The Osceola times., 1873-08-09
The Reason Why Mr.. !0'Clarence
did not Appear IN the Fire
mems Procession.

The tiremen had a parade on
Saturday. 1t was n fine affair, but
the absence of Mr.. O'Clarence was
deeply felt, not only by the depart
ment but by the public. His long
and faithful services at the business
meetings and festivals, and his
splendid bearing on parade, have
given Mr.. O'Clarencc an enviable
position in the hearts of his country
men. We are sorry he was not
present Saturday. But an upx
looked for and very painful ac-
cident deprived him and us Of a
very great pleasure.
The night which preceded the
last anniversary of our national in.
dependence, he took home twenty
five dollars worth of fireworks for
a splurge on the next night. lie
calculated he had glory enough in
that package to fill with gratitude
and admiration every taxpayer on
North street, and his wife, after
carefully examining the lot, was
equally confident that the neighbors
would see something that would
"make their eyes bung out" as she
pcnsivcly expressed it.
The next morning O'Clarance
got out the bundle to look 1t over
again and feed on the anticipation.
There were these cannon crackers,
several packs, and Roman candles,
and blue fire, and pin-wheels, and
rockets and the like-a very credit
able assortment for any family.
Mr.. Mickford's boy from the next
house was in, and sat on the floor
holding a piece Of lighted punk in
his hand, and had both his eyes
and mouth wide open enjoying the
sight. O'Clarcnce was sitting on
his launches, holding a pin-wheel
in his hand and explaining to Mrs.
O'Claronco how cheaply they could
be made in China, and how sup
erior in ingenuity and industry
were the Chinese to all other races.
None of them know how it hap
pened, but O'Clarenco remembers
that there were two open packs of
cannon crackers just under him,
and thinks Wicklord's boy must
have in some way dropped the
punk IN among them, and in the
general interest forgot that it was
afire.
At any rate, there was a sud-
den hiss night under Mr.. O'Clarencc,
followed in the next instant by
tornado of sounds and sparks, and
that gentleman at once shot toward
the ceiling in blaze of various
colored lights, while the air became
thick with sparks, blue lights
blazing balls, industrious pin
wheels, insane skyrockets, and
scroeching crackers. Mrs. O'Clar-
ence fell over chair that cost eight
dollars when new, and struck the
back of her head against the stove
hearth with a violence that added
materially to the display of fire
works already going on. Wick
ford's boy was struck in the mouth
with a skyrocket, and had two
thirds of his hair taken of by a
Roman candle, and was knocked
through a doorway by piece of
ordnance just introduced this sea-
son, which will undoubtedly be-
come popular when understood
better. He was aiterward fshed
out of q rosebush and taken home
in table-cloth.
O'Clarence remained during the
entire exhibition, looking at it
from various positions, and when it
was over with he was put in
sheet by the neighbors, and satur-
ated with oil, and then covered
with molasses and flour. We learn
that new skin is already forming on
parts of him, and if no unfavorable
symptoms set in he will be out in a
fortnight, although 1t is not likely
he will mingle much in society
| until his hair and eyebrows com
mence TO grow. He thinks Wick
ford's boy is dead, and they dare
not tell him to the contrary until
he gets stronger. Mrs. O'Clarence
escaped injury by burns, but the
blow on her head was so severe
that she cannot bear to have her