I had opened the chest, and my children had directed their attention instruments it contained; the first were little rusty, and I handed them to Ernest, who, after examining them, placed them on table inside the window searching for lancet in good condition, when clap of thunder, such as I had never heard in my life, terrified us all , that we nearly fell down This burst of thunder preceded by any lightning, but was accompanied by two immense forked columns of fire, which seemed to stretch sky to our very feet We all cried out, even my poor wife; but the silence of terror succeeded, and seemed the silence of death I flew bedside, and found my dear patient in state of total insensibility convinced that she was dead, and dumb with despair roused from my stupor voice children I then remembered that I lost all: there still remained duties to fulfil, and affection to console me "My children," cried I, extending my arms , "come and comfort your unfortunate father: come and lament the best of wives and mothers " Terrified appearance mother, they surrounded her bed, calling on her in piercing accents moment my little Francis was missing, and my grief was augmented fear that he killed lightning I hastily turned window, expecting my child dead, dwelling in flames Fortunately, all was safe; but, in my distraction, I scarcely thanked God mercy, very moment even when he graciously restored my lost treasures Francis, frightened storm, had hidden himself mother's bed, and fallen asleep; awaked thunder, he dared to move, fearing it announced the arrival savages; but at last, the cries brothers roused him, and raising his pretty fair head, supposing his mother sleeping, he flung his arms round her neck, saying, "Wake, mamma, all here,--papa, my brothers, storm, too, very beautiful, but frightens me Open your eyes, mamma; look bright lightning, and kiss your little Francis " Either his sweet voice, or the cries of her elder children, restored her faculties: she gradually recovered, and called me to her The excess joy threatened almost as fatal as my grief With difficulty I controlled my own feelings and those boys; and, after I had sent them bed, I ascertained that she was really living, but much better The pulse was calm, fever had subsided, leaving only weakness that was by no means alarming I relinquished, joyfully, the intention of bleeding her, the necessity I had trembled to contemplate, and contented myself with employing the boys cooling mixture, composed juice lemon, of barley, and tamarinds, which they completed great satisfaction mother I then ordered Fritz to descend yard, to kill fowl, pluck and boil it, broth,--a wholesome and light nourishment dear invalid one brothers to assist him, and Jack and Francis, frequently employed under their mother, were ready in moment Ernest alone remained quietly seat, which I attributed usual indolence, and tried him ashamed of it "Ernest," said I, " very anxious to oblige your mother; you sit as thunderbolt had struck you "

"It has, indeed, rendered me unfit of any service to my good mother," said he, quietly; and, drawing his right hand from under his waistcoat, he showed it , most frightfully black and burnt

This dear child, who suffered , had never uttered complaint, for fear of alarming his mother; and even now sign silent, lest she should hear, and discover the truth She soon, however, fell into sleep, which enabled me to attend to poor Ernest, and to question him accident I learned that long and pointed steel instrument, which examining near the large window, stooping over it it better, had attracted the lightning, which, falling partly hand he held it, had caused the misfortune There were traces arm electric fire, hair was burnt on one side By what miracle the electric fluid diverted, and how we, dwelling in tree, preserved from sudden and general conflagration, not My son assured me he had seen the fire run along the instrument he held, and from thence fall perpendicularly earth, where it seemed to burst with second explosion impatient to examine this phenomenon, and if traces were left, except those hand son, which necessary, first place, to attend to I remembered frequently applied with success in burns the most simple and easy of remedies, which everybody can command: , to bathe the hand affected in cold water, taking care to renew it every eight or ten minutes I placed Ernest between two tubs of cold water, and, exhorting him to patience and perseverance, I left him to bathe his hand, and approached the opening, and discover what had preserved us, by averting the direction lightning, which one expected killed my son, and destroyed our dwelling only some light traces table; but, on looking more attentively, greater part surgical instruments which Ernest had placed upon it were either melted or much damaged In examining them separately, I remarked one much longer rest, which projected beyond the edge table, and was much marked fire easily take it up; it had adhered somewhat in melting, and, in endeavouring to disengage it, point, beyond the opening, touched thick wire, which seemed suspended roof tent All was now explained ; except that in no way account wire, placed expressly as conductor lightning It seemed the work of magic The evening was too far advanced to distinguish how fastened, and what fixed it below; therefore, enjoining Ernest loudly if me, I hastened down my three cooks very busy, as I passed through, preparing the broth for their mother--they assured me it excellent Fritz boasted that he had killed the fowl with all speed, Jack that he had plucked it without tearing it much, and Francis that he had lighted and kept up the fire They had nothing to employ them just then, and them with me some one to phenomenon lightning Below the window large packet of iron wire, which I had brought from Tent House some days before, intending on some leisure day sort of grating before our poultry-yard By what chance here, and hooked by one end roof house ? before I had replaced our cloth canopy by sort of roof covered with bark nailed upon laths; the cloth still enclosed the sides and front; all was so inflammable, that, but providential conductor, been in flames in an instant I thanked God preservation; and little Francis, seeing me so happy, said--

" quite true, papa, wire has preserved us ? "

"Yes, true, my darling; and what good genius has placed it there, that thankful," said I

"Ah ! father," said my little fellow, "embrace me, but thank me; for know that doing good "

Astonished at , I requested my boy me why and how he had fixed the wire ?

" to reach some figs," said he, " and Fritz were at Tent House, and Jack and Ernest were nursing mamma; I wished some good for her like sweet figs; but there were none in my reach, and I had no stick long enough to beat them down I went below, and found that great roll of wire I tried to break piece off, but ; and I then determined to carry the whole our dwelling, and to bend one end into hook, catch branches, and bring them near me to gather the figs very successful at first, and secured figs I had my packet of wire table window, and stood near it myself reach branch that hung over our roof, loaded with fruit I leaned forward, and extended my hook branch; I had secured it, and joyfully began to pull , papa, they bend, and don't break; but it remained immovable, as my hook, held by laths roof I pulled with all my strength, and, in my efforts, I struck my foot against the roll of wire, which fell down ground without detaching the hook judge how firm , is no trifling leap house ground "

"A good work, indeed, my boy," said I, "is yours, has saved us God has inspired you, and use hand of child preservation Your conductor shall remain where so happily placed it; still have need of it The sky still looks very threatening; return to your mother, and take light "

I had contrived sort of portable lantern, made of isinglass, which lighted us offices Moreover, calibash pierced with small holes, with candle inside, was placed top winding staircase, and lighted it entirely, we were able to descend without danger by night as w ell as by day , however, uneasy way bring my wife down, if it necessary to remove her during her sickness; I named it to Fritz

"Have no uneasiness, father," said he, "Ernest and I are very strong now, and carry mamma like feather "