Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-11
NO. 1(i6.
Gales ano Skcttbes.
SWANSDOWN VILLA.


however. the better we liked it.. The
only reason for its being empty was the
eXorbitant rent demanded by the propri-
etor; but since that would be divided be-
tween Aunt Sarah and myself, it was not
so serious an obstacle in our case. As for
that estimable relative, when she saw the
place she was charmed and to cut long
story short. we happily rescued her ont OF
the desinging hands of the Weadles, and
established her comfortably in her new
home. Not too soon; for Weadle had
gained a certain asecndeney oyer her, and
IA correspondence has been kept MP with
that branch Of the family ever since.
| For time we were in constant expecta-
ton Of some unthought-of defect coming
to light in onr new home but weeks
passed on without smells cropping up, or
kitchen boilers bursting, or any other do
mestic calamities occurring, and we grad
ually grew easy We boated, we fished,
we made pleasant acquaintances among
our neighbors, we picnicked, wepracticed
lawn tennis, and thoroughly enjoyed sthe
summer. which extended itself into Octo-
ber AUNT Sarah being as happy as any
one in quiet sort of way, and recovering
in u great measure from the shock she had
received; for though have spoken Of that
explosion in a somewhat light tone, the
poor old ladys nerves were seriously
Jared by it. =" H.f'
The pleasant weather died off very snd-
denly at last. A fog, a frost, and three
days perpetual rain c,osed the season eff
fectually. The boat was hauled up into
its dry-dock the garden games We're
packed away carefully and my wife and !.
who are partial to theatrical entertain
ments. began somewhat to regret our dis
tance from town.
At breakfast on the Sd of November,
Aunt Sarah said: You are thinking of
having any fireworks to amuse the chill
dren on the 9TH. Guy Fawke's Day.
Charles, | should like to contribute
left an egg half-decapitated. like a victim
in the hands of an unskilled excutioner.
so astoundcd was |. We had been devising
how we should keep the flare of squibs.
and the banging of maroons in the dis
tance from the eyes and ears of our rela-
tive, and had arranged to have all the
shutters in the house closed, and all the
curtains drawn at a very early hour on tn,
eventiul evening, dreading lest any such
sight or sound should recall the alarming
episode of the year before.
why. you look quite scared, my DEAR
Nilt W NY WIFE, IL upts not UO 10
give way to unreasonable nervousness.
We are many miles away from that dread
ful canal now
have often observed that inyalids and
nervous people defeat all calculation OF
their likes and dislikes in this way, and
yet was surprised. Not wishing Aunt
Sarah to see that | thought her weaker
than she was. however, | entered with
alacIitv into tho cchap,a uroof tr I npIn,
and purchased neat assortment of pretty
combustibles that very afternoon, and
spent the 4th and the morning of the 9TH
in making arrangements for their effective
display. The fnssiness of these prepara-
tions was absurd enough, have no doubt.
for had not launched out into anything
elaborate, but had contented myself with
very simple and familiar pieces. Still, tire
quired some thought and study to find out
how to let off even these with advantage so
inexperienced was |. However there were
printed directions in my box, and by fol-
lowing these carefully | hoped to please
my not too critical spectators. These
were posted at the drawing-room window,
which looked ont upon the lawn where
the exhibition was to take place and soon
after dinner on a most favorable evening,
dark, dry, and still, | sailed out with
box of vesuvans in my hand, and opened
the entertainment by lighting the touch
paper of neat case, which presently be-
gan to burn with intense brightness, cails-
ing the trees, the river, and all other OBJ
lects to appear blue, then green, then rosy.
then intensely dark quite an allegorical
representation of a human life. Next
came cluster of Roman candles, which
fixed and threw up colored balls in a sat
isfactory manner enough. Then | let off
work which was to run backward
and forward along 4 string which had
fastened for thepnrpose between two trees.
1t started fairly enough, but stuck at the
further end, and had to be stirred up with
a hoe before 1t would fly back again
However, | alone knew that it was intend
ed to act otherwise. Next we had Jack
in-the box, which terminated in volcanic
eruption of crackers darting and banging
into the air
was most doubtful about the success OF
the rockets. had collected all the big
door-keys in the house, and had tied them
firmly to the sides of chairs, so that the
rocket-sticks might be supported in them
comfortably, like canes and umbrellas in
Il stand
But when the box of fireworks came
down no sticks were sent with it, so |
had to fit and regulate them by my own
private Judgment, which had no expert
ence to guide il; only vague impression
that the rocket when fixed to the stick
should balance an inch or two below the
head. Our neighbor on the right was GU
rious in vegetables, and glass frames were
spread all over the grounds, so hat it will
never do to incline the missiles in that di-
recton. In front, however, was the river,
into which the sticks would fall harmless
ly; and on the right was wharf. for the
lading and unlading of what merchandise
| did not know-our shrubbery was plant
ed out too thickly to get glimpse at it,
coal. probably, | conjectured. At any
rate it might fairly be supposed that an
empty case with light lath attached to il
would do do harm If it fell within the pre-
cincts or on to one of the barges moored
off it. So | fixed the rockets with slight
inclination to the left, to make sure o.
avoiding the cucumber and melon frames.
1t was with some doubt as to how The
thing would behave. that applied sput-