Year: 1870

ONE of our oldest merchants, who is so
soon to pass away, and who formerly car
ried on business in Beaver street, residing
AS it was the custom in olden times
over his store, tells the following thrilling
narrative, which he occasionally relates
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 acquaintances circled round
her, and as the father gazed proudly on
the face of the young BRIDE, he wished as
bright prospect might open for his other
children who were gamboling merrily
among the crowd. Passing through the
passage connecting the lower rooms he
met the servant maid, an ignorant country
girl, who was carrying lighted tallOw
candle in her hand without candlestick.
He blamed her for this dirty conduct, and
went on into the kitchen TO make some
arrangements with his wife about the sup
per table the girl shortly returned with
her arms full of ale bottles, but without the
candle. The merchant Immediately recol
lected that several barrels ofgunpowderhad
been placed In his cellar during the day,
and that his foreman had opened one OF the
barrels to select q sample for q customer
"Where is your candle ?" he inquired in
the utmost agitation. az couldn't bring
it up with me, for my hands were full, ]"
said the girl. "Where did you leave it ?"
swell, I'd no candlestick, 80 l stuck 1t
into some black sand that's there in one
of the tubs" The merchant dashed down
che cellar steps; the passage was long and
dark, and as he CROPPED his way on, MS
knees threatened to give way under him
his breath was choked, and his flesh seemed
suddenly to become dry and parched, as
if he had already felt the sutfocating blast
of death. At the extremity OF the pas
sage, in the front cellar, under the very
room where his children and their friends
were reVeling in felicity, he discerned the
open powder 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. lie
stood for some moments, gazing upon thai
| light, unable to advance. The nddlel
commenced lively jig, and the feet ol
dancers responded with Increased VlVacity
the floor shook with their exertions, ano
the loose bottles in the cellar Jingled will
the motion. He fancied the candle wal
moved-was fallingi With desperate en-
ergy ne dashed forward; but how was ht
TO remove it2 The slightest touch woulc
cause the small live coal Of wick to isl
into the loose powder. With unequalec
presence of mind he placed hand eacl
side of the candle, with the open palm


upward, and the distended fingers pointed
toward the object of his care, which a


his hands gradually met, was secured II
the claspiDg or locking of his fingers, anC


safely removed from the head of the bar
rel When he reached the head OF th'
stairs, the excitement was over he smile(
at the danger he had conquered but tn


reaction was too powerful, he fell into Mt


of most violent and dreadful laughter


He was conveyed senseless to bed, an'


many weeks elapsed ere his nerves rc
covered sufficient tone to allow him a. r.
sumo his habits of every day life, Me-


York Commercial Advertiser.