Ijc dimes, Ncti) Bloomftcttt, )a. PROPOSING IN THE DARK. ARAMINTA JOHNSON, withoutques tion, wan a lovely creature. Bhe Is just twenty, of the middle height, and a blonde ; she has a profusion of" fair hair worn in coils, and thrown back to show to its fullest extent her broad, high forehead J her nose is aquiline ; ft rich natural color glows upon her cheek, and her blue eyes seem to possess tho peculiar faculty of being ablo to penetrate into one's inner most thoughts. At least such was the opinion formed of Araminta when she came with her mamma for the first tirao to the fashionable church of St. Magnus-cum-Littlo-Benjamin, and the pew-opener ush ered them to tho pew immediately in front of that in which I sat. They were new-comers to the neighbor hood, and being unprovided with the proper hymn books, it was my supreme folicity to hand them those I possessed. Never shall I forget the glance with which my divinity favored me when, the service being over Bhe returned me tho books. I fell desper ately in love with the fair creature, and montally vowed that the remainder of my life should be dedicated to her. As fortune would have it, Araminta and her mamma decided upon occupying the pew into which they had at flrst been shown, and Sunday after Sunday my eyes drank of my beloved's beauty, whilst my ears wore strained to catch the sound of that sweet voice, which joined iu all the responses and with religious fervor carolled forth its songs of praise. Araminta and her mamma being upper most in my thought, I felt compelled to speak of them ere introducing myself. As the reader's intelligence will have noted, the writer of this narrative is at heart and by nature a poet a lover'of the beautiful and true ; but a relentless fato has made him clerk to a stockbroker, and, as though that wore not suflicient to drown the min strel's song,he has been dubbed by his god fathers and godmothers Urian. ' Yes, Urian Quick such is tho name I bear among my fellows ; but neither tbey nor the world in general estimate) the poetic ardor and lofty aspiration which lift me, eagle-like, above tho common bord. Morn ing and midday I am a grub delving among Consols, New Threes, Turks, Reduced, Italians, Peruvians, and other sordid sub stantialities ; but, with the closing of the office door behind me, and the echo of my footsteps upon the pavement outside, I divest myself of worldly associations, and extending my broad pinions, take my flight, lligher and higher soars my soul, as though 'twould reach the other pole ; then, with a sigh that shows my dearth, it sinks again to vulgar earth. For a time I am lost to all that is passing around me, and not until I enter my humble lodging do I become aware tbajt a scanty and hurried dinner necessitates my lingering over tho fragrant Bohea. Proud am I to say that tho heavenly mu sio which has swept my lyre has not been withheld from the breathing, struggling mass around mo. To my credit be it said, that I have afforded the publio an opportu nity of listening to the sweetest harmonies mind ever conceived. Yes, I have been in print. My work had for its title " Mute Heart-burnings," which was at once catch ing and appropriate to the matter of the poems. With respoct to tho sale I was somewhat disappointed. Though more than two years have elapsed since tho pub lie outpouring of my music, not more than twenty copies have been sold. But enough has been said upon this sub ject. I am neither vain or egotistic, and I shrink from the task of further personal description of myself and my attributes. To posterity I leave a legacy thatsome day or other will be considered priceless ; and to that pleasant happy time, when my soul But to resumo, Having fallen madly in love with Ara minta, it was not long before I found an opportunity of being introduced to her and her mamma. I found that Mrs. Johnson was a widow who had moved in a far supe rior circlo to that she now occupied, and that Araminta, her only child was, through the eccentricity of a deceased uncle, the happy possessor of 800 per annum, which dowry was to be taken from her and giv en half to her mother and half to an asylum for disablod and homeless cats, should she wed without Mrs. J.'s consent. Oh, how I loved the fair heiress t How I sympathized with her under the trying circumstances in which she was placed I Naturally Mrs. Johnson would look with distaste upon every suitor. To inherit a' fortune and then to lose it by the caprice of a mother ! "Oh, this must not be. Araminta should not risk such a disappointment. I was the gallant knight to rescue her from thraldom; Araminta aud her 800 per annum should be mine. Worldly wisdom told me that flrst of all I ought to conciliate the mamma, My soul despised artitice, but it was for her for Aramluta's sake. And the poor girl was grateful. In the presence of Mrs. Johson I was cold and distant to my be loved, but I felt sure that Araminta saw the ruse. I had not long been a frequent visitor at the little Cauoubury villa ere I began to fear that in the pursuit of Araminta's affec tion I had a rival. At first I only heard of Mr. John Smith through Mrs. Johnson, who informed me that ho was a most desir able young man to know, and that she hoped we should shortly become acquaint ed. Smith, it was said, was a handsome young fellow ; Smith was an accomplished man, his vocal ability being somothing marvellous ; Smith was well-to-do ; Smith was of good family in short, Smith was everything desirable and my ears tired of his name ere I once set my eyes upon him. One night he accompanied my friends to church, and with disgusting impertinence placed himself next to Araminta. They shared the same hymn book, and seemed to be on the most agreeable terms. I could have struck my rival to the earth when, on issuing from the church, Aramin ta gave mo a nod of recognition aud imme diately took the proffered arm of Smith. But I was true to my purpose ; I showed no spleen ; I was resolved to conciliate Ara minta's mamma, and I flattered myself that already she was beginning to regard me as a suitable son-in-law. Steadily pursuing the plan I had formed in my mind, and of which I felt my charm er was cognisant, I offered my arm to Mis. Johnson, and all the way from the church to the dwelling blessed by tho presence of my belovod,' we spoke of poetry and the arts. A very clover appreciative woman 1b Mrs. Johnson. In stature there was scarce ly an inch difference 'twixt her and her daughter, and whon she spoke it seemed the very echo of Araminta's voice. There fore when I avoided looking into Mrs. Johnson's face, mid refraiued from the jnental calculation of how far she had advanced on tho wrong side of forty, I was able to fancy that I had Araminta by my sido. This gave mo poetio inspiration, and I felt littlo of tho embarrassment which usually accompanies a young man's con versation with his future mother-in-law. " O, you must cyno in and take alittle Biipper with us," said Mis. Johnson, whon we reached the gate. " I want to intro duce you to our friend, Mr. Smith." Throughout our walk Araminta and her bated companion kept well ahead. They started with a lead, and maintained it so well that they had entered the house oro we were in sight. I did not want to become acquainted with Smith, but I did wish to bid Araminta a good night, and to indicate by a stronger pressure of the hand than usual, that I was making the way smooth with her mamma. Smith was, as I had imagined, a shallow- brained coxcomb. 'Twas Hyperion to a Satyr over again ; I being Hyperion, of Cjpurse, and he the distorted monster. They said he was a musician. Well, if loud growling among the lower F's in the bass, in the attempt to drown everybody else's voice, constitutes a claim to be considered a musician, then Smith should at the very least have put 'Mus Doc' at the end of his name. It was a welcome release when suppor was announced. Then offering my arm to Mrs. Johnson wo left her offspring and Smith to follow. Of course, all this time my heart was witli Araminta, although I let no desires of my own interfere with my purpose of rescuing her from tho thraldom of hor mother. Taking furtive glauces at Araminta on the other sido of tho tablo, I conld not but compare her to Andromeda. Yes, she was the beauteous creature tied to the rock of single blessedness ; her mother was the monster, I was the gallant Perseus, resolved upon rescuing my beloved, and Smith well, ho was an oflicious on-looker, a sort of theatrical "supe" nothing more. " Ah !" exclaimed Mrs. J., during an in terval of cold beef and salad, " my Algy was so fond of music. Often and often has he called me to bis side and insisted upon my joining him in 1 Meet mo by moonlight alone.' Do you know that song, Mr. Quick?", I became all attention at tho mention of this Algy, of whom I had never heard be fore. Was he among the living ? If so, he must be Araminta's brother. Perhaps he, too, would have to be conciliated ere the divine creature aud tho threo hundred pounds per annum becamo mine I My ex perience with Mrs. J., and the fear that a similar process would have to be gone through with this Algy, completely took away my appetite, aud I had barely strength to gasp out "No, ma'am, I do not know tho sung. Pray, does Algy live ?" " Live !" certainly not, Mr.- Quick. Poor dear Algy ; he died in 1848." A weight was lifted off my mind ; but never having previously heard of " poor dear Algy," my curiosity was stimulated and I determined to pursue my inquiries further. "Dear me," I said, moving my chair closer to Mrs. Johnson, " praywhat was the nature of Algy's complaint?" "Ob, Mr. Uriah," she murmured, plac ing one band in mine, while the other held her handkerchief to her eyes. " You have a sympathizing heart, Mr. Uriah, is it not so?" I admitted the fact, upon which she gave my hand another squoe.e. Araminta aud the annuity could uot be far off now. " He was my second, and I think I loved hira better than the rest. ' " Indeed," 1 replied. " Why, I thought, Mrs. Johnson, you never bad but one." "O, yes, Mr, Uriah I bavo had three," answered the grlef-strickcu woman. Determined not to be daunted in my in vestigation, I asked, " Were they girls or boys, Mrs. Johnson?" Tho widow's hand was suddenly with drawn from mine ; then bending upon me a look in which pity and indignation seemed to be strangely mingled, she said : " I do not understand you, Mr. Quick ?" Tho blood rushed to my cheeks,' and I know I blushed horribly at the conscious ness that somehow or other I had, vulgarly speaking, " put my foot in it." What made tho matter worse was that Mis. J.'s last inquiry had disturbed Araminta and the bated Smith, and they also were look ing inquiringly at me. "Pray, ma'am, were you you not speaking of your chil children ?" I stam mered. "Children! No, sir," she exclaimed, drawing herself to hor full hoight ; " I spoke of my husbands 1" Involuntarily 1 drew my chair a few pa ces from tho terrible woman from whose clutches I was bent upon rescuing Aramin ta. It was very rude and pointed of mo, but I could not help it. Lucky for my pur pose was it that this revelation had not come sooner. Had I known how things were I could not have had courage to escort Mrs. J., from church so frequently. No matter, my design was now nearly accom plished. Araminta, I felt sure, would soon be mine, and it would be my care to see that she should not follow the fearful ex ample of her mother. I recollect nothing of what transpired after this until I found myself ontsido the bouse with Smith by my side. He had been talking Bomo time ere I listened, but sud denly my ears caught the name of Aramin ta, and then I becamo all attention. "You have influence, great influence, as any one can see, with hor mother. You might put in a word for me." " Why?" I inquired mechanically. " Bccauso you might bo enabled to gain her consent to our marriage" " To your marriage ! Marriage with whom?" " Why, with Araminta, of course. Don't you know that if the girl marries without her mother's approval she loses 300 a year. " What 1 Have you proposed to her?" " Not yot, but I mean to shortly. That's why I want you to talk about it to tho old woman." "What," I observed, " is filthy lucre when weighed against true love ?" ' " Exactly," said he ; " but I don't care about the girl without the money." This, then, was the moan, contemptiblo creature who had been hold up to me as a paragon among men. He could not disso ciate Araminta from her yearly income ; the two must come together, or she should nev er bear his name. O, paltry scoundrel 1 Had ho been short aud I tall I would have crushed the lifo out of him as ho stood be fore mo. But nature has made me a short man, and Smith towers a foot abovo my head, bo prudonco repressed, all bellicose inclination. Wo had now arrived at a road where he had to take ono direction and I the other. Ho wrung from me a half promise that I would say what I could in bis favor, and then we parted. I was glad to bo quit of him, Tor I now knew that he had entered tho lists for Araminta, and I wanted to ma ture my own plan of action. I resolved to declare my passion tho next night. The resolution with which I retired to rest was strengthened when I arose, and from the first hour of business to the time whon I returned to my lodgiug my purpose remaiuod unaltered. When and under what circumstances was it best to proffor my suit? Twilight ? Yes, in tho twilight's holy calm in that romantio hour wheu the shadows deepen, aud all around gives to kou of the approach of night, I would ad dress to her words of love. I saw it all, and dressing myself with scrupulous care, strode forth upon my mis sion. As I paced the strip of patli which led to the porch of my belovod, I aw through the parlor window, in the gloam ing, a hand wave welcome to mo. A thrill of delight ran through me as I fult that it must be her, my beloved. So well hud I become known ut tho littlo villa that it was not necessary I should be announced by the servant. She, with a knowing smile, motioning with her finger toward the parlor door, gave mo to under stand that the object of my search was within and alone. Quickly turning the handle of the door, I entered the apartment sanctitied by her presence. As I had anticipated, she was alone. Seated in front of the window, she had evidently been expecting my approach, and, betrayed by the exultation of tho mo ment, bad waved her hand as she saw my form emerge from the shadow cast upon the path by the tail hollyhocks. I knew that her face was beaming with smilus,altliough in the gloom of the apartment I could not see a feature. I could picture the rosy flush upon bur cheek, her blight glance towards me, mid the pouting of hor lips that would murmur, ' Uriah, dear, I love you.' I knew all this was expressed on my Araminta's face, by tho tremuloutuienH of her hand aud the quivering accents in which she said how delighted she whs to see me. I did not ask my beloved the usual ques tion relative to the state of .her mamma' health, as I feared this would lead to tho Medusa herself being summoned to pay her respects to me, but went straight to the cause of my visit, dreading lest Smith should forestall mo. Drawing my chair closer and closer to hers, wo rang the usual changes upon the topio of the weath er, and then with tho exhaustion of the subject camo an interval of silence a hush of nature as it were. Still nearer to her I approached ; then taking hor willing hand in mine, I murmured, ' Dearest." She had evidently been expecting tho avowal of my lovo, for, without drawing back her hand, Bhe whispered, ' Uri, dear, go on, I do so liko to hoar you talk.' Thus encouraged, I proceeded : ".Swcot est, you bid me talk. Ah, love, bad I ten thousand tongues they could lisp no name so treasured as your own. Dearest, I love you you know it. Long has my heart been yours. Why have my visits here boen so frequent? Because, doarest, you were the magnet that attracted mo. Tell me, may I not call you mine ?" " Oh 1 Uri dear, this is so sudden, so un expected give me time to consider." "Not an hour, not a moment," I ox claimed, in the mad enthusiasm of my love. "I would have my answer at once this anxiety I cannot brook." " Then, Uri dear, I will be yours, and yonrs alone." In a moment I had clasped hor waist, and imprinted a kiss upon her check. "That ratifies our compact. Now toll me, dear est, how long is it since you knew I loved you?" " Oh, a long time, Uri, dear a very locg time, almost as long as I have known you. But you have not yot told mo how we are to livo, Uri. You know t have a small income but it is not suflicient for us both." Three hundred pounds per annum a small income ! 'Twas thus slightly sho spoke of her wealth. Oh 1 how I loved tho girl I I felt the inferiority of my position at onoo, but I summoned courage and told her of my iucome and prospects. " Oh, Uri, dear," she murmured, her head resting upon my shoulder and her face upturned to mino, " I am more than satis- fled. Oh ! how I have longed for, yet fear, ed, the arrival of this moment." "Then, my betrothed, you confess to having loved me era ray avowal. Nevor shall I forgot tho ecstasy that filled my soul as bIio replied, hesitatingly, " Yes, Uri, almost from tho commence ment of our acquaintance." Darling girl I "And what, dearest," I continued in my delirious joy ; " What trait in my character charmed you moBt, what led to my winning your heart ? Was it my poetio genius ?" "Oh, no, 'twas your resemblance to Algy." " Algy ? do you moan your stepfather?" " No, my second husband." Great Powors ! I had proposed to the Qorgon of a mother. In tho horribly poetio twilight I had mistaken Mrs. Johnson for hor daughter. The fatal resemblance of voice and hoight provod my betrayal, and I sank back in my chair dumb-founded. Next Wednesday, what some people call an interesting ceremony, is to be gone through at the Church of St. Magnus-cum Little-Benjamin. If I survive till then, I am to be draggod to the hymeneal altar by Mrs. Johnson ; and immediately after she has legally become Mrs. Quick, the detest ablo Smith is to wed the lovely Araminta and hor 300 per annum. For me there is nought but genteel poverty and petticoat government. I feel it is coming. Should my Bpouso be again widowed (as is more than likely), may tho earth lie light upon my blighted corpse ! Kept his Promise. - A boy borrowed a tool from a carpenter, promising to return it at night. Before evening he was sent away on an errand, and did not return until late. Before he wont, he was told that his brother should seo tho articlo returned. After he bad come home and gone to bed, be inquired, and found that the tool had uot beeu sent to its owner. He was much distressed to think that bis promise bad not been kept, bnt was persuaded to go to sleep, and rise early and carry it home the next morning. By daylight he was up, and nowhere was the tool to be found. After a long aud fruitless search, he set off for his neigh bor's in groat distress, to acknowledge bis fault. But how great was his surprise to And the tool on his neighbor's door-stone And then it appeared from the print of his little bare feet in the mud, that the lad had got up in his sleep and carried the tool home, and gone to bed again, without knowing it. Of course a boy who was prompt iu his sleep was prompt when awake. He lived respected, had the confidence of his neigh bors, and was placed in many offices of trust and profit. If all the grown folks felt as this boy did, there would be a good many tracks of bare feet found some of these bright morn ings ; and what piles of tools and books would bo found lying at thejr owner's doors. IW A young widow leiug asked after her husband's health, answered, with a soft, quiet smile, " He's dead, I thank you." Professional Cards. JE. JUNKIN, Altorney-at-Law. . Nw llloointleld. Porry Co., Pa, t. i ""-"' u me resiacnce oi judge dUIIKIIl. 4.ritf M. MARKEL, Attorney-at-Law k - Knur Hl.iti.iH.il.1 u ' ... n M-Omce with Chan. A. liarncttf Esq., iemre Square, adjoining Mortimer's store. ' T EWIS POTTHII. ATTOllNEY AT LAW, NEW KLOOM FIELD, TERRY CO..PA. kakninin.. ....,.. . .. . .. """7 A".'""i'.lv ""corea Biin collected. Wr tinusand all leara! hufiiiif.tt .ni-riiu eilto. s2vi JAMES II. FERGUSON, Attornov at l.aw, NEWPORT, PA. -Onice Market Street, near the Square. 36 6 CHARLES H.RMILEY, Attorney at Law. New Bloomlleld, Perry Co. Pa. M-OflicewlthO. A. Barnett. Esq., next door to Mortimer's store August 20, W72 TTM. A. 8PONSLER, Attorney-at-Law, ..'T )ni-'c adjolulnic Ills residence, on East Main street, New Bloomlleld, Perry co.. Pa. 3 2 ly CHAS. A. BARNETT, Attorney-at-Law, .. Now Bloomlleld. Perrv CO.. Pa. a-umce adjoining Mortimer' Store. 3 Sly J BA1LY, Attorney at Law, New Bloomtleld. PerrvCn.. Pa. -omce opposite the Court House, and two doors east of the Perry County Bank. jcmiBiu r, lYieiiiiire, i.sq. June 27, 1871. JOHN 0. 8HATTO, Burgeon Dentist. All kinds of Mechanical and Surgical Dentistry done 111 tllA bfMt mmmpr nH ..- prices. " " "--'""" wl-omce at ills residence, one door East of the Robinson House, and opposite Win. A. Hpousler's WM. M. RUTC'H, ATTORN EY-AT-L AW, . NewBloomllcld,Perryco.,Pa. -Ofnce-Two doors West of F. Mortimer Dioro3 7 ly CHAS. J. T, McINTIRE, Attorney-at-Law, . . New Bloomlleld, Perry co., Pa. . r"A!I professional business promptly andfalth. fully attended to. 3 2 lv. WM. N. SEIBERT, Attorney-at-Law, . .. ,. nn New Bloomlleld, Perry co.. Fa. Bloomtleld, 3 33 lv. LF;W,r,S JOTTER, notakt public, New Bloom. Held, Perry Co., Pa. Deeds, Bonds, Mortgages and Leases carefully prepared and acknowledgements taken. All kinds of Pension and Bounty papers drawn and certilled, will also take depositions to be reed In any court In the United States. 7 10 ly "ITTM. A. MOltltlSOX, 7,Yt ,,l,rICK W THE PEACE and GENERAL COLLECTOR, NbwGekmantown, Perry co., Pa. f Remittances will be made promptly lor all Collections made. 7 44 "yiLLIAM M. 8UTCII, JiiKtice of the Peace, AND GENERAL COLLECTOR, New Bloomtleld, Porry County, Penn'a , ,T Special attention paid to Collections of all kinds. Deeds, Bonds, Mortgages and Agreements eatlyn executed. 7 ictf HEAL ESTATE At Private Sale, The undersigned will sell at private sale his val uable farm situate in Juniata township. Perry co.. Pa., adjoining lands of George Tlzcll, George Ickes and others, containing 91 -A. O 33, E S , of Red Slate land, about 7fi Acres are cleared, and Ina high state of cultivation. The balance is well set with timber. V'" l"i;rovements are 80'l two story Log and Weatherboarded DWELLING HOUSE, LARGE BANK BARN. TENANT HOUSE, CARRIAGE HOUSE, NEW HOG PEN and WOOD HOUSE. There Is also a Well of good water near the house. There are also TWO GOOD APPLE ORCH ARDS on this farm, with a variety of other fruit trees. This property Is near the village of Markle vllle in a good neighborhood. Any person desiring to purchase a home, should see this property before making a Uual Invest ment. Price $5,000 1 payments, 2,000 on the 1st of April, 1874, at which time a deed will be delivered, and possession given . The balance to be paid in threeequal annual payments, with Interest, to be secured by Judgment bonds. -Jall on or address JACOB KLINE, Markleville, Perry CO., Pa., on LEWIS POTTER. New Bloomtleld, Ferry Co., Pa. 2tf L E 33 .A. KT O 3ST Mutual Fire Insurance Company, or JoncMtown, Fenn'u. ' POLICIES PERPETUAL at Low Rates. No Steam risks taken. This lv one of the best conducted and most reliable Companies In the State. Country property Insured Perpetually at U 00 per thousand, and Town property ati5 00 per thousand. LEWIS POTTER, NEW BLOOM FIELD, PA. , 4 16 Agent for Perry County. LOOK tJUT! I would respectively Inform myfrlendsthatlln tend calling upon thuni with a supply of good of my OWN MANUFACTURE. Consisting of CASSIMER3. OASSINETS, FLANNELS, (Pltrfn and bar'd) toexchange for wool or sell for cash. J. M. B1XLER. CenthkWooj.em Factory. 6,17,4m j.M.OIHVIN. I. H. OIBVIH J M.GIKVIN diBON, OomiiilMMloii Morchnntu, NO. 8, SPEAR'S WHARF, It a 1 1 1 in o r e , 91 1 . .We will pay strict attention to the sale of all kinds of country produce, aud remit the amount promptly. 6 341y Auctioneer. The undorsigned gives nolle that he will cry sales at any point In Perry or Daupln counties. Orders are solicited and prompt attention will be given. K. D. WELLS. New liurralo, Perry oo., Ps. (Al in ALL KINDS of Printing neatly PRINTING xecuteu at ine riMKmruujj MEb"STKAM JOB ONTICB.
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