""???l??jrclr AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. foZllZ' "Vol. "VI. New Blooinflcld, Pa., Tuesday, January O, 1872. TVo. 3. 18 Ptmi.fSHRD EVKRY TUESDAY MOKNINO, BY FEANK MORTIMER & CO., At New Bloom field, Ferry Co., Fa. Being provided with Rteam Tower, nnd large Cylinder Hnd Job-Presses, we are prepared to do all kinds of Job Trliitlng lit good style and at Low Trices. " ' ADVERTISING It AXES I Trirutoit 8 Cents per line for one Insertion. 13 " " twolnscrtlons 15 " " "three Insertions. Business Notices In Local Column 10 Cent) per line. Notices of Marriages or Deaths Inserted free. Tributes of Respect, &c, Ten cents per line. TBAHLT ADVERTISEMENTS One Square, one year $12 00 Two Squares per year, , 20 00 For longer adver tisements u reasonable dis count will be made. Ten Lines Nonpareil or one Inch, Is one square. Lost and Found ! A NEW YEAR'S STORY. CONCLUDED. T 11IERE was a groat gray stone, mansion, with an imposing front, located on aristocratic ground, delightfully distant from tlio noise and turmoil of the great city. A long flight of marble steps, guard ed by couchaut stouo lions, led up to its massivo door an elaborate mingling of carved oak and ruby stained gliiRS. Silk en drapery, rosy as a summer sunset, and softened and shaded by filmy laces, delicate as the foam of crested waves, hung inside the polished windows, where the glad mor ning sunshines strayed in to light nptho costly pictures In the great saloon, gleam ing amid the faded gold of some fair woman's hair streaming over moonlit ruins and summery landscapes or ming ling recklessly in the wanton pleasures of a mad carnivnl scene. Although it was cloven o'clock in tlio forenoon, the owner of this fair abodo had not yet breakfasted. Ho was feeling the weight of liia seventy years, and the chill wintery mornings found him cross, cold and rheumatic. Seated in his deep-cushioned chair before an oieu wood fire that obstinately refused to bo poked into a steady blaze, the old man waited for his breakfast, grumbling and muttering to himself in factious diRcontont. " Breakfast, sah," announced Black Bam at last, "here's do briled salmon, cream toast, eggs and coffee, sah." And lie set the delicious meal on a table conven iently near his master, and sliding half a dozen steps backward, stood, napkin in band, waiting further orders. Tho old gentleman peered at his break fast out of his stormy blue-gray eyes, and marled out : ' "Broiled salmon, indeed! Who said any thing about broiled salmon, you idiot? You might as well bring me pickled sharks, and expect me to digest it. Did I not say particularly that I wanted a few fried oys ters this morning? Take away your sal mon. Carry it to Egypt ?" Ham did not appear seriously disconcert . cd. Experienco had hardened him. Let the fare be what it would, fish, flesh or fowl, he was sure always to get precisely the same order to carry it all to Egypt. "C'eiiaiu sure I neber hear nuflin' 'bout no fried oysters ; spect I liettcr go ask de cook," said Sam, shaking his head like a reflecting crow. " O no, of course not ; you never know anything, you woolly-headed scamp. Hang the cook ! Let her alone, tullherto go to Egypt 1" A tinkle at the doorbell and Sam's exit In tlint direction proved disastrous to any more definito orders concerning either the speedy execution or exile of the cook. Sam enme back presently, announcing : " A young lady to see you, sah." " Well, show her in, and stop grinning, you mummy." But the young lady, standing in tho hall, heard the order, and stcpiied quietly along into the room, and sat down in the green velvet chair, Shiii solemn now, as an owl, had set forward for her. Having seated the girl, Sam made s show of removing the breakfast, but his master interposed : ' "Let it remain; I'll make it do; and get along down cellar and see what lias got into the furnace ; something betides coal, I should say. The whole house is as cold as a tomb. Wont you sit ucar the Are, child? I believe it has decided to burn," he said, looking at Amber for the first time. She drew her chair nearly opposite his, as he sipped contentedly at his coftcc, and pushing back her veil, turned to him her timid rose-flushed face, with its smiling mouth and soft wishful eyes. For a moment old Morris Vanstone sat and stared at her. It seemed to him that the dreamlike woman had stepped sud denly out of the gilden frame on his parlor wall, and was sitting before him, radiant as of old, in tho warmth of winsomness of youth and health. "You wanted to see mo?" ho asked, at length, coining to his senses. " Yes," said Amber, who had got used to having people stare at her ; "you wanted a young lady to read to you. I came, hop ing you might bo induced to give me a trial. I believe I read pretty well." " I can readily believe yon d o ; your voice is charming. But I am afraid I should give you more of a trial than you can endure," ho answered, smiling grimly ; "you haven't the least idea what an old ogro I am. The fact is, child, I am not as young as I was once. There is a coldness in my bones, and I ncho.all over ; my head is dizzy and my eyes are giving out. I havo no ono living at least no woman to care for me particularly, and as I never go out or havo company, my loneliness is be coming a torturo to me. Perhaps I am an old idiot, but I fancied it would bo pleas ant, and mako life a trifle more tolerable, to havo a soft-voiced girl to read my papers to me, and sing a little, perhaps, some times. Will you tako off your hat, and read ma an item or two from tlio Journal there ? ' The shipping news, first, if you please. I own a vessel or two at sea." Amber commenced reading, and Mr. Vanstono fell to wiping the moisture out of his eyes with a cambric handkerchief. Then drawing his velvet dressing-gown around him, ho leaned back in his chair and listened. After tho foreign news and general happenings of the day, Amber read a poem of Alice Gary's from tho fourth pago ; a sweet simple thing, pure and fra grant ns the violent-scented breath of a spring morning. Mr. Vanstone made no commcnts,hut find ing that hour tho shortest he had known for years, he engaged Miss Gray from threo until live, every-wcek day afternoon, at a price that would render it unnecessary for her to sew steadily all tho morning. Slio expressod her gratitude with moist eyes. " I shall hardly earn such a gener ons compensation," sho said, tying on her hat. " Wait a bit and see, Miss Gray," said Mr. Vanstone, shaking a finger warningly. " I hoe I shall not lie brute enough to send you to Egypt with Sara and the cook by the way, that Sam is enough to aggra vate a saint but remember, child, if I do ever snap and snarl, and refuse to be smoothed out, I say rememtier that it is the coldness, and pain, and dizziness that is grumbling and growling, and not I ; for if I had prayed to Heaven, which I never did, instead of advertising in tho Journal, I think you and no other would have been sent in answer to my prayer." Amber went homo happier and more hopeful than sho had liecn for many weeks. Slowly yet surely her diflicultics seemed one by ono to bo vanishing from her path. It would bo so easy, so delightful , to go daily to Mr. Vanstono's splendid library, to sit in tho great velvet chair, restful as the bosom of sleep, nnd read rare and costly books to such an indulgent listener as she was sure ho would prove to bo. Sho won dered vaguely what Maxwell Fay would think, smiling t herself as sho imagined his expression of blank sin-nine, not quite devoid of pleasure, should ho walk sudden ly into his stepfather's study and llnd her there some sunny afternoon. But perhaps she might go and como for weeks without seeing him, as his oflleo was far down town, and she had heard him say ho found little time to spend at homo. It was just bos sit.le, too, that Mr. Vanstono did not wish the young man to know of his new whim. So sho wisely roolved to say nothing of the affair until circumstances revealed it. Circumstances are, as Charles Kendo ob serves, teriiblo things. Something occur red very soon to Interfere materially with Amlicr's plan of keeping her vocation secret from her mother. ' She was groat on emergencies, and for a fow days succeed ed very well in making some plausible, ex cuses for going out tho same hour every day, One afternoon, however, while prepai Ing to go, Mrs. Gray saw her looking carefully over tho contents of the bookcase, as though searching for some particular vol ume. 1 What is it you wish to find, my dear ?' her mother asked, kindly. "Can I assist you?" " I think not, mother. I borrowed a book of a friend yesterday, a translation of German fairy tales, which I thought would please Myrtle; but she did not seem inclined to rend it, and I want to return it uninjur ed. I do hope she has not taken it to school." Both continued searching for a few min utes, and suddenly Mi's. Gray drow a gay colored book, still attractive, though some what time-worn, from a tiny basket cradlo whero Myrtlo kept her doll. Sho opened tho volume mechanically, as though struck suddenly dumb, and stood staring at a namo on tho fly-leaf. Then sho gave a cry ; and, white aiyl faint, she tottered into a chair. " For tho love of Heaven, child, where did you get that book ?" sho asked , turn ing a pallid, troubled face ujKin her daugh ter. Amber, with hcrglovo half on, stood wondering and mystified ; hut, like tho sen sible, truth-loving girl she was, she decid ed to attempt no further concealment. "Don't bo angry, dear mother, and I will tell you all about it. I bonowed that book of Mr. Morris Vanstono. llo and I havo becomo acquainted, and nro really excellent friends. I go to read to him every afternoon. I found that there were somo children's books in tho library ; per haps they once belonged to his daughter. What ails you, mother? you are pnlo and faint. Do try and accustom yourself to the idea of my earning a livelihood wherever fate may lead ; and indeed I never had so pleasant a situation before." " Child, child, you will drive me crazy ! You have gone into tho very den of the lion. O Amber, do not, I pray you, go thcro any more. I had rather starve 1" I lor daughter would have been more sur prised had she been less used to her moth er's moods. Sometimes the girl seemed on tho brink of discovering tho secret, of tho shadow that darkened tho life, and threat end at times to destroy the mind, of her idolized parent. "Mother," sho said, softly, 'lie calm and reasonable, I entreat you. Doubtless you havo heard of Mr. Vanstono, as ho is prov erbial for being an unmitigated tyrant, and you probably fear that ho may wound my prido in some unkind way. But, mother, people wrong him. lie is simply a broken hearted old man, on whom the years lie heavily ; and he feels his lonely, childless lifo is too bitter to be borne. If ho 1ms sinned, ho has also suffered. In his long. ing for human sympathy, shall I refuse to aid, God helping me, in guiding him into the light, after which he giopes blindly? Indeed, mother, he would grieve sorely wore I to leave him now." ' Tears were in the soft blue eyes of Mrs. Gray as she listened to her daughter's earn est appeal, and tho hard unrelenting look went slowly out of her faco, leaving it qui eter than before. "You are right, my darling," she said, softly ; " far bo it from me to withhold you from your self-imposed duty. You have a great work before you." Walking down the street Amber lit upon every possible conjecture but tho truo one. Lifo is so full of paper walls. Opening the book sho held in her hand, expecting to find tho namo that hud so excited her mother, sho read, written there on the lly leaf Helen Est a brooks Vanstono. The namo puzzled her anew. It was so familiar, yet so utterly strange. "This book must have belonged no Mr. Van stono's daughter in her childhood. East abrooks I Ah, now I know what makes it so familiar; mother's maiden namo was Esther Brooks so ut least she always said but father disliked the given name, and always called her Nellie." It was no use wondering ; she could not solve tho mystery. " I will not try," si said at last ; " mother evidently wishes her past to remain buried out of sight forever. I know that father was never very tender to any of us, and that we were never cither happy or comfortable while ho lived I shall never ask mother how she oiimo to marry a man so evidently her inferior. Her sorrows shall lie sacred to her children." The weeks wore on Into December, and still Amber Gray wont dally to her new friend. She found herself walking slower than was usually her 1 way, the aftornoou before Christmas, lured by dazzling temp tations in the store windows. She stopped here and there to admire and sometimes covet. Turning slowly away, she said, longingly : " I should like to get mother a nice dress, and, indeed, I need ono myself; but 'no body cares for me.' " Mr. Vanstono was waiting for her in pleased expectancy. Ho had wreathed the mirrors nnd the picture she had admired tho fair woman he thought she resembled with rich branches of holly, gleaming with waxen scarlet berries ; Amber found him Jn his library, hanging Christmas wreaths in tho windows. " Peace on earth, good-will to men !" she said, fervontly, as she looked in pleased surprise around tho tastefully decorated room fragrant with hothouse flowers. ' "Amen ; and may you, child, havo tho merriest Christmas tho sun ever shone upon. What would people say to see cross old Morris Vanstono at this child's play? But I thought it might please yon, my dear,' to sec mo growing human. Ah, little girl, you aro robbing the lion of his mane. Just sec my heliotiopes and tea-roses. Those three littlo nosegays are for you, and your mother nnd littlo Bister. I had Sam cut tho flowers and I arranged them myself. Decently well done for such an old novice, isn't it?" "They aro lovely perfectly exquisite; too beautiful for me," murmured the girl, delightedly, inhaling their soft spiritual perfume, " Not at all ; nothing is too pretty for youth and innocence. But let us go about our reading. Wo will let tho greenery hang until after New Year's day. 1 havo a little plan in my head which I will toll you by- and-by. Now I want to hear that poetry that says : " ' House to some high and Iwly work of love, And thou an angel's happiness sliult know.'" You can't think how that haunts mo.. Ah, Amber, I begin to think that is the only happiness worth living for after all." Tho hours flew on charmed wings. Just as Amber was putting away tho books and papers, as it was her custom to do, Mrs. Howell tho housekeeper put her head In at tho door, but seeing Miss Gray, mado somo slight apology, and was about to withdraw. "What is it, Mrs, Howell? Come in; you will not disturb us," Mr. Vanstono said, good-humorcdly. "It's only a whim of mine, sir," said tho pleasant-faced woman, smoothing down her black silk apron ; " we've a fruit cake and some mulled wine down stairs, sir, and as it is Christmas ovo, I thought you and tho young lady might como down. . Mr. Max has a tasto for sweets ; I'm hoping he will drop in by-and-by." Mr. Vanstone who really looked very tired, begged his good housekeeper to ex cusehim. . , " Miss Gray shall como down and taste that famous cako. I havo a word to say to her, nnd then I'll ring for you to come and take her down stairs," lie said, and Mrs. Howell bowed herself out. Mr. Vanstone lifted a neatly tied pack age from under the sofa, wl.ere tie had hid den it, and put it in Amber's hands. "There child is some finery for you. You know I poked tlio embers out on your dress the other day, and bumed it Badly; so it was only fair that I should buy a now one, True, I did not select it, but my stepson did, and he has excellent taste. He has been out of town for some days, but re turned this morning. I have told him about you. I wish he would happen in, so you could get accquainttd. I hope you will like your dress, and accept it from a man old enough to bo your grandfather, and who sincerely wishes that he had such a claim upon you." A mlier opened the bundle and found an elegant garnet poplin of costly texture, and a gonoroiis allowance of rich black Malta lace for trimming. Her face glowed with pleasure. " You are too kind, too indulgent ; you will spoil me," sho said smilinir. "I think not. Now, child, I have a favor to ask. You know I told you I had a little plan In process. The New Year is at hand tho blessed New Year, and I am going to commence a now life. I am seventy years old, but It is never too late to mend. Those who know Morris Vanstone shall know him an idlor in the vineyard uo longer. God helping me I will live the true life yet, and if those I have wronged still live, I will find them and do them justice. Ah, child, I have a story to tell you sometime, But I am wandering from what I began to say. I want yon, and your mother, and that little girl who wants to see my canaries, to come and pass New Year's eve, with mo, I can't ask you to leave your family on that night, sacred to home Joys, and I can't do without you at all. My stepson has promised to be at home, and I assure you ho is a srand fellow." " I should enjoy it, and Myrtlo wo lid go into ecstacics ; but I don't know about mother. Sho ner goes any where. I will try, however, to arrange it." "See that you do. I have faith to believe) that your mother will honor mo this once. Tell her, from me, th.it her refusal will grieve and disappoint a childless and deso. ato old man. And rem mher, I shall send the carriage at six. Now I am going to part with you for a week. Stny nt home and mako your dress, and have a good rest. Here is your money, child. Now I am going to ring for Mis. Howell." ' ' llo pressed tho crisp bank notes into her hand, and rang tho fell. After she had left him ho sat down in the rapidly darken- Ing room, and mused lonesoinly. AH the brightness seemed to have departed with, the girl. " Who. aie you, child, that you charm me so?" he said, aloud, with his eyes shut and his great finely funned head thrown back ngainst his chair. " Why did I not see her before I ctcrret.Ma.i niter that Miss Winterglnde. I am afraid she is to high pitch) d for him ; my little bluebel is the woman of all tho 'world I wniit to see him marry. Sho is like my lost one O so like her I Ah, Helen, why did you not die, my littlo golden hailed baby, instead of living to break your father's heart ? Child of my love, arc you indcid in your grave, tint you ciiniiot know how truly 1 have forgiven all, repented all?'' Mrs. Howi II cut hei cake in a flutter of delight nt the thought, of hciiriiu; it prais ed by Miss Grni. Anil r's appreciation of it quite lilii d hei In an, mid tin two stood at ti e luncheon table eating and chatting. " Wo always have cake and wine Christ mas eve, in place of our regular tea, for tho master w ill have dinner at two the year round. Bless my soul, if there isn't Mr. Max. I'm riuht glad." I was indeed. Ho camo in leisurely, whistling a gay opeiaair.and just then soma favoring late calied Mrs. Howell away. So the two young people exchanged giectiiusf with no one by to count mules or blm-ho. So Amber, it is really ou whoo influ ences has so tamed tho old gentleman. Tell me nil about it. Tho old story of Beauty and tho Boast ?'' He walked homo with Amber by-und-by, as they had not met for a week, of course they did nothuiry. But at last they stood at Mrs. Giay's door, icluctant still to part. " A merry Christmas, my friend ut leabt a happy one," tho girl said, us sho btood silently, holding her hand in his. . " There is just one gift, Ambor a prec ious priceless gift that I madly cravo. I want your love, my darling your promise to bo some day ray wife," ho answered fer vently. And so, there under the starlight, the promise was given. " You will go, wont you, mother dearf Myrtle and I anticipate so much pleasure, you surely would not disappoint us now. So Amber, who had a talent nt coaxing, had it all her own way. As for Myrtle, she was wild with delight at wearing her bright plaid, and going to see Mr. Vanstono's ca naries and Java sparrows. - Mr. Vanstone, in on evening dress that was vastly becoming, and made him look at least ton years younger, and walking up and down his long parlor, waiting with nervous anxiety the ai rival of his guests. As was his habit, w hen moved by any great emotion, ho was talking oariiostly to him self : "Twenty years ago to-night ! Ah, how desolate, bow loveless the years have been! How traiuiely this Ainlier Gray is like iny lost daughter. But let me bo patient; if my plan docs not fail, theio may boa clearing up of this vexing inystety. 1 can not eiiiline the thought of lieiug disappoint ed in this strange new hopo." From the moment that Mrs Gray crossed the threshold of Mr. Vanstono's door, and stood in the eh gant liinrl 1 -i aved hall, a change seemed to come suddenly over her. All nervous tremor and uncertainty lied from her manner: her cj oh grew soil and her cheeks scarlet . Casting aside In r heavy shawl, she walked quietly ahead of her wondering daughter, and slowly pushed open tho pailor door. At sight of her, standing theie in her widow's lobe, the old man stopped, and then tottering for ward he stietched out his feeblti aims to her. She was kneeling nt his feet. "Father, forgive me I she cried, brok enly ; "these years of separation have brok en my heart." "God bless you, my poor darling, and may he forgive us both!" tho father said, fervently, raising her us tenderly as ever he did in the dear old days. " One more blessing, dear father, for me and my iiromised bride," said Maxwell Fay, in his deep tender voice, ns he enme proudly forwnid leiidii g Amlier Gray, And when nt last the nildultiht chime rang out on the star light, air, each head bowed in silent heartfelt prayer for the truo guidance through the coming days of the glad New Year.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers