198 ACCIDENTS WITH FIREARMS 



was also much confused and scorched about the face, 

 his eyebrows being completely singed off. This at once 

 revealed the nature of the accident which had caused so 

 much consternation to all parties. A shattered candle- 

 stick 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 upstairs, with 

 a few flashes in the pan, or rather candlestick. This game 

 of fireworks 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 establish- 

 ment, whose vocation was principally confined 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 

 injured, and he barely missed blowing the cook's head 

 off as well, the powder-horn passing within an inch of 

 it, and leaving a pretty considerable mark in the kitchen 

 ceiling. The other servants being out at the time, this 

 youth, having obtained possession of a powder-horn, 

 was proceeding to enhghten the cook by the exhibition 

 of his skill in making, as he termed them, fizzes, by 



