Tom, tired of his long confinement, sprang out, and, in so doing, knocked the lamp out of her hand, the fluid from which ignited and ran over the floor.
"Murder!--Fire!--Watch!" screamed the thoroughly frightened old woman.

"Oh, help! help! fire!" At this terrible noise nearly every one in the household was aroused, and hurried to the spot whence it proceeded.

They found Mrs.
Thomas standing in the dark, with the lid of the jar in her hand, herself the personification of terror.

The carpet was badly burned in several places, and the fragments of the lamp were scattered about the floor.
"What has happened ?" exclaimed Mr.Morton, who was the first to enter the kitchen.

"What is all this frightful noise occasioned by ?" "Oh, there is a man in the house!" answered Mrs.Thomas, her teeth chattering with fright.