Year: 1878

The End of the Candle.


CLEMENT SCOTT.


The title of my story is suggestive, and
I doubt not that it may appeal to boys
minds in various ways. Allow me, how
ever, to preface my little anccdote with
the grave assertion that what follows is
connected in no way whatever with
what, in schoolboy phraseology, is tech
nically known as "a SELL" l have been,
thank goodness, schoolboy myself; and
I am happy to say that the old fashioned
tricks were, as they should be, played up.
on me in common with my fellow-crca-
lures.


What I have to tell has, however, moth
ing to do with tricks in tallow or pilfer-
ed lights. My story treats of real bona
fde candle, not one Of your modern COM
posite inventions with fiuely. tapered
END patented and warranted to fit every
conceivable candlestick, and wick thai
never wants snut1ing, but dies away into
a dissipated fiery end.


You must 60 back with me to the old
days, when patent candles were not in
vented or thought of, and when silver
snuffer-tray and a pair Of silver snutfers
were brought in and deposited by the
side Of the candlesticks in great sta:e.
According to my present ideas of life, I
don't think that should consider Staun-
ton altogether lively place; but staun-
ton in the days when I knew it was to
me paradise. My two maiden aunts,
were exceedingly fond OF their nephew,
and as their nephew was not altogether a
mischievous lad, and possessed the Won
derful gift of being able to amuse him.
felt, it need not appear extraordinary that
the owners Of a certain withholding,
clean mansion in Main Street of Staunton
and the pa!c-faced visitor at the said
mansion got on very we'll together.


My first insight into life and its mys-
terious ways, dates from my first visit to
Staunton. where I was just as happy
watching the nlarket-carts come into town
and put up at the "Tavern,' over the way
as was playing at stage coach, and every
other conceivable variation of coaching
expedition, all by myself in a deserted
clubhouse, the only pr >perty to render me
assistance being tumble-down and rick
ETY. old phaeton.


l had been milo, doclle lad, amusing
myself in my quiet, urassuming manner,
thoroughly contented with my own socie-
ty and that of my respected aunts. Charley
Clode was the means of revolutionizing
my lite. He had lots of adventures and
tales to relate to me; he first fired me with
the enthusiasm of public school life, told
ME of his adventures and deeds of daring,
Of the heroes of the school that he wor-
SHIPPED and the sneaks whom he despised
and altogether thought Charley Clode q
most enjoyable companion, and cultivat-
ed his society accordingly.


He was capital fellow was Charley s
father, and would often come out and have
turn with us at ball, or whatever game
We might be playing. He was doctor
and great at all sorts Of experiments, with
which he used to delight US in tho even
iugs. According to Charley's account
there was no one who could make sucf
fireworks rs his father, and though il
was the wrong time of the year we were
promised miniature display on the lawn
the very first dark night that came.


One EVENING" shall never forget it
I was over at the Globes house, and the
doctor, WHO had nothing particular to do
was working for us little am-cngine
he had lately made. The doctor had a
workshop in tho basement floor Of the
house; and adjoining this was dark,
gloomy-looking cellar, wherein were de-
posted all sorts of odds and cnds-- old
empty bottels from the surgery, packing
cases, and rubbish Of every kind. The
workshop and its adjacent lumber-celler
had always been forbidden us boys, for
the doctor rather mistrusted Charley's ca
pabilities of resisting the facinations of
the lathe; and though not particularly
tidy in his own work, had that peculiar
method in bis untidincss that he knew
exactly where to lay his hands upon ev-
erything he wanted, and was by no means
anxious that any of his work should be
spoiled by careless handling or delayed
by sudden impulse of boyish mischief
On the particular night to Which I am al
ludiDg, Charley and Iwere sent off from
the drawing room, in which the doctors
family was assembled, to hunt up the re-
mains of an old tramway which the
doctor had made years ago, and which
was to be called into requisition or the
special occasion on which the doctor had
promised all OF us that he would work
the miniature engine on which he had ex-
pended so much time and trouble, in full
assembly.


The wreck Of the tramway was rcpor-
ted to be among the cid lumber which
lay in helpless and confused mass in
the dreary dark cellar which adjoined
the surgery on the basement floor.


awe must get CANDLE" said Charley
for it is pitch dark now,and we shall not
be able to see yard before u.s.


"All right old boy; but let US be quick
about it, for your father seems anxious te
work this engine. and all the ladies are
impatient"


We made our way into the kitchen, and
I don't think they were quite prepared
for our sudden appearance or the cner
getic appeal Charley made for a candle


In little room adjoining the kitchen
a maid was washing up plates aud glasses
by the light of the very smallest portion
of tallow candle, whose wick was a
that moment OF a portcntous length, ant
dimmed considerably the uncertain ray.
which the candle threw upon the melan
cl,oly party.


"Here, this will do," said energetic