Year: 1879




cline the missiles in that direction. Ii


front, however, was the river. into which
the sticks would fall harmlessly; and Oh
the right was wharf, for the lading
and unlading of what merchandise did
not know-our shrubbery was planted
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
it would do no harm if it fell within the
precincts or on to one of the barges
moored off 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 as to how the
thing would behave, that applied a
sputtering vesuvian to the touch-paper
of the first. II Smouldered so long that
| feared it had gone out, and was just
about to apply a second match, when a
stream of fire shot out with suddenness
which made me jump yard back, and
away scared the fire work in the most
satisfactory manner high into the air,
where it burst, well over the river, and
colored stars foated away from it. There
was tapping at the window to which |
went ''It's beautiful" said a voice
through the glass, "but we could not see
it burst well. The large willow-t tree was
in the way To avoid this, | directed
the other rockets more TO the left Some
behaved as satisfactorily as the first;
others, in consequence probably of in
sufficient sticks, not quito so well, as they
reached their apogec 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 a reflection above the
trees on the left.


had just dispatched two more rock
cts skyward when heard a rattling and
a kicking against the paling, and deep
and agitated voice called out: Hi!
for goodness sake stop those FIRE works !
Do you want to murder the whole parish
at one go?"


They are nearly over now, said |.
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 those things flying
about next to a powder-wharf; Light
another, and III have the law of you. ="


"Powder-wharf' cried aghast


LAY, powder wharf. as YOU must have
known; and barge three parts laden,
lying off it, which your rocket only
missed by about a yard"


Il did not know it, cried /; land it
was an abominablc shame not to tell me.
Is it likely would have taken the
house il | had known that such a thing
was in the neighborhood:


"P'raps that ; why they didn't tell We;
though there's no possible danger unless
people play such mad pranks as yours.


4 violent tapping at the drawing-room
window was followed by its being opened,
and my wifes voice inquired whether
ANYTHING WAS the matter.


Nothing said /; "only it is all over.
| was looking to see if | had forgotten



but heard voices


go yes; a neighb6r Afraid, you
know, that the falling rocket-sticks might
damage his premises. Shut the window;
the children will catch cold. l shall be
in directly" Then rushing back to the
paling, | implorcd the powderman not to
say anything about the erratic rocket
and fearing lest the alarm should have
made him thirsty, pressed sovereign
upon him to moistcn his throat with. He
accepted it, observed mystically that mum
was the word, and retired.


Whether in the interest of his employ
ers or in mine, ] know not, but the pow
der man has been faithful. Mann has
been the word ever since. Yet | feel
like the character in a modern novel who
has committed the crime, and lives for
three mortal volumes in constant dread of
exposure. 1t is not that | apprehend
any positive danger of being levitated,
together with my family, for have made
inquiries, and the precautions taken at
the wharf render an accident well-nigh
impossible. But supposing Aunt Sarah
were to discover that the barges she ad-
mires 80 much on Summers evening
are akin to the one which blew her into
the street (as she firmly believes was the
case) on a former occasion. have got
lease of SwansdowA Villa for seven
years; have under-let the other house
at loss. The Weadles have been asked
to stay with US, and cannot be put off.
If they learn the character of the trade
carried on next door, the game will be up,
and Aunt Sarah lost to us forever.


From the Semi. Weekly Mail.


A SLAVE-AUCTION IN NEW