The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-08-16
WHOLE NUMBER 693
THE OLD FLINT-LOCK.

II My grandfather, in early life, serv
ed in the Cintinental army, and after
wards removed from Connecticut anC
settled in the wilds of Vermont.
| He lived at this time with my
father, on the farm where he had cuI
the first tree, In then almost unbroker
forest. Always given to early rising
it was his habit to build the morning
fire-build is the proper term; for 70
lay in order the huge pile of logs and
lesser wood, in the wide-mouthed
chimneys OF the olden time, was a
bit Of civil architecture that would
require a building-committee now a.
days.
On one occasion, the fire had gone
out on the hearth, and as friction
matches were IN the future, as well as
Percussion locks and air tight stoves,
there was nothing better to be done
than to 60 TO the nearest house for
Goals, or try for a spark from the
flint lock Of an old Continental mus
ket. that always hung over the CHM
ney-piece. Those old muskets com.
bined great awkwardness and ingen-
uity !; the fiery spark upon which the
whole enginery depended lay within
dull-looking, smoke -colored bit of
tiint stone, only brought out. as il in
retaliation, by foe Of steel. Taking
down the gun, he blew down the
barrel, to make sure that il was not
loaded, and put fresh priming into
he gun. The spark descended,
1ashiBg the powder into q blaze, and
loon bright fire went roaring and
up the chimney, boiling the
amily tes-kettle a. il nothing unusual
lad happened. And the family slept
N, equally unconscious that q mir
Gle had been performed-that an.
NIGEL had come down, as 1t were, at
he morning sacrifice, and stayed the
orces Of nature, for their preserva-
lon. But at tea, when my grand
ather gave charge to give good
Ieed to the fire, the story all came
ut. And Notwithstanding that my
Tandfather was . soldier of the
revolution, and understood all the
Iays and tricks to the regular arms;
Notwithstanding the gun was reliable,
true to what was put within,' 10 was q
,drly loaded still, having been
ouble- charged the day previous, for
marauding hawk that had wisely
opt beyond the range. / shall never
'rget the look in my fathers face as
, took the gun, and stepping out
pom the high terrace in front of the
,use, with one spring of the lock,
lthout any fresh priming, discharg-
! it with q deafening report, the
'ntents ploughing q black, Jagged
mt in the green turf OF the slope
,low.
My grandfather regarded it as
ecial providence, for he knew how
at death-laden tube had been in
rect range Of my parents sleeping
'artment and at an exact level with
row OF little heads in the trundle-
d, when the spark went down that
ndled the fire, the remainder be-
z restrained. Il was lesson Of the
and love of God that has
yer been forgotten. The thought
God had come close to US and
.apped Us about like q garment.
,e idea Of general providence that
res in nobody in particular is no
B absurd than the idea of a general
owefthat waters and refreshes the
Id, causing it to bring forth by
no single rootlet or blade
ing reached in particular.
Blessed are they who abide under
, shadow Of the Almighty-under
, covert of His wings. "HoWex-
lent Is thy loving kindness, o Coda
,refore the children of men put
,ir trust under the shadow of thy
ng.'-Adsance.