DEAN’S
Illustrated Farthing Books.
THE OLD MAN’S STORY.
LONDON: DEAN & SON,11, Ludgate Hill.
42
THE OLD MAN’S STORY.
There lived in the village of C. a kind-hearted old man, who wasgenerally called “Uncle John.” The children loved to hear his stories,and, many a Wednesday afternoon, sat upon the grass at his feet, whilehe told about what he used to do when he was a boy. One of these storiesof his I will tell to you.
“When I was about as high as you are now,” said Uncle John, “I was veryfond of playing with gunpowder. All my odd half-pence were carefullysaved, to buy the materials for making such fire-works as boys are ableto do. I did this secretly, for my mother would never allow me to do so.It happened one day that a gentleman came to visit my father, and amongother things, he asked me if I had ever read a little book which henamed. When I replied I had not, he gave me some money, saying, ‘Ishould like to have you buy and read it.’
“‘I wish he had given it to me to buy gunpowder,’ said I to myself assoon as he had gone; for I well knew that no one was aware that I had{4}the money in my possession.
“It then occurred to me that I could still do with it as I pleased; andI bought a quantity of gunpowder. As I was returning home with it, I meta boy of about my own age, with whom I often played.
“‘Come, Harry,’ said I, ‘I’ve got a fine lot of powder, and I want youto come with me this afternoon, and we’ll have real sport.’
“‘Oh! I cannot,’ said Henry.
“‘Why not? It is Saturday, and there is no school this afternoon.’
“‘Yes, I know that,’ he replied; ‘but the truth is, John, my mother hassuch fears that I shall get killed or hurt, that I’ve promised never toplay with powder again.’
“‘Oh! dear!’ cried I, ‘this is always the way. Now, I do think you mightjust this afternoon come and help me, for there’s no fun in playingalone. Come, you shall have half the powder for your own.’
“‘Let me see it,’ said Henry.
“I opened the brown paper, and showed him the quantity I had bought.
“‘Oh! this is capital!’ cried he; ‘yes, I’ll come just this once.’
“We met in the afternoon, and began to make squibs and crackers. We hadmade a few, when Henry proposed that we should get some fire and amuse{6}ourselves by throwing powder into it, a few grains at a