1' 11 AX K MORTIMER, )
Editor and Vrojtrietor.
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER.
(Tcrtnit: IX ADVAXCE,
One Uelhw per Year.
Vol. IV.
The IUoomfield Trans J
J.s 1'ubllshed Weekly,
At 'cw lMoomfieltl, renn'a.
BY
FRANK MORTIMER.
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TBAULY ADVEUTISEMKNTS.
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CORRIE SHERWOOD'S HERO.
An Excellent Story.
I DO not imagine Grantley to have been
much abo ;e tho average of New Eng
land towns in regard to virtue and religion.
It had its scores of Christian people who
frowned upon all not of their peculiar stamp
and superscription ; it had also its fair quo
ta of scoffers w ho lived, like parisites, ou
the shortcoming of those same pious ones.
It had, likeotber small towns, its petty ar
istocracy, its mi 'Idle and lower classes ; and
taken altogether, was perhaps afairsamplo
of tho majority of moderate-sized New
England towns. '
Alfred Lindsey bad a good deal to con
tend with from t he start, Tho class of peo
ple aro not yet e stinct who beliovo it im
possibles for any tJiing to eomo out of Naz
areth. There were thoso who believed it
the wildest recklessness in James Sherwood
in taking a Lindsey into tho store, even in
tho irresponsible situation of errand boy.
It had been more a matter of impulse with
him, than from any deliberate benevolence
ho felt towards young Lindsey, or the class
ho represented.
I do not mean to insinuate that tho Lynd-
sevs were sinners abovo other men. In
deed, I rather incline to tho opinion that,
according to their gifts and opportunities,
thev were full as aooA as their betters. To
bo sure their gifts, liocuniarily considered,
were exceedingly srn.11, and they were rot
tho sort of people to make opportunities,
Had they been foruuiato enough to have
been born rich, they would have made good-
natured, respectablo citizens, but not men
and women of energy and enterprise. There
was, perhaps, half a dozen families of them,
and all singularly aliko in character and
disiwsition. If there bo ono thing abovo
another a genuine New Englander thor
oughly despises, it is shiftlcssuess and indo
lence. In a country where every man
expected to invent at least a. patent gridi
ron, or an " improvement" on ono already
invented, people of tho Liiulsey pattern are
at a sorry discount.
For three generations the Linseys had
been " hewers of wood or drawers of wa
ter. " Home or them had been ollcreu op
portunities of becoming artisans, but so
long as they got enough to eat, and an ex
tra, shirt in case of emergency, they were
content to let well enough alone. They
never went to church, and had no need of
fine clothes. They had very little literary
taster tho annual Town Report and Fann
er's Almanac furnished their year's reading.
This again was not particularly expensive
They had no foolish pride of appearance,
and old hats and coats, though a triflo loss
transparent, had tho merit of costing less
than window glass. They believed in tak
ing tho world easy. They fulfilled, literally
the command to "take no thought for t-
I
morrow. 1 ney worked pnrciy enougn to
kcop them out of tho alms-house, yet wert
forcver liovevhifj on tho verge. People said
it was " no nrc trying to help them," though
I am rather doubtful about tho experiment
ever having been tried.
Up to his twelfth year Alfred Lindsoy had
followed in the steps of his predecessors.-- j
IIc had lived piincipally in the streets, pick
ing up occasional jobs of work and pretty
good knowledge of human nature. No ono
thought to look wilder the tattered hat, or
they might have seen a pair of brilliant
gray eyes looking keenly out at the world
tho busy, restless, struggling world, upon
which he was only a fungus growth. Some
such thoutrhts crept into his brain, some
times. A longing to crowd himself into
the busy ring and light his way with tho
rest sometimes came over him, keeping him
awake for hours after his two brothers,
George and Ben, were asleep. But there
never seemed to bo an opening. No ono
saw him, apparently, and so he waited till
till ono day Fate cleft the way for him.
An unusually heavy fall of snow, solidi
fied by frequent rains falling upon and freez
ing in it, had distinguished tho winter.
Tho streams were .already swollen beyond
precedent, when a strong south wind, ac
companied by a heavy rain, set in. Mr.
Sherwood's residence was situated on a lit
tle knoll, below which tho river bent ab
ruptly, broadening to a beautiful pond, dot
ted in summer with snowy lilies, and m
winter by gay parties of skaters.
'Papa, isn't tho river rising?' Come
Sherwood asked, pausing at tho door, on
her way to her chamber.
' A little, I presume ; but it wont rise
high enough to reach you, little one, if you
hurry off to bed," tho father answered, smi
ling at tho flushed little face, looking out of
a tangle of soft chestnut hair.
"You are quite sure, papa?"
"Sure 1 Why, Corralline, what puts
such absurd thoughts into your unusually
wise little head? Tho river never rises
half wav nn the knoll. Go to bed without
any fears my child."
" The river does roar fearfully, James,"
Mrs. Sherwood said, going to tho door and
opening it a little way.
"Well, my dear, it's chained fast to its
bed, and can't get away," ho answered,
with tho air of a man who is concious of
having said a clever thing.
Mr. Sherwood was (he merchant of Grant-
ley. There were soveral grocers, and sim
plo "storekeepers," but only ono Mahomet,
The others wore respectable citizens, mere
ly Mr. Sherwood eminent and honored.
All " tho best" peoplo in Grantley I use
the word in its social, not its moral sense
patronized his house. If ho sometimes
took advantage of bis popularity and re-
spectability, and sold the same quality of
goods at slight advance on tho other Grant
ley dealers, it did not lessen his sales. Tho
prestige of trading at Sherwood's was worth
a small percentage.
" I wish you would go to tho door and
look out before retiring," his wife contin
ued, strangely oblivious of her lord's clev
erness.
" You and Corrie are nervous," ho said,
rising.
Standing on the broad, polished granite
steps of his elegant residence, Mr. Sher
wood looked down, in a doublo sense, at the
low tumble-down hovel of Tom Lindsey.
It stood at the edgo of the pond, in close
proximity to the old "grist mill." The
light shone out from one of the dilapidated
windows, revealing a wild, turbid sea of
broken ice and floating boards.
" I shouldn't bo surprised if it carried off
Tom's hut. I'm sure I liopo it will 1'
Mr. sherwood said, coming back to his
warm luxurious room. " Tho pond is full
of floating boards, so I supposo Morton has
suffered some. But ho piled his boards on
the river's edge to save storage But I'm
not afraid of its injuring me, andothor peo
plo must look out for themselves : with
which quite unheard-of sentiment Mr. Slier-
Nov 131ooniaoll, X-i., jVEurcli. 1870.
wood, merchant, retired to his virtuous re
pose.
"Papa, papa, wake up ! Allio Lindsey
is out hero in a boat. Their house is carri
ed away ; and O papa, the water is all over
the meadow !"
Mr. Sherwood sprang hastily to his feet,
thoroughly awake.
" How came you to know about this, Cor
rie?" ho asked, as ho hastily dressed.
"Allio woke mo shouting under tho win
dows. I don't think I was sleeping very
soundly, papa."
"Where is the boy, now?"
"Gono back with his mother O, I didn't
tell you his father, and Gcorgo and Ben
ere carried away in tho house. IIo man
aged to get into a boat, .and took his moth
er out of tho window, but tho ico got be
tween them and ho couldn't save the rest.
Ben jumped out into tho water, but just as
Alfred was reaching to draw him into tho
boar, a great piece of ico came crashing
against it, carrying down poor Ben, and
crushing somo of tho fingers on Alfred's
hand. Then ho saw how the water was up
round our house, and ho rowed clear up
here, with that wounded hand, too, to tell us
of tho danger. Isn't ho a real hero, papa?"
tho bright eyes flashing out their admira
tion.
Yes, Corrie," ho answered, promptly,
a truo hero."
It was hard work, but by daylight the
cows, norses and swino nau oeen driven to
a place of safety. Had tho work been de
layed two hours longer three thousand dol
lars worth of stock would have perished in
the waters. Tho water was nearly five feet
deep in front of the house, and the broad,
beautiful meadows stretching back to tho
wood was ono broad lake of foamy waters,
when tho gray light of morning broke over
tho scene.
Alfred Lindsey completed his bravery by
owing against tho current nearly a mile,
and procuring men and boats to take away
tho beleaguered family.
Poor Tom Lindsey and his two boys were
washed up on tho meadows, crushed almost
past recognition by tho ico and timber.
Only Alfred and his mother, a weak, fair-
faced woman, utterly devoid of ambition
or energy, were left, and they utterly desti
tute and shelterless.
I ought to do something for Alf." Mr.
Sherwood said, after tho excitement and
peril were beginning to subside in Grantley,
and ho had ventured back to his house
again. "I hardly know what is best. Giv
ing to the Lindseys is like pouring water
into a sieve."
"Why don't you hire him, papa?" Cor-
rio asked soberly. "You could pay him
more than ho earned, if you thought it was
right, you know."
And this was how it happened that Alfred
Lindsey became a clerk for ho was soon
promoted from his original post of errand
boy in tho highly respectablo mercantile
establishment of Sherwood & Son.
As I said bofore, young Lindsey had
much to contend against. First came his
own long-seated indolence. He had never
been confined to labor, and though his res
olution was strong to succeed, tho flesh was
sometimes weak. His mother, grown weak
and fretful, grew also selfishly unreasona
ble, and instead of helping him forward.
was a perpetual drag and hindrance to his
efforts, by her demands on his timo and
purse. With their improved finances sho
had developed a weak vanity for "dress, and
upbraided Alfred that he could not indulge
her in her rapidly increasing wants.- Then
there were the prejudices of all Grantley to
overcome.
The thriftlcssnoss, and indolence, and im
potence of a sooro of uncles and cousins
was a continual "old man of tho sea,"
about his neck. Nq ono thought to honor
him the more because of them, recognizing
tho merit that ho had vindicated itself de
spite, utoward circumstances. He was " a
Lindsey," and that fact was never lost sight
of, but continually urged against him, as in
itself something too monstrous fcrr forgive
ness. We all know how the stigma of a
name will cling to one, particularly in a
country town, where every one's antece
dents are thoroughly known, and how hard
it is for one of a proscribed family to rise
abovo the level, or pass the bound society
and common opinion have set for him.
It argued therefore no ordinary strength
of character when at twenty-one Alfred
Lindsey had so far overcome aud lived down
the prejudices' of his townsmen as to bo ad
mitted still a little reluctantly, but yet
admitted to bo a young man of ability and
promise.
From the first, Robert Sherwood" had
been Alfred's firm friend. Five years bis
senior, with fine natural abilities, and a supe
rior education, it is easy to see tho great help
he could be to a boy liko young Lindsey, if
ho chose. Ho did so choose. IIo spent his
evenings in teaching him thoso studies
which he had himself acquired at a great
expense, and rejoiced enthusiastically when
tho pupil's thought sometimes outstripped
the teacher's. Ho braved even his father's
displeasure, by recognizing him as his so
cial equal upon every possible occasion, and
y his friendship and countenance forced
others to.
If I am anything, it is you who have
made me," Alfred said, his lips trembling
in spite of him, as Robert Sherwood put a
paper in his hand on his twenty-first birth-
uay, declaring mm a junior partner m tno
great house of Sherwood & Son.
"Nonsense! You've earned tho compli
ment (for it's not much moie, you have
got to put work instead of money into tho
firm, and I know we shall bo tho gainers)
fully and faithfully. I hope, of course, it
will bo better for you, but it's no more than
fair to tell you that things don't look just
as I wish they did, for your sake, particu
larly. I'd like to promise you a larger in
come," he answered, earnestly.
You aro more unselfish than I," he
replied, a slight color rising to his forehead
Adding, after a little pause, "I wish I had
had the trood fortune to have been born
poor. Tho unlimited use of money is little
better than a curse to a boy."
"It did not spoil you, at least."
"It entailed a curse that will follow mo
to my grave!" ho said, vehemently. "It
has made it a necessity it has fitted a yoke
upon my manhood, and I cannot break it !
Well, perhaps it will como out all right I
mean that it shall," he added, earnestly.his
fino face a trifle clouded.
"If you aro in any sort of trouble now,
or ever where I can serve you, I will do it
gladly, even if it costs me my life, or what
is more, my good name," was Lindsey's
impulsivo answer.
"I hope we shall be reduced to no such
desperate strait as that, my dear fellow,"
he replied, smiling, "but your good-will is
just as truly appreciated. By tho way, I
suppose you received Corrie's noto?"
" Yes. but I don't think I had better
come," coloring vividly.
"Not como 1 Why, it is got up oxpress
ly in your honor, as I read at once through
that transparent little sister of mine,
would like to see you settlo it with her, if
you slighted her invitation."
" I am sorry to say it, bceauso I know it
will pain you," Lindsoy said, hesitatingly
"but I am quite sure it would bo more sat
isfactory if I absent myself. Don't think
mind it, it is very natural, and I can easily
make an excuse that "
" You mean that it would bo more satis
factory tu my father, I suppose, Lindsey?'
ho interrupted, gravely.
"I think so, yes."
" But am I of no account ?" And Corrie
why tho girl would cry herself sick over
tho disappointment I You are a most won
derful hero in her eyes, Alf. Her worship
dates back to tho timo of tho flood the
flood on the Connecticut, I mean," ho said
laughing to cover his companion's embar
rassment.
"Miss Sherwood has hem very kind to
To. 13.
remember a poor fellow like me, at ajl," he
plied, just a fittfo stiflly. Then, his fac
softening, "I won't nn'nd, though, if itwill
bo any pleasure t you to have mo come."
"It is not simply my pleasure that I am
considering you know it would he that
but the right the thing. I do not con
sider one man's prejudices of birth should
stand in another's way, a barrier between
im and his rightful position. My father
understands that you are to come."
" Very well ; it is settled, then," Lindsey
replied, turning to his desk.
But all day the thought annoyed and
troubled him tho thought that be should
not be quite welcomo in the house cf Ms
ealthy senior. He was not at all bliadfU
by the partnership Just conferred on him.
He knew quite well whom to thank forthat.
Besides lie was proud, if he was " only a
Lindsey." lie knew very well that he
should receive cool looks and scanty recog
nition from a portion of the guests. They
were too well-bred to bo positively rndc ;
but there is the quiet ignoring of one's
presence the grouping together, leaving
one quite alone and aside, with a score of
other petty little circumstances, that tend
to make the proscribed one uncomfortable.
IIo expected to be subject to any or all of
these annoyances, but because Robert de
sired it he would submit to tho ordeal.
Possibly, too, though T cannot say, consid
ering that he did not himself admit it, the
pretty pink-tinted noto which Corrio had
sent him had some influence in his decis-
n.
Through all the nine years since that
night of storm and terror, Corrie Sherwood
had been different to him from other girlti.
Ho blushed, even now, at tho remembrance
of tho tearful kiss sho had given him when
ho had lifted her light form out of the boa t.
in tho gray dawn of that wild, frightful
February morning. To bo sure it was but
a childish impulse of gratitude, and neither
of them was more than a child, but he had
never forgotten ! Tho memory had beer.,
simplo as it was, a strong incentive to effbrt.
Not that any presumptive or sentimental
passion had grown out of it. He had never
dreamed of being in love, in the receive)'
senso of the term, with his employer'
daughter; ycthersmilo was brighter than
sunshine to him, and her friendship tho ono
thing desirable in life.
Contrary to young Lindsey's expectatione.
he was cordially received ; tho fact of hi.
admittance into tho firm, acting a most po
tent open sesamo in that mystical circw
known as "good society." Mr. Sherwood,
too, met him more cordially than he had ex
pected, though with a still little stit'.
patronizing air, which said, quite as plainly
as words, " You are very welcome amoiif
us, and under tho cirumstaneeshavea right
here, but I beg you to remember that yoi
aro not exactly of us you understand."
But Robert and Corrio paid him tho moul
flattering attentions, and as ho promenatU
up and down tho long, brilliantly-lighter.
rooms, with Corrio Sherwood's fair han
resting lightly on his arm, and her beaut -
ful eyes lifted trustingly to his face, ho fo: -
got all annoyance and discomfort, iindlh-
ed only in the enchanted present.
But Fato which takes a malicious pleac .
tiro in making peoplo miserable, dropped a
a grain of bitterness into this cup of sweet
ness. It was near the close of tho cv
niug's entertainment, and Lindsey had sa
down for a moment near the window." Tl.
blindsworo closed, but the window itsci''
was open. Two gentlemen were talking
outside' Tho first voico ho did not at oncn
recognise, only the words sent the blood in,
a quick wave from his heart to his face.
CONCI.UPfcU) IN TWO MOUE KUMISS,
tW A Western minister Vjhjhis congre
gation that tho first step truin was a yan.
of gay-colored ribbon.. The next day a
young woman out shopping told; the clct"
that sho wanted "thqe mor,q steps, to ruin,-
to match a piece.