Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-03-12
pAxcIxe oyEa. .r.MnIR anAyEs.



One of New York's oldest mer-
chants, who Is soon to pass away, and
who formerly carried on business in
Beaver street, residing-as It was the
custom in old times--over his store,
tells the following narrative, which
he occasionally relates with wonder
full effect: ,bp.y 7fa ~ : ~ IA ~ ID 81
A party had been collected at his
house to give eclot to one of thosc
little family festivals which brighten
thednrk traces OF, life, and cheer the
human heart of every cline. 1t was
his daughters wedding day crowds
of her young acquaintance circled
round her, and as the father gazed
bride, he wished as bright a prospect
might open for his other children
whu were gamboling meTlly among
Passing through the, passage icono
Meeting the lower rooms he met the
servant maid, AN ignorant country
wenclspw who was carrying y lighted
taliows candle i'm her band without
a 'eandlestick. = Heublanhed her for
this dirty conduct, aud went into the
kitchen to make some arrangem ent
with his wife about the supper table
the girl soon returned with her arm
full of ale bottles, but without the
candle. The merchant Immediately
recollected that several barrels OF
gunpowder had been placed In his
cellar during the day, and that his
foreman had opened one ef the bar
rels TO select q sample for a customer,
"Where Is your candle 2" he inquired
IN the utmost agitation. 2"i souIdn't
bring 1t UP with me, for my hands
were FULL" said the girl. "Where
dAryou leave 1t pr "Well, ia no
candlestick, SO / stuck " into some
black sand that's there in one OF the
| tubs.V ft tu rs.pI /. 91Ht atil 9YNf
The, merchant dashed down the
cellar steps, the passage was long and
dark, and MS he groped his way his
knees threatened to give way under
him, his breath was choked, and his
flesh seemed suddenly to become dry
and parched, as il he already felt the
sutfOcatipg blast of death. AT the
extremity of the passage, In the front
cellar, under the very room where his
children and the friends We're revel-
ing In felicity, he siisceined the, open
powder barrel, full almost to tile top
1.-The candle stuck lightly in the loose
grains, with u long red snuff of burnt
out wick topping the flame. If.fy
This sight seemed to wither all his
power, and the merry laugh of the
youngsters above struck upon his
heart like the kiell OF death. He
stood for some moments gazing upon
the light, unable, to advance. Thu
fiddle com menced o lively jig, ans
the feet of the dancers responded will
increasing vivacity the floor shook
with their exertiOns, and the loose
bottles in the cellar jingled with this
motion. sfaotaiii Dna3 ofialD iii.ru
i He fancied the candle moved = was
| falling! with a desperate energy b,
dashed forward but how was he Z
remove Z IL? The slightest toucl
would cause the small live con
TO fall Into the loose powdersaWitt
unes4ualed presence of mind he placed
q hand each side of the candle, with
the open palms upward, and the dis
tended fingers pointed tow ard The ob
jeet OF his care,. which, as his hand
gradually met, was secured In tn
olasping or locking of his Singers
and safely removed from the head 81
The barrels, When he reached th'
head Of tue stairs, the .eXcitem en-
was over lie smiled at the danger h,
had conquered; but the reaction wa
too powerful, aud he fell into, fits o
most vioiept and dreadful laughter
lie was conveyed senseless to- bed
! and many weeks elapsed ere hi
nerves recovered sufficient tone to al