GUN SMITH.
Gun Smith
Gun Smith
The boy had thoughtlessly taken up a pistol and presented it at his sister, who, terrified by the sight of so deadly a weapon aimed against her breast, had uttered the piercing scream, which immediately brought Mrs. Durnford and herfamily to her assistance. By degrees they tranquillized the poor girl's mind, while Mr. Durnford strongly reprobated the wanton levity of her brother.
"Surely, Sir," said the youth, "she must be extremely foolish not to know that these things are never loaded when exposed to sale."
"That may be very true," said Mr. Durnford, "but so many accidents occur hourly by the same thoughtless conduct as your own, that I am surprised that any humane person can ever run the risk of wounding either the feelings or the body of a fellow creature."
The young lady was now sufficiently recovered to thank Mrs. Durnford for her kind attentions, and taking the arm ofher thoughtless brother, she quitted the Bazaar.
"Theodore," said Mr. Durnford, "can you remember when muskets were first invented?"
"I think, papa, in the time of Henry the Eighth, when brass cannon were first cast in England, as well as mortars. The finest steel is that of Damascus in Asiatic Turkey."
"We import a vast quantity of swords and dirks from Germany likewise," said Mr. Durnford, "but as the implements of war are unpleasing objects to the female mind, we will turn to a more agreeable subject, and take a survey of those beautiful plants which are the pride of our