Year: 1870

0re of our Oldest merchants, who is
soon TO pass away, aud who formerly
carried on business in Beaver street.
residing-as it was the custom in olden
times-over his store, tells the following
thrilling narrative, which he occasion.
ally relates with wonderful effect


A party had been collected at his
house, to give eciat to one Of those little
family festivals which brighten the dark
trace Of life, aud cheer the human heart
in every cline. 1t was his daughters
wedding day; crowds of her young ac.
quaintances circled around her, and as
the father gazed proudly on the face OF
the young bride, he wished as bright
prospect might open for his other chill.
dren who were gamboling mertily among
the crowd.


Passing through the passage connect.
ing the lower rooms he met he servant
maid, an ignorant country girl who
was carrying lighted tullow candle in
her hand without candlestick. He
blamed her for this dirty conduct, and
went into the kitchen to make some
arrangement with his wife about the
supper table; the girl shortly returned
with her arms full of ale bottles, but
without the candle The merchant i'm
mediately rccollected that several bar.
rels Of guDpowder had been placed in
his cellar during the day, and that his
foreman had opened one Of the barrels
to select sample for customer
"Where is your candle ?" he inquired
IN the utmost agitation. II couldn't
bring it up with me, for my hands were
full. said the girl where did you
leave it" "Well, I'd no candlestick.
so | stuck it into some black sand that's
there in one of the tubs" The mer.
chant 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 it he
already felt the sufocating blast of
death.


At the extremity of the passage, in
the front cellar. under the very room
where his chill lren aud friends were
reyelins in felicity, he disccrued 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 the light,
unable to advance. The fiddler com.
menced lively jig, and the feet of the
dancers responded with increased viva.
city; the floor shook with their exer.
tions, and the loose bottles in the cellar
jingled with the motion. He fancied
the candle moved-was falling With
desperate energy be dashed forward
but how was he to remove it? The
slightest touch would cause the small
live coal Of wick to fall into the loose
powder. With unequaled presence Of
mind he placed hand each side of the
candle, with the open palms upward,
and the disiended fingers pointed to.
ward the object of his care, which as
his hands gradually met, was secured
in the clasping or locking Of his fingers,
and safely removed from the head Of
the barrel.


When he reached the head o. the
stairs the excitement was over; he smiled
at the danger he had conquered; but
the reaction was two powerful, aud he
fell into fits Of most violent aud dread
full laughter. lie was conveyed sense
less to bed, and many weeks elapsed
ere his nerves recovered sufi.icn tone
to allow him to resume his habits of
everyday life.-Ner York Commercial
Adrcrtiser.