Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-07-11

ing these carefully hoped to please my not
too critical spectators. These were posted at
the drawing room window, which looked out
upon the lawn where the exhibition was to
take place and soon after dinner on a most
favorable evening, dark, dry and still, sal
lied out with box of vesuvians in my hand,
and opened the entertainment by lighting the
touch-paper of neat case which presently
began to burn with intense brightness, caus-
ing the trees, the river, and all other objects
to appear blue then green, then rosy then
intensely dark quite an allegorical represen-
tation OF a human life. Next came a cluster
of Roman candles, which fixed and threw up
colOred balls in a satisfactory manner enough.
Then let off n fre-work which was to run
backward and forward along a string which
had fastened for the purpose between two
trees. 1t started fairly enough, but stuck at
the further end, and had to be stirred up
with hoe before it would fly back again.
However, alone knew that it was intended
TO act otherwise Next we had q Jack-in-the-
box, which terminated in volcanic eruption
of crackers dartng and banging into the air
l 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 comforta-
bly,, like canes and umbrellas in a stand But
when the box of FIRE works came down no
sticks were sent with it, 80 l had to fit and
regulate them by my own private Judgment
which had no experience to guide it only a
vague impression that the rocket when fixed
to the stick should balance an inch or two be-
low the head. Our neighbor on the right
was curious in vegetables, and glass frames
were spread all over his grounds, so that it
would never do to incline the missiles in that
direction. In front, however, was the river,
into which the sticks would fall harmlessly
and on the right was wharf, for the ladng
and unlading Of what merchandise did not
know-our shubbery was planted out too
thickly to get glimpse of it coal, probably,
/ conjoctured. At any rate it might fairly
be supposed that an empty case with a light
lath attached TO it would do no harm if it fell
within the precincts or on to one of the Largos
moored of IT, So / fixed the rockets with
slight inclination to the left, to make sure of
avoiding the cucumber and melon frames
1t was with some doubt Us to how the thing
would behave, that applied n sputtering We
suvian to the touch paper of the first 1t
smouldered so long that feared it had gone
out, and was just about to apply second
match. when a stream Of fire shot out with n
suddenness which made me Jump a yard
back and away scared the fre-work in the
most satisfactory manner high into the air,
where it burst, well over the river, and col
ored stars foated away from it, There was a
tapping at the window, to which | went
ITS beautiful said a voice through the
glass; "but we could not see it burst well.
The large willow-tree was in the way" To
avoid this directed the rockets more TO the
left. Some behaved as satisfactorily as the
frst others, in consequence probably of in
sufficient sticks, not quite so well, as they
reached their apogee and turned to come
back before they exploded. One indeed,
which took a most erratic course and fell in
the direction of the wharf, must have been
very near the earth, or water, when it burst,
for heard the bang, but could see nothing
but reflection on the trees to the left.
I had just despatched two more rockets
skyward when l heard rattling and a kick
ing against the paling, and a deep and agi-
tated voice called out Hi for goodness
sake stop those fireworks DO you want to
murder the whole parish at one goI
'"They are nearly over now" said l. Il
am sorry that rocket fell into your premises;
but these two are directed more to the front"
Whish, whish they went as spoke.
The mans voice rose TO a howl. "Are you
mad, to send these things flying about next
to a powder wharf ? Light another, and I'll
have the law of you"
'Powder-wharf :" / cried aghast.
"Ay, powder-wharf as you must have
known and barge three parts laden lying
OF it, which your rocket only missed by about
a half yard"
II did not know it :" cried land il was
an abominable shame not to tell me. Is it
likely would have taken the house if had
known that such thing was in the neighbor-
hood ?"
'P'raps that's why they didn't tell ye;
though there's no possible danger unless peo-
pie play such mad pranks as yours"
A violent tapping at the drawing room win
dow was followed by its being opened, and
my wife's voice inquired whether anything
was the matter.
Nothing, said l "ouly it's all over. l
was looking TO see if had forgotten any
thing"
but heard voices"
30 yes a neighbor. Afraid you know,
that the falling rocket-stcks might damage
his premises. Shut the window the chill
dren will catch cold | shall be in directly"
Then rushing back to the paling, l implored
the powderman not to say anything about the
erratic rocket; and fearing lest the alarm
should have made him thirsty, pressed a SOW
ereigu upon him to moisten his throat with.
He 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 feel like the character in a mod
ern novel who has committed the crime, and
lives for three mortal volumes in constant
dread of exposure. 1t is not that | appre-
hend any positive danger of being levitated,
together with my family, for l have made in
quiries, and the precautions taken at the
wharf render an accident well-nigh impossi-
ble, But supposing Aunt Sarah were to dis
cover that the barges she admires so much on
summers evening are akin to the one which
blew her into the street (as she firmly be-
lieves was the case) on former occasion.
have got a lease of Swansdown Villa for sew
en- years l have under-let the other house at
q loss. The Weadles have been asked to stay
with us, and cannot be put of, If they learn
the character of the trade carried on next
door, the game will be up, and Aunt Sarah
lost TO Ms forever