ong
to preserve it upright from its weight, the sooty end fell on Master
Snapper's book, who was reading a little work upon "Affability." The
blow fairly knocked it out of his hand, and made a great smear on his
frilled shirt, at which a loud laugh ensued. Now Master Snapper could
not bear to be laughed at, and was so much out of humor all the
evening that he would not play.

Little Dick never once, all this time, thought that if it had fallen
on his playfellow's toe, it might have lamed him, and he would at
least have had to carry him a pick-a-back home; nor did he think who
was to have paid the doctor; but, pleased with the mirth he had made,
he went upstairs and fetched down one of the pistols, which his father
kept in a private drawer. Then, pulling in his rocking-horse, he
fancied he was one of the Light Horse, and mounted it to show the
sword exercise, and how he could shoot a Frenchman or a Turk at full
gallop. He had no business with a rocking-horse or a pistol among
young ladies, but he never thought if it were proper or not, and much
less if the pistol were loaded.

While he was going on a full canter, he gave the words, "Present!
fire!" and off it went, knocked him backwards, and shivered a
beautiful mirror into a thousand pieces. Oh, what a sad scene of
confusion ensued! Some of the young ladies screamed out with fright.
Miss Timid, knocked down by Dicky in falling backwards, lay on the
ground bleeding at the nose. Some were employed in picking up the
pieces of glass, or pinning their handkerchiefs over the fracture, to
prevent its being seen while they stayed; but such a hope was vain.

The noise brought Mr. and Mrs. Random and all the servants upstairs,
who too soon found out the havoc that had been made, and demanded how
it happened. All the children would willingly have screened Dicky,
because they knew he had not done it to frighten, but to amuse them.
Master Snapper, however, now thinking it was his turn, in a very
ill-natured speech made the worst of the story. But the spiteful way
in which he spoke did little Dick no harm, as he seemed more rejoiced
at his misfortune than sorry for Mr. Random's loss; hence it had the
effect not to increase the latter's anger.

"Playing with balancing poles and pistols," said Mr. Random in a stern
accent to his son, "is very well in a proper place, but quite
inadmissible in a room full of company. Now, sir, what business had
you to take this pistol out of my room