Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-07-11
lContInneA from First Page. :

((ohtlnued rom / irst rage.
first 1t smoldered so long that feared
Il had gone ont, and was Just about to ap-
ply a second match. when a stream of fire
shot out with suddenness which made
me jump a yard back. and away scared
the tire-work in the most satisfactory man
ner high in the air. where it burst. well
over the river, and colored stars floated
away from it. There was atapping ut the
window. TO which | went otis beauti-
ful? said avoice, through the glass "but
we could not see it burst we'll The large
willow-tree was in the way" 70 avoid
this. ! directed the other rockets more Ia
the left. Some behaved as satisfactorily
as the first others, i'm consequence prob
ably of insufficient sticks. not quite so we'll,
rs they reached their apogee and turned
10 come back before they exploded. One,
indeed. which took most erratic course
and fell in the direction of the wharf,
must have been very near the earth, or
water. when ii burst for heard the bang
but could see nothing but reflection
above the trees OH the left.
had just dispatched two more rockets
skyward when heard rafting and Il
kicking against the paing, and II deep
and agitated voice called out Hi for
goodness sake stop those fireworks Do
YOU want TO murder the whole parish at
one go?''
They are nearly over now said l.
II am sorry that rocket fell in your pre-
misses but these two are directed more TO
the front" Whish, whish, they went as
| spoke.
The mans voice rose to a howl. "Are
mad Ia Sand tho-.. thi,,.e- in, l,,,
next door to a powder-wharf? Light an
Powder wharf" cried aghast.
"Ay, powder-whari. as you must have
known; and barge three parts laden ly-
ing off it, which your rocket only missed
by about yard"
II did not know it ~ cried |; ''and it
was an abominabe shame not to tell me.
Is it likely would have taken the house
if had known that such thing was in
the neighborhood ?"
''P'r'aps that's why they didn't tell We
though there's no possible danger unless
people play such mad pranks as yours"
A violent tapping at the drawing room
window was followed by its being opened
and my wiie's voice inquired whether any
thing was the matter.
Nothing" said /; "only it is all over.
was looking to see if had forgotten
anything"
but heard voices
30 yes; neighbor. Afraid that the
falling rocket-sticks might damage his
premises. Shut the window; the chill
dren will catch cold. shall be in direct
ly." Then rushing back to the paing,
implored the powderman not to say any
thing about the erratic rocket; and fear
ing lest the alarm should have made him
thirsty, pressed sovereign upon him to
moisten his throat with lie accepted it,
observed mystically that mum was the
word, and retired.
Whether in the interest of his employers
or in mine. know not, but the powder
man has been faithful. Mum has been
the word ever since. Yet teel like the
character in a modern novel who has com
mitted the crime, and lives for three NOR
tai volumes in constant dread of exposure
1t Is not that | apprehend any positive
danger OF being leyiated, together with
my family. for have made inquiries and
the precautions taken ut the wharf render
AN accident well-nign impossible. But
supposing Aunt Sarah were to discover
that the barges she admires so much on II
summers evening are akin to the one
which blew her into the street Gas she
firmly believes was the case) on former
OCCASION. | have got Il lease of Swans
down Villa Tor seven years | have under
let the other house at a loss. The Wea-
dies have been asked to stay with us, and
cannot be put off. If they learn the char
acter of the trade carried on next door,
the game will be up. and aunt Sarah lost
to us forever.''