Year: 1870

! One of our Oldest merchants, who is so
soon to pass away, and who formerly


carried ON business in Beaver street, re-
siding AS it was the custom in old times
over his store, tells the following thrill
ing narrative, which he occasionally re-
lates with wonderful effect: "a party had
been collected at his house to give eclat to
one of those little family festivals which
brighten the dark trace of life, and cheer
the human heart in every cline. 1t was
his daughters wedding day crowds of her
young acquaintance circled around her,
and as the father gazed proudly ON the
face of the young bride, he wished as
brig ht prospect might open for his other
children who were gamboling merTily
among crowd. Passing through the
passage connecting the lower rooms he
met the servant maid, an ignorant country
wench, who was carrying lighted tallow
candle in her hand without a candlestick.,
He blamed her for this dirty conduct, and
went into the kitchen to make some ar
rangements with his wife about the supper
table; the girl shortly returned with her
arms full OF ale bottles, but without the
candle. The merchant Immediately re-
collected that several barrels ofgunpowder
had been placed in his cellar during the day
and that his foreman had opened one of
the barrels to select sample for a Gus
toner. 'Where is your candle?" he in
quired in the utmost agitation. II couldn't
bring it up with me, for my hands were
full, said the girl Where cid you leave
it?' well, I'd no candlestick, so stuck
it in to some black sand that's there in one
of the tubs" The merchant dashed down
the cellar steps the passage was long and
dark, and, as he groped his way on, his
knees threatened to give way under him;
his breath was choked, and his flesh seemed
suddenly to become dry and parched, as
ii he already felt the suffocating blast OF
death. At the extremity of the passage,
in the front cellar, under the very room
where his children and friends were re vel
ing in felicity, he discerned the open pow
der barrel, full almost to the top, the
candle stuck lightly in the loose grains,
with long, red snuff of burnt-out wick
topping the small and gloomy flame. This
sight seemed to wither all his powers, and
the merry laugh of the youngsters above
struck upon his heart like the knell of death.
He stood for some moments, gazing upon
the light, unable to advance. The fiddler
commenced lively jig. and the feet of
dancers responded with increased vivacity;
the floor shook with their exertions, and
; the loose bottles in the cellar Jingled with
the motion. He fancied the candle moved


was falling! With desperate energy he
dashed forward; but how was he to re-
move ito The slightest touch would cause
the small live coal of wick to fall into the


loose powder With unequaled presence
of mind he placed Il hand each side of the
candle. with the open palms upward, and
the distended fingers pointed toward the
- :. l.aI L. l,,y. dc


gradually met, was secured in the clasping
or locking of his fingers, and safely re-
moved from the head of the barrel. When
he reached the head OF the stairs the excite
ment was over; he smiled at the danger
he had conquered; but the reaction was too
powerful, and he fell into fits of most violent
and dreadful laughter. He was conveyed
senseless to bed, and many weeks elapsed
ere his nerves recovered sufficient tone to
allow him to resume his habits of every
day life.-N. Y. Commercial Adrertiser.