The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-04-06

A THRILLING ADyENTuRE.-l have heard
a story somewhere, of a merchant who col
ected party together to give eclat to one
of those little family festivals, which brigh- |
ten the dark traces of life, and cheer the |
human heart in every cline. Ii was his
daughters wedding day; Crowds of her
young acquaintance circled round her, and
as the father gazed proudly on the face OF
the young bribe, he wished as bright pros
pee, might open for his other children, who
were gambollng merrily among the crowd.
Passing through the passage connecting the
lower rooms, he met the servant maid, an
ignorant country wench, who was carrying
lighted talow candle in her hand without
candestick. He blamed her for this dir
" conduct, and went into the kitched to
make some arrangements with his wife about
the supper table the girl shortly returned
with her aims full of ale bottles, but with
out candle. The merchant Immediately
recolected thet several barrels of gunpow-
der had been placed in his cellar during
the day, and that his foreman had opened
lone of the barrels To select sample for a
customer. Where is your candle Z he
inquired, in the utmost agitation. l could
not bring it up with me, for my hands wer,
full,' said the girl. Where did you leave
ii . well, I'd no candlestick, so | stuck
il in some black sand that's there in one o
the tubs The merchant dashed down thu
the cellar steps; the passage was long an'
dark, and as he grouped his way his knee
threatenedto 10 give way under him, his breatl
was choked, and his flesh seemed suddenl,
to become dry and parched, as he aread.
). felt the suilocatng blast of death. AT tn
extremity of tire passage in the front cellar
under the very room where his children an
:. their friends were reyelling IN felicity, h
discerned the open powder barrel, full al
most to the top--lhe candle stuck lightly !
the loose grains, with long and red snu
of burnt out wick topping the small an
gloomy flame. This sight seemed 10 wiht
all his powers, and the merry laugh of ii
Youngsters above struck upon his heart li'
the knell of death. lie stood for some mr
ment gazing upon the light, unable to al
yanse. The fiddler commenced "A live
liz, and the feet of the dancers respond,
with increased vivacity; the floor shoe
with their exertions and the loose bottles
the cellar jingled with the motion. lie fa
cied the caudlc moved-was falling wi
desperate energy he dashed forward; b
how was he to remove it The slight'
,oucb would cause the small live coal
the wick to fall into the loose powd
With unequalled presence ofmind he plac
hand on each side Of the candle, with
open palms upward, and the dlstended Fl
gers pointing toward the object of his cal
which as his hand gradually met, was Sc
ured in the clasping or locking of his Fl
gers, and safely removed from the head
the barrel. When he reached the head
the stairs, the excitement was over;
smiled at the danger he had conquere
but the reaction was too powerful, and
fell into fits of the most violent Taught
lie was conveyed senseless to bed, a
many weeks elapsed ere his nerves rect
cred sufficient tone to allow him to resuI
, his habits Of everyday life
KnickerbOtker