River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-03-21
The End of the Candle.
CLEMENT SCOTT.

The title of my story is suggestive, and
l doubt not that it may appeal to boys
minds in various ways. ALLOW me, how
ever, to preface my little anecdote with
the grave assertion that what follows is
connected in no way whatever with
what, in schoolboy phraseology, is tech
nically known as "a SELL ! have been,
thank goodness, schoolboy myself and
| am happy to say that the old fashioned
tricks were, as they should be, played up
on me in common with my fellow-crea-
lures.
What have to tell has, however, moth
ing to do with tricks in tallow or pilter
ed lights. My story treats OF real bona
fde candle, not one of your modern COM
posite inventions with a fueiy tapered
END patented and warranted to fit every
conceivable candlestick, and wick thai
never wants snuffing, but dies away into
dissipated fiery end.
You must go back with me to the old
days, when patent candles were not in
vented or thought OF, and when silver
snuffer- tray and a pair of silver SHUTTERS
were brought in and deposited by the
side of the candlesticks in great sta e..
According to my present ideas of life, l
don't think that / should consider Staun-
ton altogether lively place; but Staun-
ton in the days when | knew il was to
me paradise. My two maiden aunts,
were exceedingly fond OF their nephew,
and as their nephew was not altogether
mischievous lad, and possessed the Won
derful gift Of being able to amuse him.
felt, it need not appear extraordinary that
the owners of a certain withholding,
clean mansion in Main Street of Staunton
and the pale-faced visitor at the said
mansion cotton very well together.
My first insight into life and its mys-
FERROUS ways. dates from my first visit to
Staunton where | was just as happy
watching the market-carts come into town
and put up at the Tavern, over the way
as was playing at stage coach, and every
other conceivable variation OF coaching
expedition, all by myself in deserted
clubhouse, the only pr operty to render me
assistance being tumble-down and rick
ETY. old phaeton.
[ had been a mia, doclle lad, amusing
IN yself in my quiet, unqssuming manner,
thoroughly contented with my own socie-
ty and that of my respected aunts. Charley
Clode was the means of reyolutionizing
my lite He had lots of adventures and
tales to relate to me The first fired me with
the enthusiasm Of public school life, told
me of his adventures and deeds Of daring,
OF the heroes of the school that he wor
shiped and the sneaks whom he despised
and altogether | thought Charley Ciode a
most enjoyable companion, and cultivat-
ed his society accordingly.
He was capital fellow was Charley
father, and would often come out and have
a turn with us at ball, or whatever game
we might be playing. lie was a doctor
and great at all sorts of experiments, with
which he used to delight us in the even
ings. According TO Charley's account
there was no one who could make sucn
fireworks as his father, and though it
was the wrong time Of the year we were
miniature display on the lawn |
the very first dark night that came.
One evening" shall never forget it
7 was over at the Globes house, and the |
doctor, who had nothing particular to do, |
was working for us a little steam-engine 1
be had lately made. The doctor had a /
workshop in the basement floor of the
house and adjoining this was a dark,
looking cellar, wherein were de.
posted all seTts of odds and ends old
empty bottels from the surgery, packing
cases, and rubbish of every kind The
and its adjacent Iumber-cellar
had always been forbidden rs boys, for
The doctor rather mistrusted Charley's ca
liabilities of resisting the facinations Of
the lathe; and though not particularly
tidy in his own work, had that peculiar
method in bis untidincss that he knew
exactly where to lay his hands upon ey-
srything he wanted, and was by no means
anxi IS that any of his work should be
poi 81 by careless handling or delayed
1y sudden impulse of boyisil mischief
On the particular night towlich ! am al
uding, Charley and Iwere sent off from
he drawing room, in which the doctors
'amily was assembled, to hunt up the re-
mains of an old tramway which the
ioctor had made years ago, and which
vas to be called into requisition or the
Ipecial occasion on which the doctor had
promised all of us that he would work
he miniature engine on which he had ex-
pended so r1uch time and trouble, in full
Issembiy.
The wreck OF the tramway was repor
ed TO be among the old lumber which