Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-27
ATuRIlETNG INCIDENT. -.

The New York Commercial AdU6F-
tiser saws: some Of our oldest merchants
who formerly carried on business in Beaver
street, residing, as it was the custom in
old times, over his store, tells the follow
ing thrilling narrative, which he Occa-
sionally relates with wonderful effect;
IA party had been collected at his
house to give ecLGt TO one of those little
family festivals which brighten the dark
trake of life, and cheer the human heart
in every cline. 1t was his daughters
wedding day; crowds of her young sc-
quaintances circled around her, and as
the father gazed proudly on the face OF
the young bride, he wished as bright ii
prospect might open for his other children
who were gamboling merrily among a
crowd. Passing through the passage con-
Meeting the lower rooms, he met the ser
want maid, an ignorant country weneh,
who was carrying a lighted tallow
stick. He blamed her for this dirty
conduct, and went into the kitchen TO
make some arrangements with his wife
about the supper table; the girl shortly
returned with her arms full of ale bottles,
but without the candle. The merchant
Immediately recOllected that several bar
Tels of gunpOwder had been placed in his
celler during the day, and that his fore
man had opened one of the barrels to
select sample for customer. where
is your candlel' he inquired in the Ut
most agitation. | couldn't bring it up
with me, for my hands were full, said
the girl where did you leave itl'
well, I'd no candlestick, SO stuck
it into some black sand that's there in
one of the tubs The merchant
dashed down the cellar steps; the passage
was long and dark, and, as he CROPPED his
way on, his knees threatened to give way
| under him; his breath was chOked, and
his flesh seemed suddenly to become dry
and parched, as if he already felt the suf-
| locating blast of death. At the extremity
of the passage in the front cellar, under
| the very room where his children and
friends were revealing in felicity,
he discerned the open powder
barrel, full almost TO the top,
the candle stuck lightly in the loose
| grains, with long red snuff of burnt
out wick topping the small and gloomy
| fame. This sight seemed to wither all
his powers, and the merry laugh of the
| youngsters above struck upon his heart
| like the knell of death. He stood for
some moments gazing upon the light una
bic to advance. The fiddler commenced
a lively Jig, and the feet of dancers
responded with increased vivacity; the
floor shook with their exertions, and
the loose bottles in the cellar jim
| gled with the motion. He fancied the
| candle was moved-was fallingl With
| desperate energy he dashed forward; but
| how was he to remove it 4? The slightest
touch would cause the small live coal of
| wick to fall into the loose powder. With
| unequalled presence of mind he placed a
| hand each side of the candle, with the open
| palms upward, and the distended fingers
| pointed toward the object of his care, which,
as his hands gradually met, was Sc
| cured in the clasping or locking OF his
fingers, and safely removed from the head
| of the barrel When he reached the head
| of the stairs the excitement was over he
| smiled at the danger he had conquered +;
| but the reaction was too powerful and he
| fell into fits of most violent and dreadful
| laughter. He was conveyed senseless to
bed, and many weeks elapsed ere his nerves
recovered sufficient tone to allow him TO
resume his habits of everyday life.
A reporter of the Brattleboro, Vermont,
women suffrage meeting says of Lucy
Stone: Evidently a great many had
come with the idea that they were to see
some nondescript sort of an animal, that
| by some mistake or other wore the guise
of woman, but the gentle, noble, grand,
womanly woman surprised them. why,
says one, going out of the hall, she dress
es just like any other woman | really
think good many felt imposed upon,
that Lucy Stone did not assume the mas.
culine garb, at least wear boomers Don't
know as b'leeye's she does, says one old
farmer, 'but she's some on talkin'.' Com.
in tomorrow asked another. Comin'i
I =