111 I nitftii tit I ii tti K If IP IEMxl. AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. " "SIC.ISS" Vol. VII. Now Bloomiield, Pa., Tuesday, July 15, 1873. IVo. 28. ') ' :J . 1 ... IS PUBLISH BO BVEHY TUESDAY MORNING, BY ' M0ETIMEB'& CO., A.t New Bloomiield, Terry Co., Pa. Belni provided with Steam Power, and large Cylinder and JobPressi-s, we are prepared to do all kinds of Job-Printing In , , good style and at Low Prices. r, . .., v ADVERTISING BATKSl ' TrmtuUnt 8 Cents per lino for one Insertion 13 . two Insertions '15'," 1 . " ' "three Insertions Business Notices In Local Column 10 Cents per line. r.For lonner yearly adv'ts terms will be given upon application., For the Bloomfteld Time. deceitful woman. My heart is filled with sadness As I sit by my cottage door, And think o'er those days of gladness That are gone to return no more. Oh time, how swiftly then it flew . A day seemed but an hour, ... - An hour of Joy and pleasure, too, ( Within that little bower. 'Twas on a quiet summer's eve, ' The moon had hid her light But the lovely stars on that happy ere, i Seemed to shine with their brightest light. And the western breezes softly stole " To kiss the weeping flowers, And nature wore her sweetest smile . To bless the twilight hours. , ( 'Twas then we sat mid flowers so gay , This queenly lass and I, . And we were very blithe and gay, As the moments hastened by. On, ask me not what I would give i . To live that evening o'er, To feel that soft cheek pressed to mine I ne'er would ask for more. We tat together side by side Beneath the sky of blue, ' ; . She talked so calm and dignified I thought that she was true. . But soon alas, my brightest hopes Were doomed to sad despair, For she whom I bad thought was true Was fulse as she was fair. ' And when I thought my cup of joy Was full and running o'er, Bhe threw her snares another way And noticed me no more. And thus you'll And where e'er you go No matter where it be. That women does deceitful grow And so she'll ever be. DELIA'S GOVERNMENT BOND fc 6"T7"HY do you go to Cherry wood?" TT asked everybody three years ago. " Because nobody elite goes there," we truthfully and unfashionably replied, and we never regretted it. , When the railroad journey was ended and the twelve mile drive in a two-seated spring wagon was superadded, it must be confessed that the sight of Widow Blatch ford's, where, iu the Yankee parlance of our driver, we were to " put up," was not enlivening. Externally the house was of bright red, and for a moment its appear ance inovoased our beat and exhaustion ; but once inside, the coolness and shadow were inexpressibly soothing. The rooms were deliciously dim to our weary eyes ; through the window came, the tinkling trickle of water over rocks from a spring behind the bouse, and though the wall pa per was a pattern of chocolate-colored urns in painfully precise rows, on a grouud of sombre gray, and two mourning pieces, framed in black wood, were conspicuous ornaments, the pure white dimity curtains, and the jar of pale green and delicately fragrant wood ferns in the fireplace gave grace and lightness sufficient to redeem the depressive effects of the first mentioned features. The windows looked out upon a grand mountain panorama, crowned with changing clouds, and the valley stretching away below. We exclaimed with delight as we sank into the straight-backed cash ioned rockers, and took in the situation. " I expect you're dreadful fond of moun tains," said the good hostess beamingly, " But badu't you bettor take some supper now? The bills will keep, but maybe the victuals won't."- They did not long, for we addressed our selves to their dinjxnul with marked suc cess. What a supper I Crispy fried brook trout; smaller and sweeter than any other fish that swimB; powdery potatoes of mar velous whiteness, hoaped-up doughnuts, ample slices of brown bread and white dit to, " slap-jacks" of size and tenderaess,and the inevitable Yankee " soda biscuits," hot light, and yellow. . How good it tasted only those can know, who, like ourselves, have traveled far and long, climbing for hours straight up hill after hill, to reach at last table-land, where the air is so pure, so clear, so bracing, that we rise body and soul on tiptoe. Then, we , slept the sleep of the just and the undyspeptic, on husk mattresses that were neither thin or knob by, lulled by the tinkling spring into pleas ant dreams. ' Cherrywood life for visitors was exhilara ting with fun, fishing, mountain climbing, and mountain drives, too, for those who had the temerity to struggle into the high wagons . fearless of the steep up and down road, and confident in the strength of the harness. Gradually we came to know and like many of the people, being taken in their homes and interests with a free heart- edness which we fear will cease if Cherry- wood ever gets a name as a " nice summer resort," and learns the give-little-and-take-much system of most places so yclept. Our hostess, dear motherly woman, was a stout walking encyclopedia of information regarding every neighbor, great and small, spicing each tale or anecdote with Bhrewd oommonts and keen perception of character and softening all by honest, . unpretending charity. , i . . "Take notice who's in the store, won't you ? I'm particular to know if Reuben Gilson has got back." She callod thus after us one pleasant after noon, as we were ' going for the papers left by the mail stage at the storo, which was also the postofflce for Cherrywood, and we assented, wondering inwardly if Rouben Gilson went about labeled, that we were expected to know him at once. A glance sufficed to toll us that all the occupants of the store aud poroh wore known to us, but as ' we turned from the building a tall, blithe figure passed us,' with a ringing tread and a courteous gesture of. salute that did not savor of Cherrywood manners, which, though kindly, wore' mostly unpolished. We had a glimpse of dark, koen eyes, and plain, sensible features, and presently re ported our observation to Widow Blatch- ford, who came to meet us through the gloaming, greeting us a few yards from the door. , - " Cortainly, that was Reuben," was her interested assent, " I declare, I should like to see Delia Bligh now." BHgh ? 8urely we remembered seeing her. It was our first Sunday in the white meeting-liouso, when, with all the congre gation we faced the choir for the singing of the last hymn. A sweet, apple blossom face with its delicate tints and baby bine eyes, redeemed from mere iusipid prettl ness by the decided character of the square little chin and the firm curve of the lips in repose. "A wild rose among , million stalks," the doctor had called her, with a man's eyes to tho cheeks and dimples only, win ning by bis remark a pleased smile from our hostess. But what had pretty Delia Bligh to do with Reuben Gilsoa's home-coming ? As all women from fourteen to four score are alive to any hint of a love story, we pro ceeded to importune our hostess for infor mation, aud she, kind soul, soon gratified us. Pretty Delia Bligh and Reuben Gilson had "kept company" from childhood, and had been engaged; but after Reuben went into business at Grafton Mills and Delia taught school at Cranberry Corners, a cool ness arose between them, ending in the breaking of the ongagmout. " Rouben is a favoaite with me, and so is Delia, for that matter," said Mrs. Blatch. ford. " Girls are high strung; mostly they have mors pride than wisdom when thoy're youug.. Delia's no exception, but she is food material. I don't want to see her spoiled. , i , " What began the coolness ?" we quer ied. " Reuben lives at Mrs. F rye's when he is here; she Is his aunt. I guess that had as much to do with it as anything,,' said our hostess, with a shrewd laugh. " I don't speak against her. I know no harm of her, except being Josephine s stepmother, and that's more bor misfortune, poor thing." . ,. , - , , We . kuew Mrs. Blatchford's opinion of the thlu lipped " Josephine," having beard it aforetime when we alo heard the story of Dorema Fletcher's brave struggles against poverty aud public opinion. 'Honey on the surface and gall inside," our hostess summed her up; adding apolo getically, " to be sure I suppose she is soured by what she has gone through. It must be wearing to be disappointed always in what you set your mind on getting, and it isn't every one has tho gift to drink vin egar and keep sweet." ' " There is such a thing as making the vinegar ourselves and imbibing it instead of something sweeter," we suggested. " The bitter in every cup may be trans muted." 1 " -.' "Certainly," said Mrs. Blatchford. "But then some has unfortunate disposi tions from the cradle, yon know." " "Burely, if Reuben Gilson has lived in the house with her he must know her too well to be influenced by her, if he really loved Delia Bligh," we said. ' ' ' " ' 'Hum I" said our hostess skeptically. " Do you know blinder bats thanmen are in some things? I don't. He sees nothing artful in the way she picks up Delia's ac tions and twists to look queer. He thinks she is fond of Delia, and tries to make the best of a light-minded flirting creature for his sako. Bats I you may say." " Then he is very weak to be deceived by that mischievous old maid," scornfully proclaimed little Mabel. "Bless your heart, child," said Mrs. Blatchford , with her comfortable laugh, " nothing is so helpless as a single-mind ed man in the hands of a calculating wo man for a time;" with significant empha sis on the last clause. " Besides, Jose phine Frye's isn't the only tongue in the world, either.. , It's my opinion nothing but talk has parted Reuben and Delia; that and their foolish youug pride. Maybe it'll come right, maybe it won't Either way folks' tongues have enough to answer for." If the coming right meant the reuniting of the sundered lovers, it certainly did not seem probable as the days went on. Pretty Delia sang in the choir on , Sundays, and Reuben Gilson's eyes rested on the apple blossom face as if it had never been dear to him, and the sweet voice floating through the old meeting house had never touched his heart. And mote than once a broad shouldered youug farmer drove up from Cranberry Corners and tarried at the cot tage of Calvin Bligh. We became acquainted with both the young people, and Delia was speedily a great favorite with the doctor and the children, though the feminine spirits of our party could have little patience at her exchanging a lover like Reuben Gilson for tho Cranberry Corners rustic. We admired the sterling sense and keen intelligence of tho youug man, but there seemed to rest on him a grave reserve, almost a gloom that prevented any approach to familiar ity. Presently a rumor was afloat how it originated no one knew. Who ever can tell how "They say" begins? But gath ering additions daily, increasing, spreading in the mysterious ways that only rumor grows, a whisper that all was not well with Roubeu Gilson's integrity; that his unu. sually long vacation was enforced, not vol untary; that he had left his Grafton em ployer with a stain upon his name and lion. or. Strange tales were hinted of how his employer's son bad suddenly gone no one knew whither, and how his flight implica ted Reuben Gilson as a comrade in dishon esty; there were not wauting declarations that even now trial and exposure wore threatening the latter. Did people believe this? Did they accept without question this blighting of the good name of one they bad known from boyhood, and whose record had been hitherto blameless ? . Cherrywood was not a whit behind other towns iu swallowing slander, and whoever does not , know the gourd-like growth of scandal, has had but a limited sphere of ob servation. A few clung to. their faith in Reuben Gilson; our hostess was one, but she showed the trouble and disquiet she staunchly denied. Singularly enough no breath of what was on all lips seemed to reach the victim himself all this time. He kept on , the grave tenor of his way, ab stracted, absorbed ; and you may be sure gossip did not fail to comment on this in. difference and seeming unconsciousness. What Delia Bligh thought nobody knew, until one morning she, appeared in Widow BlatohCord's kitchen, on the plausible er rand of , obtaining a recipe for " spioe cakes." Some other thought lurked behind the troubled blue eyes, and the fact was speedily patent to the dear old , woman whose spectacles were leveled at her favor ite. " Now tell me the rest," said she, pros ently. " Are you going to sot up a MtvU a and oven of your own soon ?" " Oh, Aunt Blatchford 1" (our hostess I was " aunt" to half the country round), " no, of course not I" with a quick, pained voice. Then more softly, " Do you know what people are saying ?" "About Reuben ? Yes, child ; it isn't true though." "Fojks believe it," said Delia, sadly. 'He looks so sober and gloomy; something is wrong, somehow, I am sure." - "Hum I" sniffed Mrs. Blatchford. "Does Calvin Bligh believe it?" "Father? Well you know how father is. He isn't sure of his own mind until be is opposed. Then it's made up quick. And I said I didn't believe it, and mother too, and now he won't believe anything o. Deacon Quiraby went to see Reuben and he would not hear a word from him ; said he was busy. And oh 1 auut, a man was up from Grafton yesterday, and the deacon heard him talk as "ho went away. He Baid, 'Well, Reuben, three hundred will do it, and you may call yourself lucky to get off with that; and Reuben answered, ' he would see about raising it, but hod a good mind to take his chance.' " " Aunt Blatchford, I want to trust you with something. I want . your promise to keep secret always . what I say now," pleaded the girl, getting ' close to her old friend. : "Well," said Mrs. Blatchford, affirm atively. " . V ' "Aunt, I want you to give him this," said Delia, very low, but earnestly. " It's my government bond all mine, you know five hundred dollars Uncle Silas gave me in his will. He must never know where it came from never. . May be Reuben bos gone wrong; it don't seem like him, but young men nave temptations, ana it just this money will set him right and give him a chance to begin again, I want he should have it. Tlouben was good to me when we were tittle and I used to like him. I don't want him to be disgraced and wick ed. Oh, auntt talk to him he'll listen to you, I know; tell him to set himself right with tho moneyj aud then get right with God. Reuben used to be good. I don't think he went wrong of himself." " That money was for your setting out," said Mrs. Blatchford, still unbending " What will your father say ?" . " I shall ' not be' married," said Delia, yet more softly. " Father will never know I've, parted with the money. I can teach and earn more. " I'd rather work my fin gers off than than not save Reuben I" ' Delia Bligh, you're a good girl," said Mrs. Blatchford, suddenly losing her grim ness and drawing Doha into her ample em brace. " I take bock any hard thoughts I've had, and I'll do your will and keep my counsel. There there ohild 1 kind of mistrusted you liked Reuben still; don't cry yes, do, it'll help you bear it." : Then the old lady and yonng girl kissed and comforted each other in true womanly fashion, and Calvin Bligh never guessed what bad deepened the flush on his pretty daughter's cheeks, as she gave him his tea that evening. . Mi's. Blatchford's opportunity for keep, ing her promise came speedily. Oppor tunities do easily come to people in ear nest. . When the young man understood the meaning of her kindly, simple talk at first he raged "like a wild tiger," as she after wards expreesed it, and then be threw back his fine head and laughed so loud and long the good woman thought his reason had departed. Then he explained to her how his employer had indeed failed, and he himself was undoubtedly out of a situation at preson. But that he and his em ployer's son were connected in some inven tion which they ' were struggling to get patented ; that they were ooutesting the point with a wealthior man, and bad been like to fail for want of funds. " But we shall pull through now, and our fortune is secured," said the young man. "As for your offer of aid, Aunt Blatchford here, give me the bond. It shall help me out of perplexity, though it isn't needod to save me from disgrace, and you shall have it again with compound in terest in six weeks. Only I shall always be in your debt for so much love and kindness and Christian charity." Then he kissed her wrinkled hand with the grace of a knight of old, and went away. But whon Widow Blatchford and Deliuh Bligh next met, was there not a private ju bilee? , Cherrywood eyes began to got open, and the Cherrywood gourd of scandal to droop In its highest branches, about that time ; and when Reuben Gilson came back from a month's sudden absence, there were plen ty to welcome him as a " worthy young man, very smart, and an inventor of real genius." Straight to the Widow Blatchford's went Reuben, and to her with gratitude and love he rendered up Deliah's government bond, with marvelous interest." " Tho land of man t" criod the dear old -woman, "but I can't take more than it was to begin with. She'd never forgive me there, what a blundering old creature I am." "She?" cries Roubeu, bis dark eyes aglow. , It is my belief the widow Blatchford's blunder was not unconscious, but surely the error or the purpose were alike forgivable. With laughter and tears Bhe let him win from her the name of her whose band bad been ready to pluck him from shame and dishonesty, and if he went from her pres ence to that of Deliah Bligh, who will wish to look with curious eyes on the interview that followed ? " And they're to be married at Christ-, mas," said our good hostess in extreme de light, as she told us the news next day. " They'll live at Grafton. . Reuben says his wife is too good to stay where folks blacken a man's name for nothing, and think them selves smart for doing It. Deliah was near not forgiving me for telling of her, but then, an old woman like me is blundering sometimes." . , . . " So then it is all right," we said, "and all the talk accomplished no harm. , That' good." . , i , ' Then and there our good hostess turned with impressive uplifted finger, directed at .. our careless lips, and uttered this homily ; How I Nor harm, do you say? . Don't you call it something that those children were parted for most two years, just by talk? That they suffered and had hard" feelings of each other, and lost out of their lives two years that they might have been happy in? . That Delia's heart was near broken by thinking him a thief, and Reu ben's name was stained among his own townsfolks? All over, you say. i Well, but the Bears are there. The pain needen't have been endured? Yes, but' it was felt. Life won't look exactly the same to. those children as if they had never lost faith . in each other, jtnd Reuben'U never have the charity that was his before he learned how ready people are to take away a man's character wantonly. .. ' " Slauder turns out a lie, and folks think no harm done. Words are cheap and folks are careleBS of thorn. But if they knew what words are, they'd feel their lips scorched with hot coals whenever they use the insinuating speech, or the uncharitable remark, or meanest of all the nasty little ' they say' that carries a blight with it. 'lis never meane than when it has a han dle of unexplained truth, and takos up ap pearances that ain't understood, and twists them crooked. . " No, child ; spoken words don't die ; you can't call them back as you call the cows home at night. Hearts ache for 'em and souls go astray by their means. And it is my belief no more solemn reckoning is laid up against mortals than for the mis chief of their careless tongues." When any, of our readeos feels like telling a story commencing " they say," we hope they will rember this. Familiar Words. v The slang expression for death, "kicking the bucket," had its origin from one Boi sover, who, in England, a great whilo ago, committed suicide by standing on a buokel and kicking the bucket from under him. 1 The word " bumper," meaning a full drink whou frionds are drinking, is a cor ruption of the toast offered in French to the Pope when the Catholic religion was In the ascendant in England. To dun, to press for money due, comes from one Joe Dunn, a famous bailiff of Lin coln, in England, during the reign of non ry VII. ' He was so commonly successful in collecting money that when a man refused to pay the creditor was asked why he didn't Dunn him. Humbug Is a corruption of the Irish word "nimbog," pronouncod ootnbug, signifying soft copper, or brals, or worthless money. At first applied to worthless coiu, the word became the general title for anything false or counterfeit. , ' The sign viz: signifying to wit,or namely is an abbreviation of videlicet; but the third letter was not originally i; it was the mark used iu medicine for a drachm, in writing much resembles t, and in viz. was simply used as a mark or sign of abbreviation. The srirl who tears mt the button hole of your coat trying to get you to play croquet is now in season.
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