Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-16


in it; the stabling sufficient for our mod.
est wants. We certainly saw all this
under favorable auspices. 1t was the
first really balmy day of early spring
the sun was shining, the birds were sing
ing, the river was sparkling, and the
buds on the trees seemed to be growing
greener every minute. We really thought
that we had at length hit upon the very
thing. Not that we were over-sanguine
as we rode back TO town; we had been
too often disappointed not TO fear some
hitch or some fatal drawback.
The more we saw of Swansdown Vii
la, however, the better we liked it. The
only reason for its being empt, was the
exorbitant price 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 cStimable relative, when she
saw the place she was charmed; and to
cut long story short, we happily rescued
her out of the designing hands of the
Weadles, and established her comfortably
in her new home. Not too soon; for
Wcadlc had gained certain ascendency
over her, and a correspondence has been
kept up with that branch of the family
ever since.
For time we were in constant eXpcc-
tation of some unthought of defect in
our new home; but weeks passed on
without smells cropping up, or kitchen
boilers bursting, or any other domestic
calamitics occurring, and we gradually
grew easy. We boatcd, we tishcd, we
made pleasant acquaintances among our
neighbors. we picnicked, we practiccd
lawn tennis, and thoroughly enjoyed the
summer, which extended itself into Oc-
tober; Aunt Sarah being as happy as any
one in a quiet sort of way, and recover
ing in a 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.
The pleasant weather died off very
suddenly at last. A fog, a frost, and
three days perpetual rain closed the
season effectually. The boat was hauled
up into its dry-dock; the garden games
were packed away carefully; and my
wife and /, who are partial to theatrical
entertainments, began somewhat to re-
grct our distance from town.
At breakfast on the Sd of November,
Aunt Sarah said "If you are thinking of
having any fire. works to amusc the chill
drcn on the jth, Guy Fawkess Day
Charles, should like to contribute |
lef; an egg half dccapitated, like VIC
tim in the hands of an unskillful execu-
toner, so astounded was |. We had been
dcvising how we should keep the flare of
squibs and the banging of maroons in the
distance from the eyes and ears of our
relative, and had arranged TO have all the
shutters in the house closed, and all the
curtains drawn at very early hour on
the cyentful evening, dreading lest any
such sight or sound should recall the
alarming episode of the year before.
why, you look quite scared, my
DEAR" she said to my wife; 1t does
not do to give way to unreasonable nerv-
ousness. We are many miles away from
that dreadful canal now"
have often observed that invalids
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 alacrity into the scheme, went TO
London, and purchased neat assortment
or pretty combustibles that very after
noon. and spent the 4th and the morning
of the jth in making arrangements for
their effective display. The fussiness of
these preparations was absurd enough,
have no doubt, for | had not launched
out into anything elaborate, but had con-
tented myself with very simple and fa-
miliar pieces. Still, it required some
thought and study to find ont how to let
off even these with advantage, so
inexperienced was l. However, there
were printed directions in my box, and
by following 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 most
favorable evening, dark, dry, and still, |
sailed 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 IN
tense brightness, causing the trees, the
river, and all other objects to appear blue,
then green, then rosy, then intensely
dark; quite an allegorical representation
of human life. Next came a cluster of
Roman candles, which fixed and threw
up colored balls in a satisfactory manner
enough. Then | let off a fire-work which
was to run backward and forward along
string which l had fastened for that
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. How
ever, | alone knew that it was intended
to act otherwise. Next we had Jack
in-the-bo1, 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
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