Ijc Gtjmcs, Nab Blaomficft, Pa. Li , , .7 : JJ "a..,1: -1. Widow. Wells'; Stratagem, Vi I .1 - i (-Catching., h Dearou. DEACON BANCROFT, though a very good mnn in tlie main, and looked up to with respect by all the inhabitants of the little village of Centreviilo, wag rumor ed to have, in Yankee parlance, a- "pretty sharp eye to the main, chncaVr-a peculiar ity from which even .deacons are not al ways exempt. In worldly matters ho was decidedly woll to do, having inherited a flno farm from "liis father, which was growing yearly more valuable. It might be supposed thatimder these circumstances, the doacon, who was fully able to do so. would havo found a help mate to sliaro his houxo and name. But the Deacon, was wary. , Matrimony , was to him in some measure a matter of money, . and it was his firm resolve that ho would not marry unless he could thereby enhance his worldly prosperity. . Unhappily, . the little village of Centreviilo and the towns oftho immediate vicinity contained few who wore qualified in this important par ticular and of those thoro were probably none with whom the Deacon's suit would Ijave prospered. , !;,' So it happened that year after year pass ed away, until Deacon Bancroft was iivtlio prima of life forty-five, or thereabouts and still unmarried, and in all human probability likely to remain so. But in all human calculations of this kind, they reck on all who leave widows out. Deacon Bancroft's nearest neighbor was a widow. : Tho Widow Wells, who had passed through ono matrimonial experience was some three or four years younger than Deacon Bancroft. Sho was still quilo a buxom, comely woman, as widows aro apt to bo. Unfortunately, tho late Mr. Wells had not been ablo to lcavo her suffic ient to make her independent of tho world. All that alio possessed was the small, old fashioned house iu which she lived, a small amount of money, 'which was insufficient to support her and a little son of , seven, like wise to be enumerated in tho schedulo of her property, though hardly to bo classed as ' productive" of anything but mischief. The widow was therefore obligod to take throe or four boarders, to eke out her scanty incomo, which of courso imposed upon her considerable of labor and anxiety. It is surprising that under these circum stances that she should now bethought hor sclf of a second marriago, as a method of bettering her condition?. Or again, need we esteem it a Bpccial wocdor if, in her reflections upon ber next noighbor, Deacon Bancroft ? The deacon, as we have already said, was in flourishing circumstances. lie would bo ablo to maintain a wife, in groat comfort; being ono of the chief personages in the village, could accord her a prominent social position. Ho 1 was not especially handsome, or calculated to make a profound impression upon tho female heart this was true but he was of a good disposition, kind-hearted, and would no doubt make a very good sort of a husband. ' Widows are, I take it, (if any shall do me the honor and read this story, J trust they will forgive the remark, )loss disposed to weigh sentiment in the a second alliance than a first and so in widow's point of view, - Deaoon Bancroft was a very desirable ma toll. , . Some sagacious person, however, has ob served that it takes two to make a match, a faot to be seriously considered; for in the present case it was exceedingly doubtful whether the worthy deacon,' even if he had have known the favorable opinion of the next noighbor, would have proposed to changing ber namo to Bancroft, unless, in deed, a suitable motive Was ' brought ' to bear upon him. ' ; ; Here was a chance for finessing, wherein widows Are said, as a general thing to be expert. ' ' 1 ' One evening, after a day ( of , fatiguing labor, the low Wells sat at the fire iu the sitting-room with her feet resting upon the fender. ''' (, '', "If ever I am so situated as not to have to work so hard,"" sho murmured, " I shall be happy.' It'sa haid life, keeping board ers. ' If I only' was as well off as Deacon Bancroft. '.'',' A . , Btill the widow kept up ' thinking, and by-and-by her face was brightened up. She had an idea, which she resolved to put in execution at tho earliest practicable mo ment.' ' What it was the reader will dis cover in the sequel, " Homy," said she, to her son, the next morning, " I want you to stop at Ban. croft's, as you go to school, and ask him if he will call and see mo in the course of the morning or forenoon, just as he finds it most convenient." Deacon Bancroft was a littlo surprised at the summons. ' However, about eleven o'clock, he called.' The widow had got on the dinner, and had luisure to sit down, She appeared a littlo embarrassed. '.' "Harry told me that you would like to see me," he commenced. ' ,, t, "Yes, Doacon Bancroft, 1 do, but I'm very much afraid you, wjll think strqngo of it at least of what I have t,o say to you. , ' The deacon very , politely pronilsed not to be surprised, though at the same , time curiosity was visibly excited. . . , "Suppose," said the widow casting jqw horeyos " mind I am only supposing a case suppose a person should find a pot Of gold pieces in their cellar, would tho law have a right to touch it or would it belong to them? . ' t ' r , The deacon pricked up his ears.' ".' . "A pot of gold-pieces, widow ! Why, unquestionably, tho law would have noth ing to do with it." -" And the one who - had formerly -owned the house couldn't come forward and claim !t, could JieVdeitcon'JIiprlrofl'thet widow, further, with apparent anxiety. "No, madam, unquestionably not. When t If o, house ,went everything; went with it, ws TOfiattcr oT crfuro." I ra - glad -to hear it, deacon. You won't think straugo of tho question, but .it happened to occur, to; my mind, and I thought I would liko to have it satisflod." "Certainly, .widovy. certainly," said tho deaoon abstractedly. .1 . , . J ' " And, deacon, as you aro hero, I hopo you'll stop to dinnor with us. It will : bo ready punctually at twelve." 1 . , : " Well, no," said tho 'deacon, rising;" I'm oblooged to ye, but they'll bo expect ing me home." " i "Was it possiblo," thought ho, "that tho widow could havo found a pot 'of gold in her collar? 1 Sho did not say' so, to bo sure, but why chould she show so much concern to know as to tho proprietorship of a treasure thus found, if sho had not hap pened upon some ?" ' To be sure as far as his knowlcdgo extended, there is no one who would be in tho least likely to lay up such an amount of gold ; but then the house was one hundred a fifty years old, ' at tho very loaBt, and undoubtedly had many oc cupants of which he-knew nothing. It might bo, after all. Tho widow's earnest desire to havo him think it was only cu riosity, likewise gave additional probability to tho supposition. " I will wait and watch," thought tho doacon. ' At any rato, deacon," said tho widow taking steaming mincc-pio out of tho oven, you won't object to taking a piece of my minco-pino. ;You must know I rather pride myself on my minco-pio." Tho warm pio sent forth such odor, that the deacon was sorely tempted, and after saying, " Well, really," with tho intention of refusing, ho finished saying, "On tho whole! I guess I will, as it looks so nice." The widow was really a good cook, and the deacon ate with much gusto tho gen erous slico which tho widow cut fori him, and after a littlo more chatting upon some unimportant subjects, withdrew in somo mental porplexity. , It so happened that Deacon Bancroft was ono of tho directors in a Saving's Institu tion, situated in the next town, and accord ingly used to ride over there once or twioe a month, to attend meetings of the Board. On tho next occasion of this kind, the Widow Wells sent over to know if he oould carry her over with him, as she had a littlo business to attend to there. '' The request was readily accorded. Ar rived at the village, Mrs. Wolls tequestod to be set down at the back. ' ,. "Ila'.hal" thought the deacon "that means something." " lie said nothing, howover, but determin ed to come back and find out, a he could readily from the cashier, what business sho had with the bank. The widow tripped into tho office, pre tending to look very nonchalant. " Can you give me small bills for a five dollar gold piece ?" Bhe inquired. "With pleasure," was the reply. " By the way," said she, " tho bank is in quite a flouiishing condition, is it not?" i " None in the State on better footing," was the prompt response. ; . .. . "You receive deposits, do you not ?" "Yes, madam, we aro receiving them every day." , , , ; ,,, . " Do you rooelve as high as five thousand dollars.?" . , , . ; ',' No," said tho cashier, with somo sur prise; or rathor we do not allow interest 011 sufcbasum. . One thousand dollars it our limit. Did you know of any one who ; ."It is of no oonsequenco," said the widow, hurriedly) ."I only asked out Of ou rlsity. By tho way did you say how much interest you allowed on such deposits as came within your limit? - .. ; " Five percent, ma'am.". : i " Thank you; I only asked for curiosity. What a beautiful morning it is 1" '- ! And the widow tripped lightly out, Shortly afterwards the doacon entered, r ,, " How's business, Mr. Cashier?". he iu-,, quired. , ,1 ',..;.,' 1 . ; , , "About as usual." ; . , , , , , " Had you any new deposits lately ?" ; "None of any magnitude." .1 " I brought over a lady, this morning who seemed to havo business with you." "The Widow Wells?" . . ", ' "Yes." . , , . ,' "Do you know,", asked the .oashior, " whether , she had any money, loft her lately?" ',",',.',.' " None that I know of," repliod the dea con, pricking up bis ears. ," Why ?V Did she deposit any ?" , . ' 1 '. .. ,1. ".So; but she inquired, whether we , re ceived deposits as high as five thousand dollars." .,.... .. ..... , , ...... , ... , "Iudoedl" ejaculated , the , deacon. V Wat that what the came for ?",. , "Nojshe exchanged a gold plcde for small bills." .1;.' ' -V"' "Ha 1" pondored the deacon, rofleotlvoly. ' " Did she give any reason for ber Inquir ies?" k , ,,..;! ; " No; she said she only asked , from cu riosity." - . The deacon loft the bank in deep thought, ne came to the conclusion that this "cu riosity" only veiled a doeper motive Ho longer antei'tahied a doubt that the wid ow had ncUally found alpot of gold fii the cellar, and appearances indicated that its probablo value was at least five thousand dollars. f)Tbo goldileco wbicblie liatTi-xJ changed at tho bank appeared to confirm the story. "I rathor think said tho beacon, 1 com placently, I can see into a mill stono about as far as moRt people, )r a statement tho literal truth of w'hlch t ' detiy tiny one to question, though as to tho prime fact of peoplo's being ablo to see 'into, a millstone at all, doubts have now and then intruded themselves oninymind. " ' ''' ' Next Sunday tho Widpy Wells appeared at church in a now ttylish bonnet, which led to such remarks, as theso-r-. " How much vauifcr. somo people have to bo suro 1" ' (., How a 1 woman that; has kept boarders for a living can a (lord to dash out with such bonnets is more than I can tell 1, 1 should think she was old enough to know bottor." ... . . ;.. , . This last remark was mado by a young lady just six months younger than the wid ow, whoso attempts to catch a husband hitherto proved utterly unavailing. " I suppose sho is trying to catch a sec ond husband with hor finery. Before I would condescend to such moans I'd I'd drown mysolf." In this amiblo spcoch tho young lady uuwittingly hit upon the truo motive. Tho widow was intent upon catching Deacon Bancroft, and sho indulged in a costly bon net, not because sho supposed ho would bo caught with finery, but because it would strengthen in his mind the idea that she had stumbled upon hidden wealth. , . The widow calculated shrowdly, and tho display had the effect she anticipated.; ' Monday afternoon Doacon Bancroft found an errand that callod him over to tho wid ows. It chanced to bo about tea-time. Ho was importuned to stay to tea, and some what to h is own surprise, actually did. ' The politic widow, who knew tho dea con's weak point, brought out ono of her best mince-pies, a piece of which her guost partook with zest. " You'll take another piece, I know,'; she said, persuasively. Really, I'm ashamed," said the dea con, but he passed his plate. " The fact is ho said, apologetically," " your pies are so nico, I don't know when to Btop." " Do you call these nice ?" said the, wid - ow modestly." " "' " ' '" ' " I shouldn't want any better," said the deacon, emphatically. " Then 1 hope if you like them you'll drop in to tea often. We ought to be more neighborly, Deacon Bancroft." Deacon Bancroft assonted, and he meant what he said. The fact is, the deacon be. gan to think the widow was a very char ming woman. She wag comely, and then she was such an excellent cook I Besides, he bad no doubt in his mind that sho was worth a considerable' amount of money, What objection would thore bo to her be coming Mrs. Bancroft? Ho brought the question before ber one evening. The wid ow blushod professed ' to be greatly sur prised in fact, she had never thought of such a thing in her life but, on the whole, she had always thought highly Of the dea con, and to cut short the matter, 'accepted him. ' ' 1 ' ' ' " ' "'' Somo weeks after tho ceremony, the doa con ventured tO' inquire about the pot of gold which she had found in her cellar.'' "Pot or gold j" she exclaimed in bun prise, " I know of norio." ' ' 1 " But," Bald the doacon, disconcerted, "you know you asked me whothor you could claim it. ' ' 1 " ' "0, lor t doacon, I only asked' for cu- iosity." ' I' ,: ""' ' ''"-" ; '' " And was that the reason yod' taiade in quiries at tho bank?" ' ' " Certainly. ' What else oould it be?' " The deaoon went out to the barn; and for about half an hour sat in silent meditation At the end of that' timo, no ejaculated as a closing consideration. "Aftor all she makes good minoe-pies." ' ' " .1 .... It gives me pleasure to state' that tho' union between the deacon1 and the widow proved A very happy ono, ' although td the end of his life, he could nevor quite make up hit mind about "The Widow't Strata gem 1" ' ' ' I f3T After all thoro is something in name ; and something also in the art of putting things. Asa Doctor of Divinity was earnestly holding forth to one of tho suburban, congregations a few Sabbath evenings ago, a bat suddenly woke up, and began to gyrate above the heads of the congregation. Whereupon the preacher pausod, and said I ',, ,. ! ; " We will wait, a moment ; 'poradventure the little bird will fly out5' It was at this point tliat the gravity of the congregation made a surrender, 1 , , -:-..( .m ' SUNDAY, READIHQ;-';" A Faithful Shepherd Boy. j ' j' - GKRIIART was a Qernian shepherd boy, ahd a noble follow he was, al though he was poor. : , '. One day, while watching his flock, which was feeding in a valley on the borders of a forest, a hunter came out of the woods and inquired : I ,'Ho f;rf i it to fliOj-nearcst village." " Six miles," replied tho boy, "butt the road is only a sheep track nnd very easy "TlioliuntorldoKCdattfie crookod track, Rtid snid : , . . "Ay lad,, I am hungry, tired and thirsty. I havo lost my companions and missed my way. Leave your sheep and show me the way. , will pay you well," . , , " I cannot leave my sheep, sir," replied Gorbars. They would stray into tho for est, and bo eaten up by wolves, or bo stolen by robbers." ' . " Well, what of that?',' queried the hunt er. ,. : , , ' They aro not yqur shepp. The, loss of ono or more wonld not bo much to your master, and I'll give you more- than you have earned in a wholo year," , "I cannot go, Blr,"rojoiued,Gei'hart,.very firmly, My mastor pays mo. for .my time, and ho trusts mo with his sheep.. If I wcro to sell my timo which docs not belong to mo, and the shocp should get lost, it would bo tho same as if I stolo them." " Well," Baid tho hunter, " will you trust your sheep hero, while you go tho villago nnd get some food and drink, and a guide 1 I will tako care of thoin for you." Tho boy shook his head. "Tho Bhcep don't know your voico, and" Gorhart stopped speaking. " And what ? Can't you trust me ? Do I look liko a dishonest man ?" asked the hunter, angrily. " Sir," said tho boy, " you tried to make me fulso to my trust, and wanted mo to break my word to my master. How do I know that you would keep your word with mo !" , Tho hunter laughed, and ho felt tho boy Jiad fairly cornered him. . He said : "I see, my lad, that you aro a good, faith ful boy. I will not forget you. Show jno tho road, and I will, try and mako. it out mysolf." . Gorhart now offered tho contents of his script to tho hungry man, who, coarso, as it was, ato it gladly. Presently his attend ants camo up, and then Gcrhart, to his sur prise, found that tho hunter was the Grand Duke, who owned all tho country around. Tho Duke was so pleased with the boy's honesty that ho sent tor him shortly after, and had him educated. Honesty, truth and fidelity, are precious jowels in the character of a child. When they spring from piety they are diamonds, and mako tho possessor very beautiful, very happy, very honorable, and very useful. May you, my readers wear them as Gor hart did. Then a greater than a king will adopt you as his children, and you will bc- como princes and princesses royal in tho kingdom of God. ... . , ,; The River Nile, The bed oftho Nilo, lifio that pf the lower Mississippi, is higher than tho' valley through which it passes. Wharburton said: ' " The Nilo's bod Is a sort of savings bank by means of which tho deposits of four thousand years have enabled him to rise in the world and run along a causeway of his own." 1 It is the only river in the world that runs upward of twelve hundred miles, in undiminished volume, without a tributary ' stroam. It moves on its long course without the help of even a creek, tapped by' innumerable canals and thirsty gardens with which it Is fringed, absorbed by hot saiid banks and hotter sun, and empties greater bulk at its mouths than it has between the cataracts. The products of Egypt are the gifts of this stream. The land on which the towns and hamlets of Egypt roposo is foreign soil, brought from the far south by this public carrier. ' For thoro than four thousand' voais he has faith fully brought his bui'dou and deposited it at the' feet of Egypt. ' Tho Ramescs and tho Ptolemies oome and go, and the NilQ re. mains unchanged. "' ,' '"' . ' The Mysteries of Kature. Tho primary forms,, colors and sounds of nature are but few, , andyot their modifica tions and combinations are iufluito. So far as human knowledgo and research extend, the changes-of time have hover produced two forms exactly alike, whether in the mineral, vegetable, or animal kingdoms. No two grains of sand pn the shoro, to say nothing of larger objects, of natural divis ion; and portions of the earth's surface, aro precisely alike. Thore are no two plants, flowers, seeds, or even loaves, in the whole universe allotted to man, that exactly re- somuie eacn outer in iorm, size, weight and color. No two animal creations, no two voices are identical among all the living works of God. ,. . . Human ingenuity ha constructed no two mimical instruments that gave forth the same identical sound : nnd the miscroscopo detects a marked difference of color in eveiy leaf of every flower, and every thread of the finest fabrio produced and colored by human skill. In short, the dissimilar. ities of similarity of all things, natural or artificial, is the most mysterious of all tho hidden and yet clearly visible mysteries, ST.VELMO HOTEL, I.KORMHULY ''THE UNION,"') ; JOS. L FEWER, .. Proprietor, 817 & 810 ARCH STREET, ', PHILADELPHIA. ;. Terms,.,, - ., - , . $2.60 Per Day. rnHK M.'EUfO In eerttrfillT located' and Vis JL: been 10 lltlecl ami Tofui nlnlnjil, j tlcit it will asant a Stepping place as there Is In l'Uilailulplilu. Farmers Tajcq Nptjcp, rjlIIE subscriber otters for Sale " THRESHING MACITINKS. JACKS Slid HOUSE . I Mt ,' iJl l-OWEiVlM' " Vl 'k With Tumbling Rhaft, and Side-Opnring, Warrant ed to Rive Hatlsfactloii hi Rpeeily uud perfect threshing, light draft and durublllty, on reasoua- 1 ') f, Of Rutwrlor Mftkd. I .... : I COH'N-RIIEI.MCliS ' w KETTLES, .... . , oi.'Y r.n, '. ... AM) ALL CASTINGS, made at a country Foundry. Also, A GOOD WILL HCItEW, In excellent order,, for. sale at, a, Jow rate. f 1-nfm Hina. u.lultl.t,. K.,.. . m. ...w vywu n,OIIMiH iYi imij. n, .,,,1111 .Attains, Samuel Shuinan, John lioden, Uoss Heneh, nt i.,n-u,M H- Win,, II niMRTIIItlKt-r W HOn, I'J IIOIIH- burg; Hiomas Morrow, Loysylllo, John Flicking cr, Jficob FUeklnger, Centre. , 62U13 Ickeaburg, May 14. 1872. 'i Xew Millinery Goods A.t IVo'viort, I'ci. IHEO tntnfnrm the nulille that I havo lust re turned from Philadelphia, with a full assort ment of the latest styles u! MII.MNERY GOODS, HATS AND BONNETS. KIUHONS. FIIENUII FI.OWETfS FEATHEKS, CHIGNONS, ; LACE CAPES. . .NOTIONS, , And nil firttclpq tmonllv fnnti.l In n ,-. nm liuery Eslublislmient. All orders proniptlv at tended to. We will sell all goods as Cheap as cuii be got elsewhere. -i..,.-.-,u,v&.i, uiuiTi mm 111 iiic in fest style, as I get the latest Fashions from New all widths. I will warrant all my work toglve sat isfaction. AH work done as low as possible. -ANNIE ICKES, ' . Cherry Street, near the Station, : 6 16 13 . , Newport,, ra. CARLISLE CARRIAGE FACTORY. A. B. SnEBK has il lnrce lot of second-hand work nn , hand, which he will sell cheup In order eiJEsSj io mailt, luuui lor new orK, FOR THE SPRING TRADE. He lias, also, the best lot of NEW WORK ON HAND. .. . 1 ". You can always see different styles. The material Is not In question any more, for It Is the best used. If you want, satisfaction In style, quality and price, go to this shop before purchasing elsewhere. There Is no firm that has a bettor Trade, or sells more In Cumberland and Perry counties. REPAIRING AND PAINTING promptly attended to. Factory Comer of South and Pitt btreots, , - , 3 dp CAUL19LE, PA. lEItllir COUNTY Real Estate, Insurance, ' 'and CLAKI AGENCY. !,,. LEWIS . POTTER & . CO., ,' Heal Ettate Broken, Insurance, & Claim Agent Now Bloomlleld, Pa. , ' XITEINVITE the attention of buyers and sell. V ers to the advantages we offer them In pur chasing or disposing of real estate through our ot ce. We have a very large list of deslrab property, consisting of farms, town property, mills, store aud tavern stands, and real estate of any descrip tion which we are prepared to oiler at great bar. f;ains. We advertise our pronorty very extenslve y, and use all our efforts, skill, and dllllgwice to effect a sale. We make no charges unless the Srojierty Is sold while registered with us. We also raw up deeds, bonds, mortgages, audull legal pa pers at moderate rates. Some of the bent, cheapest, and most reliable fire, life, and cattle Insurance companies In the ITnlted States are represented at this agency. Property insured either on the cash or mutual pin 11. and perpetually at $4 and per thousand. Pensions, bounties, and all kinds of war claims collected. There are thousands ot soldiers and heirs ot soldiers who are entitled to pensions and bounty, who have never made application. S0I1 dlers. If you were wounded, ruptured, orcontraet ed a disease In the service from which you are dis ablctl, you are entitled lo a pension. When widows of soldiers die or marry, the minor ohlldren are entitled to the pension. Parties having any business to transact In our line, are respectfully Invited to give us a call, as we are coiiildeut we can render satisfaction iu any branch of our business. - No charge for Information. i 20 ly LEWIS POTTER & CO. JOBINSON HOUSE, ' " . ' (Formerly kept by Woodruff and Turbctt,) . ' A'nw JSloomfleld, Firry County, Pa. ' 'u , , . ., AMQa ROBINSON, Proprietor.' , ; This well known "and pleasantly located tiotov has been leased for a num' ner of years by the pres. entnroiirlelor.and he will suare no nalns to aceom inodate his guests. The rooms are comfortable, the table well furnished with the best In the mar. ket, and the bar stocked with choice liquors. A careful and attentive hostler will be In attendance. A good livery stable will bu kept by the proprietor April S. 1871. tf LOt'IIMAFS Writing- Xluia : mills FLUID Is warranted EQUAL to Abikh.d's X and Is sold at much loss price. The uionejr will be refunded to those buying It, If It does uot prove entirely satisfactory. ' . l 4. For ait by F. Mortimer, New Bloouifleld. "., MILLER & BLUER, '..'. ,(', ;j, ' , Bole Agents, . " . , ' " ' ' ." 39 Market Street, '" 23021 .'-. 1 . rhUadolpUla'' :-