Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-03-12
4. T'n ms ss ss.:.....s ss- O,s view

/ Il - 70 rs. -WA@.AINNAInua
Ono Of our olds1t merchants, Who Il
soon 70 pass away and who formerly car.
rcd on business In Beaver street, residing
--as II was The custom In ola times--oyer
his store, tells The following thrilling mar.
fative, whichhe Occasionally relates with
wonderful effect "a party had been o6l.
lected AZ his house 70 give eclal 10 one of
those littlefamily festivals which bright
en- the dark traSe Of life, and cheer The
human heart in every cline. II vas bis
daughters wedding day; crowds Of her
young acquaiptances circled round her,
and as the father ghzed proudly on the
face Of the young bride, he wished be
briehth prospsct might openfor his other
children who were gambling merfily
among the crowd. Passing through The
passage connecting. the lower rooms he
met the netyAnt maid an ignorant couh.
Try wenoh, who was carrying lighted
tallow candle in her hand without q
candlestick. He blamed her for the
dirty conduct, and went into the Kitchen
to make some Arrangements with his
wife about the supper table; the fitl
shortly returned Withher arrns full OF ale
bottles, but without the candle. The
merchant immediately rccoIlocted fhtt
several barrels o. gnnpowder had beeh
placed in lis cellBr dnring the day, and
that bis foreman had opened one OF the
barrels TO select q sample for customer.
Where 10 your GAMBLER he inquired
In the utmost agitation. 81 couldn't
bring IL up with me, for my hands were
FULL said tho girl, !" Where did you
leave. III" "Well, I'd no oandlestick. so
/ stuck II into como black sand that's
there IN one Of the tubsR The merchant
dashed down the cellar steps; the pas
sage was long and dark, and as he CROPPED
his way his Knees threatened Co give
way under. him, his breath was choked,
and his flesh seemed suddenly to become
dry and parched, as II be already felt
the sunocating blast OF death. At the
extremity Of the passage, In the front
cellar, under the very room where his
children and their friends were revelink
in felicity, no discerned the open powder
barrel, full almost 10 the top-the candle
stuck lightly in tholloose grains, with 4
long red smut Of burntlout wick topping
the small and gloomy namc. This sight
seemed 10 withcr all his powers, and the
merry laugh or the youngsters aboYp
struck upon his heart like the knell Of
death. He stood for some moments
gazing upon the light, unable 10 ad-
vance. The fiddler commenced o lively
| liz, and tho feet Of dancers responded
with increased viyacity; the floor shook
with their exertions aud the loose bot
ties inthe cellar jingled with the motion.
He fancied the candle was Inoved-whs
fallingl-with desperate energy he dashed
forward; but how was he TO remove ~
The slightest touch would cause the
small live coal Of wick 10 fall into the
loose powder. With unequalled presence
Of mind he placed hand each sido Of
the candle, with the open palms upward,
and the dlstended fingers pointed toward
the object Of his care, which ashis hands
gradually met,was secured in tho clasp
ing or locking Of his fingers, and safely
removed from the head Of the barrel,
When he reached the bendof the stairs,
the excitement was over no smiled al
the danger no had conquered, but The
reaction was too powerful, and he fell In.
to eta of most violent and dreadful laugh.
ter. He was conveyed senseless TO bed,
and many weeks elapsed ere his nerves
recovered sufficient tome 10 ALLOW him 70
resume his habits Of everyday life.v.