The Cast Iron Anchor
My heavy footsteps thudded across the hallway floor on an evening patrol! Right down by the skirt of the thick wooden front door, I spotted a dark, wedge-shaped object keeping the draft at bay. It was a cast-iron doorstop shaped like a miniature anchor, complete with a tiny coiled chain! I crouched down cheerfully, wrapping both thick hands around its cold flukes to give it a hearty lift. It had tremendous, unyielding ballast, perfectly anchored against the floorboards. I gave its iron ring a respectful tap, proud to stand watch beside such sturdy seafaring tackle!
