26 CHRISTMAS [N AMERICA.

of peace; and she prepared one of these curious candles, and
told her family that they might invite the neighbors’ children
on Christmas Eve to see it burn and explode. The village

 

 
    

      

 

    

schoolmaster, Silas Sloan, was living at the old house ; and he
took the liberty to invite the school, which consisted of some
ten boys and girls.