means of a string on the inside. Philly was duly initiated into the _modus operandi_; when-- "_Got any ole boots?_" made his appearance, amid his pyramid of leather, or a pedler's wagon was seen in the neighborhood, Philly was to be on the _qui vive_, inform Uncle Henry, and if they mounted the steps, he would give them a shower bath upon a new and astonishing principle. It was perfect "nuts" for Master Phil; he was tickled at the idea, and readily agreed to Uncle Henry's propositions. Not long after arranging the "infernal machine," Uncle Henry's attention was called to another part of the house; a dire calamity had befallen the Canary bird; a strange cat had pounced upon the cage--the door flew open, and puss nabbed the little warbler. Philly, on the look out, in front, discovers two old boot men approaching the neighborhood; desirous of showing his own skill, he did not call Uncle Henry, but posted himself behind the door--string in hand, awaiting the _cue_. Feet approach--quickly the feet mount the steps. "_Ding al ling, ding de ding, ding, ding, ding!_" "_Sh-i-i-s-swashe!_" and down comes the avalanche of coal dust and refined brick, the bulk of a peck, fair measurement!