Chapter XII: A Winter Enterprise

Boys who keep their eyes open for opportunities to make money are not long in finding that the coming of snow means money in their pockets if they are willing to do a little hustling.

A number of years ago a few boys undertook the job of keeping the walks of their neighborhood free from snow, and constructed

=A Snow Plough= with which to do their work. The plough proved so satisfactory that others were made, and before long every boy in the neighborhood had enlisted in the company.

By several boys joining forces in this way, and making contracts with property owners to keep their walks and steps free from snow, a good deal of ground can be covered in a short space of time, and a neat sum of money realized during the season. The work can be done before and after school, and be so divided that while several are ploughing the walks the others are cleaning the steps.

A plough such as is illustrated in Fig. 179 is made in two sections, four feet long by two feet wide. After battening the boards together at _A_ and _B_, as shown in the drawing, fasten the sections in place, with two ends together and the other two ends two feet apart. Nail them firmly together at the angle and brace them at the open end with strips, as shown at _C_ and _D_ in the illustration.

The bottom edge of the plough should be covered with tin, to prevent it from wearing or becoming broken. Bore a hole an inch in diameter in each section at _E_, and fasten a broom-handle in them from which to attach the rope tugs. This being done the plough is ready for use.

=A Scraper= is about the best appliance that can be had for cleaning snow from the steps, especially when the snow has turned to slush. For the making of one of these, prepare a seven-eighths inch board sixteen inches long by four inches wide. Bevel the lower edge and nail a two inch strip below the top, as at _A_ in Fig. 180. Bore a hole through both thicknesses of wood at _B_ and fit a broom-handle in it, bracing the handle with a piece of wire run from a small hole bored in the handle at _C_ to the ends of the scraper.

Figure 181 shows a scheme for

=A Snow Shovel= that is easy to make, and one which will stand a good deal of wear. For this, secure two barrel staves, cut them in two, and plane up the curved edges until they are straight. Then taking three of these pieces, lay them side by side and nail a two-by-two inch strip across the top edges, as shown at _A_, to bind them together. The bevelled ends of the staves should be placed at the lower end of the shovel and bound in place by a strip of galvanized iron bent over the edges and tacked to the staves (see _B_ in drawing). Another iron strip should be nailed across the staves at _C_, to fasten them more securely together. Clinch the nails upon the under side of the shovel and drive their ends well into the wood. Procure a broom-stick for the handle and place it in a bevelled slot cut at _D_ (Fig. 182), fastening down the end with iron pipe-straps, as shown in Fig. 181.

With the addition of brooms to the plough, scrapers, and shovels, your outfit will be complete and ready for business.