A Gun Story.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 185, 27 May 1873, Page 7

A Gun Story.

I A story comes to us from Tararu of a narrow escape from serious consequences to a man through the incautious use of firearms, the dangers from whhh have so joften been enlarged upon. It : appears ! that a resident at Tararu left a gun in the house—loaded, but not capped. Some children were left at home, and, as usual, somebody found some mischief for idle hands to do. The gun was spotted and taken down, but there was no cap on the nipple., There was but one cap. in the house, and that was at the bottom of a vase on the mantelshelf. .But the evil genius that suggested the pastime with the gun guided the youngsters in their search for a percussion. The solitary explosive was ! found and duly placed on the gun nipple. Then c.une the question where should they fire it. One of the principal actors pointed out "something moving on the hill." No sooner said than done. " Bang" went the gun, and almost simultaneously a man gave a start as if stung by something, | while he noticed thatjust a little in advance ; a large root of docks had been ploughed up by a charge of shot, a solitary one of which | had spiead and struck him on the leg. j The '•something moving" which the younoM sports had seen was a milkman going to' look for his cows, and it was not the fault j of these youthful shots that he was not rendered powerless to move. He, poor man. not finding himself much hurt after the first shock was over, went on h ; s way under the impression that he bad accidentally come within range of the fowlingpiece. He states that had he been aware that deliberate aim was taken at him, he would have given to the juveniles such a caution as would have the effect of making them more careful what they tired at in future. And the verdict would have been! "sarved them right." Moral—Next to the danger of incautiously using fire.irms is ! that, of injudiciously leaving them within reach of those who are unable to exercise sufficient precaution in their me.— Coro viandal Mail.