Grandma's Mistake.
GRANDMA. Freeman was Very, very
deaf. But the worst of It was that
eli did not know it, but always Insisted
she was not. " I toll ye," she would squeal
out, in a way that proved at once that she
was deaf, elite she never could endure the
sound of hor own voice, " my hearin's just
as good as ever t'was. ' It's all In the way
folks have of niumbliti' and cbewin' their
words nowadays, that, I can't hear noth
ing. , Course I ain't deaf it never run in
the family. lily mothor and father both
lived to be over eighty, and could hear as
well the day she died as I can, and not one
of us thirteen children ever was tho loast
grain hard of hearing. My mothor was a
Trigging, and tho Pi igginscs never was a
deaf set. Father did have one sister
Aunt Uindy we used to call her Miranda
Stebbius ; she married Luke Buttcrfleld for
her second husband ; his first wife, she was
Charity Miller wal, Aunt Iiiudy was a
little hard o' heaiing, but it all como o'
gettin' cold artcr the measles, when she
was a gal." And grandma having cleared
her skirts of the sin and disgrace of being
deaf, would dig tho end of her knitting
needlo zealously into the sheath pinned to
her side, and go to knitting again.
It was not often that grandma was trust
cd to entertain company alone ; cither Mrs.
Freeman the younger, or one of her two
pretty daughters, usually assisted in tho
business. But grandma had as strong
faith in her gift of edifying as when sho
Was fifty years younger, nnd never hesita
ted to try it. Ono fine spring afternoon
young Mr. May, getting sleepy over his law
studies, throw tho books aside and saunter
ed out to call on tho Freeman gills. Now
it so happened that Mrs. Freeman was at
the sewing circle, and the hired girl had
gono home sick, so Lucy and Belinda had
the kitchen work to do. Lucy was up to
her dimpled elbows in a batch of bread,
and Belinda was giving tho dish cupboard
a thorough overhauling and putting to
rights, so neither of them heard the door
bell ring. Neither did grandma, though
she was passing through the hall and Baw
it ringing, so sho was quick wittcd enough
to open the door, and found Mr. May, all
smiles and bows, on tho steps.
" Good afternoon, ma'am," he said po
litely, raising his hat, " are the young la
dies at home?"
" Pretty well, I thank ye," squealed
grandma ; ' " though my rheumatiz bothers
me some. Walk right into the sittin'
room," for Mr. May often called there, so
she knew him well by sight, and she felt
quite flattered by his polite salutation.
Mr. May hesitated, but there ' were two
other fellows just coming down the sido
walk, and he dared not risk another ques
tion and answer, so in he went.
" Take this chair," and grandma was
surprisingly active in hauling up a big
arm-chair for him ; "now ain't that com
fortable ? That cushion is the best of hen
feathers'. I've seen live geese feathers not
a mite softer. I workod the cover myself
since I was seventy years old, but I've got
a sight handsomer one that I worked when
I was a gal," and down on her knees at tho
lower bureau drawer plumbed the lady,
and drew out a once gay but now faded
sample, whereon divers impossible' birds
and flowers were wrought in worsted.
"There," said she, spreading it over his
knees, "I did that all afore I was fifteen.
Gals ain't what they URcd to be."
"It's very pretty," said Mr. May, think
ing be must say something in praise of it.
" I called to see the young ladies. Are they
at home?" " ; . , .,,
. " Not but dreadful little of it at borne,
mostly done at school. Such things was
taught in school thorn times, and 1 tliiuk
if they were now in place of alzebry and
bottomy and such nonsense it would be
hotter, don't you think so?"
" I dare say," , and while grandma care
fully put away this souvenir of old times,
he tried to study his way out of the fix.
" She must be very deaf," he thought,
" but I'll try once more."
" Where are Misses Belinda and Lucy ?"
he screamed, when she had settled herself
in a chair. ' 1 ' i ' !
" Yos, sir, Tryphona Newton has been
at work here all winter, but she's gone
borne with a sore finger, and I'm afraid
she'll haro a felon on't. Anyhow, it begun
just as James' wife's first husband's sister
began she was Bal Maria Gage and she
had-a pretty bard time on't. She was
keeping the districk school and boarding
with us when she took it. The gals do all
the work now, but they're smart as
'lection, though Belinda's a trifle the best
for business. Maybe you're a courtiu' one
on 'em," tho continued, looking at him
with what the meant for a roguish smile.
'Hang it I" was Mr. ' May's niontal
ejaculation, " but tho girls will probably
be ill soon. I'll relieve her mind of that
notion. i Oh 1 no, indeed I", he replied
loudly.."1" I am only a young man, ' Just
studying law you know."
"Next Sunday morning 1" cried the
old lady, fairly starting out of her chair
with surprise " Now you dou't 'say so I
At meeting of course. Now bow sly they
have kept it from me I'l . , r , ..
" You misunderstand me," he screamed,
in terror.. " I didn't say so."
" Belinda ; too I Well, I'm glad it's her
for your sake. Cause she would riot say
no to so good an offer. Belinda's a good
gal, too. She's named after me, and per
haps that's why I like her a little better
than I do Lucy, but I shall do what's right
by her when she goes to honsokeepin'.
I'm saving up a half-dozen solid silver tea
spoons for lier and I shall give her my gold
beads, too," taking hold of that string of
ancient adornments which encircled. . her
great fat neck. " Shall you go right to
keeping house?;'; , . A Ym '''
"I tell "you I'm not going to be mar
ried," be screamed so loud that it seemed
to him all the neighbors must hear.
" Uf course you want a home to be hap
py, anybody doesy and i always did be
liovo in young folks going to housekeeping
as soon as they was married."
"You're altogether mistaken," he
screamed in her ear, tho perspiration start
ing from every pore.
"The house already taken? Now I
never. And to think they was ' trying to
keep it from me, and you've told mo all
about it t I shan't toll them, though, .nor
anybody else, so you needn't be afraid.
I can keep a secret, if I am nn old woman."
"I wondor who grandma is talking
with ?" said Lucy, as a lull in the olatter
of dishes brought the sound of voices to
their ears.
" Father, probably," replied Belinda.
" I have heard no one como in."
Lucy put her last loaf of bread to riso,
washed her hands, took off her big apron,
and appeared in the sitting room, much. to
Mr. May's relief, just after grandma had
pledged herself to secrecy. She stai ted in
surprise when b'.io saw tho guest.
" Why 1 Mr. May 1 you here. Come into
the parlor," and Lucy led the way, leaving
grandma alono. " You must have had an
interesting visit with grandma."
" I thiuk I did," replied the gentleman,
wiping the perspiration from bis brow.
" Slio's very hard of hearing, isn't Bhe ?"
"Very," said Lucy ; "but she doesu't
realize it."
"I sce.it is so. I could not make hor
understand a word ; yet from tho answers
she gave mo I saw sho thought she under
stood it all. I guess sho will conclude I
have told her some strange stories."
"Never mind, sho is always making
blunders, of courso," said Lucy. .
Meanwhile grandma had recovered from
her speechless indignation at seeing Lucy
carry off Belinda's beau to a private con
ference, and waddled out into the kitchen.
" Belindy," she squealed, taking tho
scrubbing cloth from her hand, "go right
into the parlor. Mr. May's in there with
Lucy."
" No matter, grandma," laughed Belin
da, wondering much at her evident frame
of mind,
"I'll finish up here, I tell you. You
go right along," and grandma went to
scrubbing at the sholvcs, whilo Belinda, to
please her, went into tho parlor.
Later in tho afternoon, as the girls were
in tho kitchen getting supper, for they al
ways worked together, Deacon Stiltsworth
called to see Mr. Freeman on business.
Walk right into tho sitting-room, dea
con," snid Lucy. , "Father will be iu di
rectly ;" so in went tho deacon.
" Are you pretty well, this spring ?" he
shouted to grandma.
" Oh I la, yes, our well and spring hold
out wonderfully, though some of the
neighbors was plagued for water most all
winter. How is your folks?" .
"Well as usual," nodded the deacon.
" You haven't got out to meeting much,
through the winter, have you ?"
.., "Don't see much of Belindy? Well,
she's pretty steady and industrious, and
ain't allots gad din' like some. Virtue
is its own reward, tho writing book used to
say, and Lucy will have to dance in tho
pig's trough, . for she's two year's tho
oldest, and Boliudy's going to bo married
first."; , .
. "Sho!" said tho deacon looking sur
prised, " Yes, Bclindy's going to bo married iu
meeting next Sunday morning, to young
Mr. May, that's reading law with Squire
Willard, A dreadful nice young man he
is, pooty as. a pink. Now ho come in here
this afternoon, when the gals was at work
in the kitchen, and just sot down and vitit
ed with me as polite and attentive, talked
all over all his affairs Just as open-hoarted,
lie's got a house all engaged and they're
going right to housekeeping."
The deacon's ear's wore all agape to
hear further particulars, but Mr. Free
man's entrance Just then cut short the
garrulous old lady, and as her son made
no allusion to the coming event in the
conversation ' which followed, the deacon
would not seem inquisitivo, and so received
no more information. 1
" I've heard some news," he said to the
family when he got home. "Belinda
Freeman Is going to be married."
When? who to?" tho questions rained
down.
"Next Sunday morning in church, to
that May fellow. He's got a house already
engaged I didn't ask what one, but pre
sume it's the Fox house, right next to the
law cfilee ; that's empty now." "
" He's called on the gals, and waited on
them, too, "said his daughter, Nancy Jane,
" but I didn't suppose there was anything
serious as yet."
" Well, it appears It's settled. The old
lady gave mo full particulars,, Bhe seemed
as pleased as a child, and told how socia
ble Mr. May was with her, .Old folks like
to be noticed yet, you know. ; ' ; ; i. '
When Nancy Jane went over that eve
ning to carry Jerusha Speedwell, the
dress-maker, hor daily pint of milk she told
the news.
..." I guess it must be a mistake," said Je
rusha doubtfully.
"Oh no It lsu'V persisted Nancy Jane
for 'we had It Tight from the family. 'And
that explains those Irish poplin dresses
the girls had this spring. . Belinda's was
poail gray and Lucy's gold mixed, and I
thought, it queer., they didn't have thorn
alike, but I guess they thought pearl gray
more suitable for the bride."
"Sure enough," said Miss Speedwell.
"I fitted those dresses less than a month
ago, but I never thought a thing." Miss
Speedwell told her next customer that Be
linda was to be married in pearl gray
poplin, probably with bonnet and gloves to
match.
That evening, while the Freeman girls
were at prayer-mcoting, and only their
parents at homo with grandma, the latter
went into her bedroom and soon came out
bringing a hugo band-box, largo enough to
contaiu a score of bonnets in those degeuor
ato days. Opening it, she took Carefully
out a huge old Btraw bonnet, dating a half
century back, and trimmed with faded
green gauze ribbon. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman
looked on in quiet surpriso as sho turned
tho ancient articlo around nnd looked it
carefully over.
" There I" said sho, " I've had that bon
net forty-five years, and it's just as good as
now to-day. The strings aro a littlo soiled,
but I can wash 'em out and then it will
bo already to wear to mcetin' next Sun
day." Grandma hadn't been to church for
years, so this announcement excited no
little surpriso.
"You shall havo anew bonnet if you
want to go to mooting," her son shouted
in her ear.
" A now one to make fun, I dare say ; but
I don't caro for that. This is a good scn
sihlo bonnet, worth a dozen of tho littlo
fiddlin' things they tuck on behind their
ears now-o-days. I should catch my death
of cold with ono of 'cm ; I'd a great deal
rather tio a handkerchief on my head than
wear one."
" You should have a now one made large,
you know," shouted Mrs Freeman.
" Too far to go ! La sakes ! I ain't so
feeble but what I can walk that little
ways. My red shawl will be warm enough
if it is a pleasant day, and my black alu
packy dress is all tho fashion now.
There was clearly no way but to lot the
old lady take hor courso, as when hor
mind was made up it was like the laws of
the Modes aud Persians. But , Lucy and
Belinda were wholly overcome the next
morning when their mother told thom of
grandma's plan.
"What docs make her do so?" cried
Lucy. k
" I'm sure I don't kuow, but she's bound
to do it, and I soo no way to prevent it."
" She hasn't been to church for years,"
said thoir mother soothingly, " tho best
way is to be independent and not mind
it."
, But girls at eighteen and twenty rarely
possess the independence of mind that be
longs to forty or forty-five so the church
bells on Sabbath morning rang to them,
Bccluded in their chamber, peeping through
closed blinds at church goers. Not one of
the family had chanced to hear the rumors
which had beon flying all over town the
past two days, gaining volume with repe
tition, until full particulars of (ho bridal
costumes, the house they were to occupy
and the furniture already purchased, form
ed part of the regular story. "It comes
from the family so it must be so," was the
clincher that convinced nil doubters.
Grandma had settled her huge sky
scraper of a bonnet with l many aud long
consultations of the mirror, and Mr, and
Mrs. Freeman proposed to walk to church
with her, both trying not to feel the ridic
ulousness of the situation. Grandma was
formed somewhat like , Mi's. Stowe's old
ladies "like a bag of feathers with a
string tiod around the middle," and the
ample skirts of hor black " alpacky" seem
ed to hang from a heavy and chubby cider
barrel. , An old fashioned red shawl cov
ered her broad shoulders, and over and
above all, the crowning glory of the whole
outfit, was that bonnet, hor little wrinkled
fuoe appearing in the middle of its hugo
oircumfcrence in about the proportions of
a burn bio. bee in the ccuter of a pumpkin
blossom. . , .,
. ','Tbo gals have gono, I 'spose," said
grandma, pausing at the foot of tho stairs
iu the hall. , "Belinda," sue squealed up
the staircase, but there was no answer so
on the went. Her son dutifully gave her
his arm, and bis wife pattered meekly along
Wjind, looking neither to the right nor tho
left. Tho. girls peeped from the window
and laughed till they cried. ,
" It's too ridiculous," said Lucy wiping
her eyes " Do you see mother trotting on
after them, like a little dog ?"
"Like a lamb to the slaughter, I should
sny, I'd like to bo there and see how
people look when they go in," said Be
linda, " that Is, if I could without being
seen." . - v - ';, i
, "1 hope she won't take s notion' to go
all summer," said Lucy. '.'!-'.''
" 0)1, I hopo not, Indeed I' exclaimed
Belinda. ' "It's too bad for even to-day,
for they need us on that new anthem."
"Everybody but us is out to-day, and
they all seem to be going to our church,
too.". ...
" There's Mr. May, and see, ho's got on
a new suit." r " ' ;
' for that gentleman, hearing the rumors,
and knowing well enough how they start
ed, took no pains to contradict them, but
rather helped them along by buying a new
suit of clothes on Saturday v. Black dress
coat, lilac vest and gloves, drab pants and
bat. He passed the slow paced Freeman
family at the church Bteps, and entering
the fast filling room, took a scat near tho
door, apparently unconscious of the scru
tiny that rested upon him. Many curious
glances wont to Belinda's usual seat in the
gallery, but the goneral opinion was that
sho would appear just in time for the cere
mony. ' '
Tho entrance of the Freeman's put an
end to all doubts in any minds, as well as
to sobriety in most. Littlo children gig
gled outright, the older ones tittered, and
evon the most sobor minded found it hard
to repress a smile. The church filled up
rapidly, pews all full and crowded, and
still they came. The somewhat prosy par
son looked at the gathering multitude in
quiet surpriso, not having heard the flying
rumors, nnd not knowing what pow
er of his had brought the people. ' Truth
compels mo to state that he hardly receiv
ed his share of attention from the audience
however, Mr. May and grandma Freeman
dividing it about equal. I ; grieve to add
that at the other church the minister al
most literally preached, that morning, to
hare walls and empty pews, only a few
of the staid fathers and mothers of Israel
appearing in their places. But the minis
ter with the small audience was the favor
ed one, after all, for the large audience
fidgeted uneasily all through the services,
especially when prayer followed sermon,
hymn followed prayer, benediction follow
ed hymn, and still no hint came of the
wedding ceremony. Slowly tho audionco
tiled out, looking extremely blank and
puzzled.
"What does this mean, May?" asked
ono young man of our horo, as ho stood
coldly on the steps.
" Sold !" replied May, briefly, leisurely
taking his way homeward.
The words flew from lip to lip " We're
all sold," and ono after another looked,and
probably felt cheap ; perhaps made the
wiso resolution, then and there, never
again to put faith iu flying rumors.
Grandma Freeman looked around in
a dazed sort of way, as tho people scat
tered. '
"Where's thoweddlu'?" she squealed
to her son. Ho looked blank.
" Where's tho weddin' ?" she repented
in a higher key. " Belinda and Mr. May
was going to be married, you know." Ho
shook his head In surprise, and all at once
it seemed to burst on her that she had been
deceived. 1
" Ho lied to me, he did, the miscrablo
lyin' critter 1" she burst forth in a flutter
of excitement. In vain they tried to still
hor, for the vials of her wrath were un
corked, and sho poured them out all tho
way homo.
" The good people of this town have
learned one lesson to-day, besides what
they have heard iu the sermons if I'm not
mistaken," remarked Mr. May to Belinda,
as ho walked home with her that night,
after tho evening service.
"Why, yes," she replied, "I think they
may have learned one if they will only
profit by it. It Isn't safe to believe all wo
hear."
" It has mado a good deal of sport to
see how easily people have been sold in
this matter. I have becu wicked enough
to enjoy it, but I suppose your grandmoth
er will never forgive mo.
" I fear not. She persists in thinking
you meant to deceive her.
"That would have been cruel indeed.
As the matter stands, I know of no better
way to atone for my crime than to make
my supposed story true, and many Belin
da, after all."
As saith Sam Lawson " Gals never du
tell these particulars just as you'd like to
bear 'em,'' so I cannot tell what Belinda
said, but when full camo, and Mr. May had
been admitted to tho bar, there was a
wedding at Mrs. Freeman's house instead
of the church, and Belinda's dress, wus
pearl gray silk instead of poplin. Grandma
had on a soft, neat tulle cap, in place of
her big bonnet, and after the ceremony, as
proof that she had forgiven Mr. May for his
supposed deceptiou, she waddled up to him
and gave him a rousing kiss. , , ,
tW Mr. S.Koiner,living near Waynesboro,
Va., recently ordered an old oak to be cut
down, remarking that the cutters would find
a rock In the body of the troe, which ho had
put there fifty-four years ago when he wus
a little boy returning from school one day.
When the tree was cut, in the heart of it was
found imbeddud the identical rock which
Mr. Koioer hud put in the fork of the little
sapling more thuu a half century ago.
Important Notice!
Having laid in a very heavy
stock of
WINTER
AND
which must be closed out, I have
decided to offer my entire as
sortment at prices ' '
Regardless of Cost!
Tersons wanting BARGAINS
will " hit the nail on the hoad,"
by giving me a call.
rX"lio I5est X'rluts
only 10 Cents per yard and
other goods in proportion.
; A splendid assortment of
Winter
BOOTS & SHOES
is included in the above offer.
F. MORTI3IE11,
New Bloomfield, Pa.
November 19, 1873.
Chartered March 11, 1870. ,
XT. DB.
Mutual Aid Society
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
HOME OFFICE :
LKHANON,
Lebanon county, Fenu'a.
President,
Secretary,
Treaturer,
Hon. J. II. Kinpoiits.
Geo. A. Mamc
Gil) EON LlUUT.
This Society In boned on the assessment plan.
Assets subject tf Assessment, $8,000,000.00.
Jjenlli lousua paid to dale,
UU,UOO.OO.
This Boclety insures for SIX DOLLARS per thousand
for the llrnt year; VI VK 1XIM.AHH uinuially, per thou,
mind, lor the next fouu ykahh, TWO DOlJjAHH per
IhoiiHiuid annually durinic the remainder of natural
lllt and pro-rata mortality anhi'HhiiieiiU aH eueh death
may occur, which tor the l irnt Cliu w aa t'ouowa:
Abb.
1.70
1.8-2
1.94
2.04
2.10
2.28
2.40
2.45
2. SO
2.65
2. til)
2.U5
rFor all elapses of $3,000 benefit the above ratea are in
all t-aiiea double, auu lor all eianoa of tfl.t.owtltem'hta tripled
KiKht elaaaett now ill operutiou. Claaaca op:u tu hi.
ure tor gl.txiu, S.utio and 4:i,oiu.
Male aud l-'euialu 1'imiu l-il teen to Sixty-Five yearn of
ago, ot (rood moral habit, in (food health, hale, and of
eound mind, Irn-HpeclivH of creed, or race, may be.
oume members. For other Information, addreau
GEO. A. MAltK,
Hec'y U. li. Mutual Aid Society, Lebanon, Pa.
Ou, I. 8. EARLY, On. Aft't, Hnrrlsbui g, I'd.
I,. W. UKAUMUK. Asx't. Gen. Ag't, Gen
rrul Agent's Olllce, corner o( 91 li Hi reel;, nnd Kail
Itontl, LEllAiNON, 1'A.
-AGENTS WANTED! 818m
Neiv Pension Law,
UNPKK nn net of Congress approved March 3,
1873, widows of ollieers who were killed, or
died of disease conirueied 111 the service, itre now .
entitled to J2.00 per mouth for each of their chil
dren. ,
The guardian of a minor child of a soldier who
heretofore only received fx.uo per mouth pension
la now entitled to 910. per moth.
Holillers who receive Invalid pensions can now
have their pension increased to any aunt or rate
between J8. and tl8. per month.
rkildivrs who have lost their discharges can now
obtain duplicntHrt.
Fathers nnd mothers who lost sons 111 the serv
ice. uHu whom they were dependent tor support,
vun aiso obtain pensions.
The uiideraigiit'd having had over 10 years ex
perience Iu the Claim agency business will attend
promptly to claims under the above act.
, Call ou or address
LEWIS rOTTElt,
Attorney for Claimants,
New nioomfleld,
Perry Co., Pa
i, II. OIBVIM
20tf.
t. at. OIltViN.
J M. GIRVI.N & SOJJ,
CoiiiiiiImhIoii Moi-elian t,
NO. ', HPEAIl'S WilAKF,
It u 1 1 1 la o r . M d .
A Wa ,.,111 ,4., -l-l-t L . . - .1. - , m
D .1, IM.J nn n.l Cl 1 I, Ml Wl UIW H1HO Ol HI
kinds or country produce, audlemlt the amount
VWKWTSW. EPS
OUR BtAUllFULLY ILLUSIKAIfcO
CATALOGUES for 1874, of
ilPIl
Numbering 1 79 fAUEtt, and contain. ug
Towur patruoDtboy be mlliii m ubuk!
Mm at laVI-ara nrilMrort n ntna ara nnai hui f .
irB mj mil oinsrs, on rooeija 01 uia.wuiui
ww return la KeutUor Plum, with llrtmir,
Allpttfxhaennfour ikfoiu.eUMr .
Oartl.uiiir fs If.rtr.
'rru- 91.8U tach iprtpaia Ou mail.) ftav
their names eti (rrd on our HbU. and wil
rterire mitow Vatalogv annually, fret Oj
7
EeedtmM, 35 Cortlindt Street, Nrw York,
Ajte Abb. I Aire Ahb. J Ales Am. I Ave
1' 6U I 28 73 f 41 M f4
10 lit 211 74 42 114 f,5
17 2 30 75 4 J !) So
18 S 31 77 ' 44 (W 67
19 64 32 70 4i" 1.00 M
20 (io 3 81 40 1.00
21 Wi 34 8:1 47 1.12 til)
22 07 35 85 48 1.18 til
2:1 l8 30 80 1 411 1.24 ' 02
24 li'J 37 87 60 1.30 IU
25 70 38 8S 51 1.40 61
20 71 39 80 f2 1.60 05
27 72 40 90 fi 1.00
U 6m