CONSEQUENCES OF A FLARE-UP. 277 



had caused so much consternation to all parties. 

 A shattered candlestick was discovered on the 

 floor, and the remains of a powder-flask scattered 

 about the room. 



By dint of restoratives, and after his- wounds 

 had been carefully attended to, my brother was 

 induced to make a full confession, from which it 

 appeared that, having purloined a powder-flask 

 from the hall whilst we were at dinner, he and the 

 junior housemaid had promised themselves a little 

 amusement up -stairs, with a few flashes in the 

 pan, or rather candlestick. This game of fire- 

 works on a small scale was to be conducted by the 

 young lady holding a lighted candle, and my 

 brother dropping a few grains of powder upon it, 

 to make, as he called it, a flare-up, and a pretty 

 flare up would most assuredly have taken place, 

 through the whole house, had the powder-horn 

 been nearly full, instead of nearly empty, which 

 it most fortunately happened to be. 



Some years after, a young gentleman of our 

 establishment, whose vocation was principally con- 

 fined to polishing boots and shoes, and who in 

 appearance very much resembled Mr. Weller's 

 pet, the fat boy, attempted a similar feat, with 

 nearly a similar result, except that in place of 

 having his face scarred his hand was severely in- 



