The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-14
A ThriiliDs Adventure,

One of our oldest merchants, who is soon TO
pass away, and who formerly carried on bust.
ness in Beaver street, residing-as it waS iar1a
custom in old times-oyepr;, l-li IL, Lo occ,.
follovino n, ,,;il.--- uaIratlNeJ WHICH u0 0SSs~-
,;,,uaIIy felates with wonderful effect:
A party had been collected at bis house TO
give ectat to one OF those little family festivals
which brighten the dark trace OF life, aud
cheer the human heart IN every CLINE. 1t
was his daughters wedding day; crowds Of
her young acquaintance c'rc ed round bHr,
and as the father gazed proudly on the iare oil
the young bide, he wished as fright pros
pect might open " his other chi dlen, who
were ganbollng mprIlly amUng the crowd.
Passing through the passage connecting The
lower rooms, he met the servant maid, al IL
noraBt county wencb, who was carving
iguted talow candle in her hand without
candestick. He blamed her for this dirty
conduct, and went pto the kitchen 10 make
some arrangements with his vile about the
supper table. The glrl shorty returned with
her aims full of ale bottles, but without the
candle. The merchant Immediately recoltct-
ed thai several barrels OF eunpOwder had heen
placed IN his cellar during The day, aud that
bis foreman bad opened one Of the barrels TO
select a sample for customer
"Where is your candle?" he inquired, In
the utmost agitation.
Il couldn't bling it up with me, for my
hands were iull," SAID The sil.
"Where did you leave il"
"Well, Id no caudlestick, so ! stuck 1t into
some black sand that's tLeie in one Of lbe
tubs"
The merchant dashed down the Gel
lar steps; the passage was long and dark,
and as lie CROPPED his way on, his knees
threatened to give way under him, his
Oh lad his fiaSl1 Sapnno1
suddenly become dry and parcLed, as II be
already felt the suticcating Llast Of death.
1 At the extremity of the passage. in The 'front.'
| cellar, under the very room where his Ch-
| dren and the friends were Ievelling ~ IeIicly,
he disceined the open powder barrel, iull al
| most 10 the top-the candle stuck lightly In
the loose grains, with long red snuff [f
burnt out wick topping the small and gloomy
| flame. This sight seemed TO wibef all his
powers and the merry laugh OF the Aoun5-
sters ABOVE siftck upon his heart IKE tLe
kneil OF dea'h., lie stood for some moments'
gazing upon iheS light III able TO advance
The fiddler commenced lively iig ana 'ns
feet OF dancers le ponded with inereasta VI
vaclty; the noor shook with their exeI'onS
and the loos; bottles IN the cellar i'm .ied VIZ
the motion. He IancieIf the capd e wa
moved-was falling! with desperate enel
he dashed forward, but how Wvas he 10
move il? The slightest touch wou caalls
| small live coal of wick 10 lal into The loose
powder. With unequaled presence OF mind
| he placed a hand each side OF the canOle
with The open palms upward aud the dis
tended fingers POINTED toward the object o
bis care, which as his bands gradLaily met
was secured in the claspins or locking Of hi:
fingers, and safely removed nom the bead oi
the barrel. When he reached The bead OF the
stairs. the excitement was over; be smiled at
| the danger he had col quered: hut the re-
action Was too powerful, and he went int
hts of most vioien. and dIeaAul laughter
He was conveyed senseless to bed and many
weeks elapsed ele his nerves recovered suiii
J cient tone 10 resume his habits oil every da.
/