“Mamma, oh! mamma!” screamed Katie, “the lamp is ’sploded!”
“And Tommy’s killed!” shrieked Robbie.
Mamma flew up the stairs and to Tommy.
“Oh! his eyes!” she cried. “Quick, August, water!”
“Oh! my poor Tommy!” sobbed little Robbie. “See him all b’eedin’, b’eedin’!”
August came running with the water, and knelt down and held the basin while Katie flew for a sponge and soft linen.
When the blood was washed off, and his smarting eyes had been bathed with fresh, cool water, Tommy discovered that he had been more frightened than hurt; and mamma and the rest were greatly relieved to find his worst wound, a slight cut between the eyes, could be cured by court-plaster.
It was a great wonder, however, that more harm had not been done; for when the child blew so forcibly down the chimney, the wick shot up out of the lamp and the chimney shivered in pieces; one of the pieces had struck his face, making the cut, while the hot air and smoke flashing into his eyes caused them to smart fiercely. August had neglected to fill the lamp at the proper time, and the oil had burned nearly out. It was the sudden forcing of air down the tube which caused the explosion.
“I thought you said ’twas a safety lamp!” said Katie indignantly.
“’Tisn’t half so good as our un-safety ones;” declared Robbie.