[Illustration: _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 her family 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 of her 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