Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-07-01
@isftllansous.
Written for the Portland Transcript
The Great Explosion.

A CHATTER of CURIOUS INCIDENTS.
No; many wears since. there resided near
the eastern frontier Of the Pine Tree State.
an industrious and thrifty farmer, and mas
ter ship-carpen,er. named Richard Graham
Master Dick. as he vas familiarly STYLED.
had one daughter. aud two sons, the latter
bearing respectively. the euphonious narnes
Of Albert and Aaron. OF these brothers
many amusing storles are related, and,
among them, the following:
On one October evening, Just AFTER dark,
Albert and Aaron. then in the advanced
dAys Of their boy hood were standing in an
unfinished room in the farm house. Aaron
held in his hand large lump Of rock salt.
which he vas a;ienu,ely examining by the
dim light of a tallo~ candle; and 80 deepl,
engaged ~as he in prosecuting his re-
searches. in relation TO the formation. pro-
per,ies and specific element. Of the saline
specimen before him. that he vas wholly
blind 10 the movements Of his brother.
Albert, comprehending q; a glance how
AAron's powers Of mind were all conoen-
,rated on one objec;, A,ailed himself Of the
long sought for opportunity to remove his
fathers loaded gun from its accustomed
place. notwithstanding that both he and his
brother had repeatedly been forbidden TO do
so. on PAIN OF severe punishment
Albert made careful. though hasiy ex-
summation in all its parts, and. having salts
tied his curio,ity. he vas about 10 return the
old fashioned king. arm" to its ~on,cd
place. when his gross oarelessne-s. or sheer
ignorance caused the .'blaIing fusee" to dis
charge its contents. which passed directly
over Aaron's head. through the side Of the
house, The reooii Of the piece most inglo-
riously stretched Albert ai full length in a
shaded corner Of the room. Abandoning
the gun he quickly gained his feet.
To .ay that our two young gentlemen were
frightened, would convey but feeble idea
Of the reality. Horror, dire and unparal-
leled. stood out in bold relief on every lin
Gamer, Of their cadaverous faces For q few
seconds they stood A. motionless, appar-
entity. as Mt Desert Hills. Soon. however.
they trembled violently IN every limb-the
hair stood almost erect upon their heads.
and cold perspiration oored from every
pore Of their pale vissxes.
The eous,ernsiion Of the brothers, though
alike in yehemenos. uas totally unlike in
origin.
Albert vas alarmed-partly because Of
the mischief be had done-but s,ili more he
feared the punishment which he fel, would
inevitably follow for disobeying a strict
command of his father.
Aaron. previously To the firing Of the gun,
a. has been seen, vas wholly absorbed in
his own matters. He had neither eye nor
ear for the movements of his brother. He
saw the fash and heard the repor-saw the
hole through the side Of the house-the salt
was no longer in his hand and, strange -
il may appear. he concluded at Once-to him
the evidence WAS indubitable-that the Gu
rious lump had exploded in his very grasp
As soon a the brothers had gained the
necessary courage and equanimity 70 ailo~
locomotion. they simultaneously shouted,
Run. run. run !" and they did run
At the very moment our heroes made
their exit from the house, the Rev. Mr..
Goodman and his estimable lady we're walk
ing arm in arm up the gravel walk to the
door. with the intention of passing pleas
ant evening with the family. At this juno
ture they we're run against and knocked
down by the fugitives who, in their frantic
retreat, did no, see their guests before they
came in collision with them.
NE suuucu uscchuk Nes - oitei - ~
was unex pected, and wholly destitute of the
usual saIu,atory formalities and ceremo-
NOUS adieu.
Albert ran directly to the barn. and hid
himself on scafold Of hay. Aaron climbed
. huge. umbrella shaped yellow-birch tree
the exuberant foliage Of which afforded On
excellent hiding place in the night
Master Dick had just finished tapping hi'
boots and at the time Of the discharge Oi
the gun, he was in the act Of taking down 6
large bottle Of liquid blacking from . high
shelf in the kitchen. The bottle was broken
in his spasmondic grip, and the contents
vere spilled into his upturned face and open
mouth. II Catamount Hill had then and
there rolled its huge pile Of granite, mol,
ten and fiery mass, to his very feet, his ter.
ror could not have been greater.
Mrs. Grsham, at the time Of the report
vas just placing . large painful Of steved
pumpkin. nicely prepared for pies, on an up
per shelf in the pantry. As i might be ex.
pected. she vas very much frightened, &C
much 30, that she dropped the pan vhes
high shove her head, and the contents came
down in copious, but scarcely refreshing
shower, on her devoted self
Eliza Ann, the daughter. standing BY thu
open IRE il the sitting-room, vas just TAX
| ing bunch Of friction matches frou nevly
purchased querter-gross which DE held p
- han6. IL saddsnnsss a H. shsck