The chimney of the Ponderosa had to be cleaned desperately. Ranch owner Ben Cartwright noticed that when his three year old grandson Mitch started to complain about the cold in the house.
One morning in October 1866 Mitch came downstairs with his father Adam Cartwright.
“Papa, I have it so cold”, said the youngest.
“It is indeed colder than usual in the house”, said his father.
Quickly they walked to the dining room.
“Morning grandpa”, Mitch said while he went to sit down.
“Morning lad, Adam”, said the rancher.
“Morning pa. Isn’t it time to clean the chimney again? This little boy here complains that it is so cold here in the house”, said Adam.
“That is true but I don’t have time to do that. Later I go with Candy to Virginia City. He must let remove the plaster from his wrist and I have some bank business to attend to. You must do the administration and look after your son. So……..”, said Ben.
“The lucky ones are Hoss and Joe”, Adam said smiling.
“Exactly. And I know for sure that Mitch would love to keep and shall supervise”, said Ben.
“What is supervise?”, Mitch asked while he took another bite of oatmeal.
“That is watching how someone works”, answered Adam.
Mitch nodded satisfied. He got laughing eyes whereby his father and grandpa knew enough. In the meantime Hoss and Little Joe also came downstairs.
“Morning everyone. What a nice day to work”, Hoss said cheerful.
“And we always work hard”, said Little Joe.
“Since when?”, Adam asked dry.
“That you never see that isn’t our fault”, his youngest brother reacted fierce.
“Hoss and Joseph, I have a very special chore for you today”, said Ben.
The brothers looked at their father questionable.
“Mitch complains that it is a bit cold in the house and I don’t want that my grandson feels cold. So you two are the chosen ones to clean the chimney today. And don’t think that you can escape it because Mitch is supervising and Adam is at home too”, spoke the rancher.
The brothers now suddenly looked very disappointed.
“But pa, if Adam is at home he also can help, can’t he?”, Little Joe asked in an attempt to escape it.
“He is at home but the administration awaits for him. Besides he is responsible for your nephew”, answered Ben.
“And Candy then?”, asked Hoss.
“He goes with me to Virginia City to remove the plaster from his wrist”, said his father.
Now Hoss and Little Joe knew for sure that they had to clean the chimney. Meanwhile Ben, Adam and Mitch had finished and they got up.
Mitch said still to Hoss, “Uncle Hoss, you may eat first before you go to work.”
Ben, Adam and Little Joe laughed but then the latter had a smack of his nephew.
“And that goes for you as well, uncle Joe”, said Mitch.
Now Hoss could laugh but his younger brother couldn’t. Then the front door went open and foreman Candy Canaday came in with the shepherd dog Cody. The dog went straight to Mitch where after they went to play near the stairs.
“Candy, are you coming because Hoss and Joseph have a nice chore to do for today”, said Ben.
“Must they clean the yard with a dustpan and broom?”, Candy asked teasing.
“No, they must clean the chimney”, answered Adam.
“Rather them than me”, the foreman reacted light-hearted.
Of course Adam agreed with that.
Before Ben went away he said to his two youngest sons, “Boys, don’t forget to remove the furniture before you start working and put them then back on the same spot. And same goes for the rugs. Enjoy work.”
Adam went to occupy himself with the administration while Hoss and Little Joe reluctantly started to work.
With a lot of nagging the furniture got put aside and with a stairs Hoss and Little Joe went to clean the chimney.
“Joe, you are much skinnier than I am so you crawl inside and start to sweep. I will hold the stairs”, said Hoss.
“If you keep holding the stairs tight”, answered his brother.
Hoss held the stairs very tight Little Joe went inside with the broom. Hoss looked too inside and didn’t notice that Griff King had come in. Adam made clear to keep still which the hand was. Together they watched and they soon got company of Mitch. Adam lifted him up so he could see it better.
“Adam, do Hoss and Joe still know how the furniture stood?”, Griff suddenly asked.
“I hope so but otherwise pa will make it clear to them”, answered Adam.
At that moment all the sot came down exactly upon Hoss and Little Joe. A great curse and scolding party followed so that Adam covered the ears of Mitch hoping that the little one wouldn’t hear anything.
Griff saw that and said, “I take him and Cody outside. Come Cody.”
Adam gave Mitch to Griff where after they went outside with the dog. Adam himself went to work again but kept looking at his brothers who were now very black.
After working for 2 hours the chimney was finally clean but two Cartwrights weren’t.
“Joe, first we are going to wash ourselves and after that we put the furniture back”, said Hoss.
They walked to the front door but then Adam asked, “Can I help you?”
“Adam, don’t you recognize us?”, asked Little Joe.
His brother took a very close look and precisely and answered then with, “Oh sorry but I didn’t recognize you anymore.”
Indignant Hoss and Little Joe went outside to get washed. But near the water trough played Mitch and Cody.
“Gees, you are so dirty. Not even me get ever so dirty”, said the youngest Cartwright.
The brothers decided not to react and surrendered themselves to a big washing turn.
Even though it gave a lot of mess all Cartwrights were glad that the chimney was cleaned again and the cold stayed away from the Ponderosa.