2
STljc 5Timc0, New Bloomftclir, )a.
Uncle Ben's Gift,
THE MISSING BOX.
fTWO sisters, Emily and Ilelen, the one
JL about eighteen, the ether perhaps two
jrearsokler.-sat busily plying thoir needles,
while their 'tongues i kopt mp a merry
rattle, '
Tbey ' had been Invited to the wedding
of one of their intimate associates, and, of
course, had each a-.now dress to manufac
ture for the occasion.
Ml suppose 'llary feels 'bad because she
was not invited," said Emily ; " but then
- sbo ooukl oet epect it, and 'besides she
hanjiotlnngit'to wear, and i father had to
- submit to aauausual amount of teasing be
fore ha would 'Consent to ..get these new
dresses for us, yu know." ,
"'No," rcpliodiHolen, " she could not ex
.pect it. ' Sbo has not been into company at
all, and it would be a pretty 'beginning to
make 'her 'come out' in so elegant a party
.as she would ifind at Laura's wedding. How
she would i)ook,Ho, standing in the rnid-
die of the toom, in her striped fustian and
brogans, with .hen finger in her. mouth 1"
A ihearty laughi'from both girls followed
tthis fancy i picture, when the. door that led
to the kitohen,.which had been ajar, was
gently closed by an unseen hand, indica
ting to i the 'heartless : girls that their un
i generous wordsp.hd been overheard by the
subject of their merriment.
Mary, a very '.beautiful and sensible girl
of seventeen years, was their oousin. Her
ifatlier, a brother -of Mr. Curtis,i.had died
tin .poverty while sheras an infant, and her
. worthy mother, after twelve years-of wid-
owbood and hard labor, had followed him ;
i leaving Mary, hopeless and heart-broken,
to ..add another name to the long catalogue
of ..orphans. On thedeathof herraether,
.her, unole had taken her into hist family,
.partly from the necessity of' the case, and
partly from ihe s sympathy he folt ' for the
'desolate . condition. .of his little . niece.
'Though he knew that some sacrifice must
1 follow ibe addition of ..another dependent
i fori food, and .raiment, yet self-respect And
natural afteotion forbade the rejection of
'her claims. I But his wife, nnfortuaatoly,
almost. destitute of botfa these virtues, aw
no duty in the matter, &nd met the iiwo-
cent glil ontlie threshold with an air. of
i jealousy and pride. (The uncle would .hae
.welcomed aad cared for ther as his own
child, i. but it was .soon evident that' the
-aunt bad marked 'Out tar her the kw.b
walk of a servant.
Mr. Curtis was a brokeasiown merchant,
once successful and toteaably rich, bat
.without the aequisite ekffll to regain, bis
.Xormer elevation against tke bristling ob
stacles which always oppesa a business
.man when, he suAdonly finds himself at tfre
bottom of the ladder. He mem occupied a
subordinate position in the l&fge establish
ment -of Curtis AGo., rjd discharged, its
duties with commendable faibufulness and
resignation,. and would have -made himself
.and fuuL'y happy, had his wife fceen a sen-
aible. .woman, But -she still retained all
the i haughty pride which, had been culti
'vatedin .more sumptuous ,iday a pride
whose . appetite becasce the. .more lltoon and
.sensitive, 'the more its natural aliment di
ijnlnisbed. Mary had been cra4!ed in , poverty, and
its yoke, though ,alwapa irksome, wes the
mere easily borne. . Hat! she been taiC that
.she was. to outer her uncle's family .as a
sewant, bo higher hopes .would have teen
, indulged ; butrtnowing bus wish to regard
Jier as one of bis own . daughters, her 4iia
appoiatmeut at being, hutelled the mestial
of the house, .Kith "a gaeat gulf fixeA"
between her and ithosejthe scanted to low,
almost broke her little heart. Her unete
was .kind enough t her whee be bad time
to notice her, but her aunt ruled, and was
always .present.
The. daughters very natural iscbibed their
mother' spirit, au4 copied her example ;
and thus Hary hadigient five years in the
aerviee.of three mistreases. She eould well
bear the .labor, but what heart is effectually
fortified against the .power of contempt t
There is more hope in combating as army
than in struggling against negleot ; ifor in
the former case one may cut his way
through, but in the latter there is notfcing
to cut. So our little heroite grew up under
influences mare negative tkan positive, ell
the tendencies of which ware to with,
rather than foster and develop an amiable
and virtuous character.
That very evening, while engaged in her 1
kitchen duties, Mary bad been reflecting
on ber unhappy position ; and when she
heard the remark about the fustian and
brogans, with the laugh that folio wed, those
reflections were pointed with an exquisite
pain, and two or three great rain-drops
fell into the plate before ber.
" If tbey could ouly look iuto my heart,"
she murmured to herself, "they would
find no desire there to share the expected
enjoyment that is now occupying their
thoughts, If they and aunt would only
love me, my fustian would be a royal robe,
aud my brogaus golden slippers. But,"
added she, " mother always said that no
body was truly happy till they learned how
to forgive ; and with a humming song, and
a gleam of returning cheerfulness, she
piled her task anew. How elastic is the
human heart 1 What a strong wwimnoris
hope! .
Let us look into the other room again.
The sisters had regained their cheerful
ness, and were rapidly disonming all the
momentous matters pertaining te the em
pire of fashion, and criticising the taste of
their various acquaintances.
"What horrid sleeves Julia Rogers has
to her new dress 1" said Helen.
" Not half so horrid as the gaudy trim
mings on Martha Pike's bonnet,'" roplied
Emily.' - ' '
And so forth. Our lady readers -car. fill
up the dialogue to their diking we have
no relish for it. . . . .
While they were thus engaged, Mi's.
Curtis entered the room with an expres
sion of displeasure on her .face. She passed
through and delivered some sharp orders
to Mary, and returning seated herself by
her daughters. Mary's song bad ceased.
" Helen, what does William iBetts want
of Mary?"
"I don't know, mother ; .has he been
here?"
"Yes, and this is the 'third 'time, too. I
told him each time that she was dot in ;
and to-night he seemed unoasy at my
answer, and left the door without saying a
word."
The girls looked at each other with sur
prise and curiosity. Young Betts was a
clerk in the house of Stuart'& Co., an in
telligent, enterprising and.promising.young
man, whom both Helen and Emily, with a
score of other cap-setters, bad singled out
as the object of particular .conquest. The
question, therefore, what 'he wanked of
Mary, electrified their nerves, and et in
march a whole regiment of -surmises.
"I was the more surprised at his silence
to-night," continued the mother, "be
cause I asked him why he wished to see
ber, and he gave me a glance which said,
'It is none of your business," and then
turned off without answering me."
The mother perceived by the silence and
flushed faces of ber daughters thatBhe had
effected her object, aud with an air of sat
isfaction, left tbem to nurse the bitter seed
of jealousy which she had dropped in thoir
hearts.
From those hearts, 'thenceforth,' all
semblance of love for Mary was banished.
After a long silence, Heiaa exclaimed,
with petulant energy,
"I know William Betts .mistook the
name !" ' '
" What name did homoanT" said CE ml
ly, with a slight start. This was a deli
cate question, and remained nansweied.
Emily, ' though the younger, was the
greater philosopher, and from the begin
ning bad divined the true state of the case.
-She had already begun to cultivate-a feel
iing of resignation to the disappointment
of ber half-formed hopes, aBd was not tin
-willing to tantalize Helen ailittle, seeing
he took it so much to heart. Had she
mingled a little generosity with her re
eigaation, and sympathised with iier poor
oeuain ' in her supposed goodrforUuie, it
would have been nobler ai sawed her some
remorse in after years. ' '
VHelen," said &e, i a. -solemn 'tone
without raising ber eyes, ''William ia in
love crith Mary. I kaow it"
"iBcw do you knowf tteplied Italen,
dropping her work.
I have known it for a long time."
" WiLat ! and not tell me I"
"Oh,. I thought it might paia you."
"Fain me!" said Helen, sriUi an angry
blush, .wby sliould I care if fce dees ihtve
her?"
" Bt9cMa,ie you love hlm,M esid UtniJy,
coolly.
"Helesucras too full of vexation to, reply,
and giviogther sister a very emphatic look,
she threw down her work, took a light and
went to tier, loom.
Mary, meanwhile', unconscious of tiie im
portant part her name had borne in the
.evening's discourse, had finished Iter daily
ask, and seated herself, with weary limb
a;vt heavy heart, in the chair just vacated
at Emily's side.
(Teaming for social sympathy, she was
about to attempt. a cheerful conversation,
when she was absuptly and cruelly eut
short .by her cousin, who exclaimed with a
haughty peevishness,
" ItU bed time, and I've talked enough!"
Mary .rose from her .chair, imprinted a
silent Jews on Emily's ibrow, and without
receiving any returning token of affection,
sought her couch and fell .asleep amid pray
ers and tears. Prayers and tears I must
they always flow together V
Emily soon followed with an uuhappy
heart, full of conflicting acid tremulous
passions. That coal of fire was still burn
ing on her brow J
The sun rose the next morning a habit
it has the busy hum of active life had
already commenced in the streets, but the
first token of animation in the Curtis fami
ly was the sprightly atcp of Mary at her
morning task of preparing breakfast. Her
face wore a cheerful look, and her heart
seemed unladen of every oppressive
thought. Had an angel appeared to her
by night and bade ber be of good cheer ?
Nothing but the angel of sleep. Yet, un
conscious girl, the day that has now dawn
ed upon thee is destined to be the most mo
mentous of thy life.
Her cousins appeared in due time for
breakfast, aud in their anticipations of the
wedding which was to take place that eve
ning seemed to have forgotten the unpleasant
conversation of the previous night.
Mary, true to her noble nature, forgot
her slight, and did all she could to aid her
cousins and enhance their pleasure ; con
tented to draw her own happiness from the
happiness of those around her.
Dinner hour came and passed, and the
girls, after a hundred twistings and turn
ings before the glass, to be sure that every
ribbon was smooth, aud every silken fold
right, made au early start for the scene of
attraction. Mary watched thoir graceful
movements out of sight ; and though a
Smile of borrowed joy was still on her face,
she was startled by the falling of a tear
upon her hand as it lay upon the window-
sill startled, as we sometimes are at a
drop of rain, aud look all around the sunny
sky and wonder whence it came.
Mrs. Curtis had already gone to visit a
friend, where her husband was to meet her
at tea and spend the evening, and so Mary,
with the exception of two little boys, at
play in the yard, was loft alone . to enjoy,
to her, the real luxury of solitude. Iler
heart was like a desolate field, all unculti
vated, yet showing here and there great
clusters of native flowers surpassing in
beauty, richness and fragrance all that the
hand of ait could ever boast. She little
knew how soon another was to enter, to
claim and cultivate. True to female in
stinct, as soon as she was left alone, she
proceeded to "dress up" in her best attire.
It was a brief task. Her pretty calico
black apron and plain linen collar were
soon adjusted. They were all tho ward
robe she had outside the kitchon, and had
served her on extra occasions like this for
more than a year. ' Fashions had changed
two or three times ; but like the birds and
tho flowers, beauty and simplicity, left to
themselves, are never tired of each other.
Mary bod juBt finished her toilet in the
kitoheo, where her seven-by-nine looking-
glass was large enough to reflect all her
pride, and had hardly seated herself in the
parlor with a book, when Bhe was startled
by a knocking at the door. She opened it
and confronted William Betts ; whom,
though she hod often seen, she had never
spoken to in ber life.
He bowed, and said, " Good evening,"
and waited to be invited in; while she
waited to bear his errand. At length she
said, with embarrassment,
" The family are all gone out"
"I know it," replied William, "and
that is why I am here ! Can't you say,oome
in ?" he added, with a smile. ,
Mary repeated the words mechanically
.after him, half ashamed of her awkward
ness, and half amazed at a novel emotion
which at that moment flashed through her
heart ; for .love needs no bugle to announce
bis approach. William followed her in,
and took the chair offered him by a tre mo
iling hand. He was a noble-hearted, ingen
uous youug man, and bod long indulged
an affection' for Mary, which the cool treat
ment be bad received from the aunt, and
his suspicion of its cause, hod not tended
to abate. "Love hath a thousand eyes,"
.and he had discovered the present opportu
nity of finding Mary alone, and determined
to improve It.
We shall not go through with the de
scription of a love-making scene ; it ought
never to be soiled with printer's ink ; and,
besides, everybody .understands the pro
cess already, either by experience or hear
say. Suffice it to eay, after a few minutes
.of ordinary conversation, William who bad
filched an hour from his business, bad no
time to make " regular approaches," as
the .military men say, but came with the
intention of storming the citadel at once,
After a little pause, therefore, in the con
versation, he turned his handsome ' eyes
full on nts tmiid Hostess, and said,
" Mary, I mtue to tell you that I love
jrou," .and without waiting for any reply,
.and to -save ber embarrassment, he went
ou to narrate the history of his affection
where he first saw her bow he had found
.out lier 'name how he had tried to resist
Jils (feelings, .and couldn't how be had en,
.deavored to get introduced te her and
much to hcreurprise, bow he had learned
all abaut her unhappy and neglected con
dition in her uncle's family.
Mar.y'o pretty face, as in nature bound,
was covered with trickling' tears, not of
affection, ar mere senUrueut, but prompted
by an indefinable mixture of emotions, the
most prominent of which was a tremulous
joy that she feared was too excessive.
What wonder? Her ears had never listened
to such professions before, aud her heart,
which was made up of yearning amiabili
ties, had never known what it was to be so
loved away from iter mother's bosom, and
It bounded at once with a violence of at
tachment toward her confessed lover ; and
like a brave-hearted, honest girl, she told
him so, without any periphrastic figures of
speech. The contract completed, it was
ratified, and "sealed" in the approved
way ; and Williatn took his departure with
no unelastio step, though he dragged a
"lengthening cbaiu behind."
Mary retired to her little kitchen, the
oene of many toils and tears, and seated
herself there that the coutrast of her pres
ent joy might be tho sweeter. Wherever
the looked a rainbow was before her !
Slut peeped into her looking-glass to see if
she could divine the reosou for William's
love and- was startled at her own beauty ;
her happy emotions had so illuminated
every feature. Did she feel a flash of tri
umphant pride that she was preferred be
fore her cousins ? Naughty girl ! but Mary
was not perfoct. r ":
As the shades of night approached, Mary
bolted the outer doors, re-assumed her
kitchen garb, and having put the tired
boys to bed, her dancing heart was forcing
a song from ber lips, when she was again
startled into sudden silonce by a loud rap
ping at the front door. Could it be Wil
liam ? Her song ceased, but her heart was
dancing still. She took a candle, and tim
idly opened the door, when a gust of wind
blew out the light and left her in darkness
and fear.
" Does Mr. James Curtis live here ?"
said a deep-toned but not unpleasant
voice. 1
" Yes, sir be bo good as to wait till I
light the candle."
On her return the man was standing in
side the door, but did not wait for her to
speak.
" Is Mr. Curtis at home ?"
"No, sir," said Mary, with a trembling
voice.
" Any of the family ?"
Mary hesitated, for she did not dare to
inform him that she was alone. The man
interpreted her fears, and said, with a
pleasant smile, '
"I see you are alone, my girl, but don't
be afraid ; my name is Benjamin Curtis-
lam a brother of Mr. James Curtis, and
have come to see him."
The rough, open-hearted frankness of
his manner, and more especially a strong
resemblance to her uncle, which Mary dis
covered whenever she dared to look him in
the face, convinoed ber that he was not
imposing on her. Besides, she knew that
she had an "uncle Ben" somewhere in the
world, though she had never seen him.
So she invited him in.
He was tho oldest of the three brothers,
as well as the most enterprising t and had
in early life yielded to a passion for' the
sea, upon which he spent' about twenty
years, in almost every capacity, from the
cabin boy of a fishing smack to the captain
of a Canton packet-ship.
' He was a true man of the world a keen
observer, abundantly intelligent, and an
honest, out-spoken talker, fullfof jovial
generosity. Nearly tweuty years had pass
ed since he last visited hU native city, and
he had now just arrived from South Ameri
ca, where he bad been a long time engaged
in commeroe. . As old age approached, he
pined for his native land and the friends of
bis youth ; and had just completed arrange
ments for the transfer of his handsome for
tune to the city of his birth. The object
of his present visit was the permanent in
vestment of his property in stocks and real
estate. He was without family, having
never been married. Such is the abridged
biography of "Uncle Ben." Mary and her
cousins had often heard wonderful stories
of his adventures, and their lively imagina
tions had thrown a lively romance around
his name and history. It was not strange,
then, that Mary's curiosity was excited to
the highest pitch at his unexpected intro
duction so that she forgot for a time the
extraordinary event of the afternoon, 1
Having warmed his hands over the fire
for some time in thoughtful silence, he at
length inquired. -
" Where is brother Jim, to-night?"
"He is spending the evening at Col
Grant's in C street."
"Jim used to live in C street himself.
In a fine house ; what Is be living in this
dox Tor?" Hasn't broke down, has he?"
"tie he has been unfortunate," said
Mary, with hesitation.
A long pause followed, which was broken
by Mary.
. " Will you lay off your cloak, Uncle ?"
"Uncle I" said he, with a start of sur
prise, and then eyeing her from head to
foot, added,
4i Are you a daughter of brother James?"
" No, sir ; but I am a daughter of your
otlier brother, Joseph, and my name is
Mary."
The sober, business aspect of uncle Ben's
face changed in a moment into a smile of
surprise and affection, as he exclaimed,
" Is this little Moll?" and jumping from
his chair he planted a kiss on her glowing
cheek, that echoed through the room like a
pcrcuusion cap,
" There 1" said he, " the last time I was
In P , just as I was leaving the clty.you
was in your mother's arms. I discharged
at yon just such a broadside as that, aud
then had to scud under bare poles before a
thundering squall I"
Though Mary felt the tears startino to
her eyes at this allusion to ber mother, yet
she could not help laughing heartily at her
uncle s broad humor.
" But how happens it that you are fitted
out iu such coarse rigging?" said he, again
eyeing her from top to toe. " I thougbt,at
Hist, you was the servant girl, and triod to
act with becoming dignity," he added, with
a luugii.
Alary knew not what to answer, snii.
thoreloro, wisely said nothing ; while unole
Ben, with a quick perception of her em
barrassment, relieved her bv startinir &
hundred other ingenious questions con
cerning the family history, by means of
wbicb he gained, without Mary's suspect
ing it, a pretty accurate knowledge of the
whole state of affairs. Tim iinaffitntAd
kindness, not to say tenderness, which
marked every look and tone of the rough
old sailor, indicated that Mary had found
In him a warm-hem tod ana invaluable
friend. To be concluded in two weeks.
Professional Cards.
JE. JCNKIN, Attonmy-at-I-ftW,
New Bloomneld, Perry co Pa-
J II I) Kill.
nuj tb ooor 10 tne residence uuuaee
.HI
AM. MARKET,. Attrney-at-l,aw,
New llloomnelri. 1'errv nnuntv. P.
-Onire with Chan. A. Harnett, Ksu.. Centre
Bquare, adjoining Mortimer's Btore,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PEKKYCO., PA.
-C!alm promptly secured and collected.
Writings and all legal business carefully attend
ed to. ' 82 yl
JAMES II. FERGUSON, Attorney at Law,
.... NEWPORT, PA.
-0(llce Market Street, near the Square. 88 6
CHARLES H. SMILEY, Attorney at Law.
New Bloomlleld, Perry Co. Pa.
. Office with C. A. Barnett. Esq., next door
to Mortimer's store August 20, 1872
TTTM. A. SPON8LER, Attorney-at-Law,
TV Oftlee adjoining his residence, on East
Main street, New Bloomlleld, Perry co., Pa. 8 2 ly
CHA8. A. BARNETT, Attorney-at-Law,
, ,. New Illoointleld, Perry oo., Pa.
VOfflce adjoining Mortimer' Store. 32 ly
JBAILY, Attorney at Law,
New Bloomlleld, PerryCo., Pa.
Office opposite the Court House, and twe
doors east of the Perry County Bank.
Reters to B. Mclutire, Esq. June 27, 1871.
JOHN G. 8HATTO, Surgeon Dentin. " ' "
New Bloomlleld, Perryeo., Ps.
All kinds of Mechanical aud Surgical Dentistry
done lu the best manner, and at reasonable
prices.
.Office at his residence, one door East of the
Robinson House, and opposite Wm. A. Sponsler's
Lawofllce. S21y
M. M. 8UTCH, "
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
New Bloomlleld, Perry CO., Pa.
WOmce Two doors West of F. Mortimer
Store 3 7 ly . ,
CIIAS. J. T, McINTIRK, Attorney-at-Law,
New Bloomlleld, Perryeo., Pa.
All professional business promptly anulalth-
TTTM. N. 8E1BERT, Attorney-at-Law,
T V . New Bloomlleld, Perry co Ta.
Bloomlleld, S 33 lv.
LEWIS POTTER, notabt public, New Bloom
field, PerryCo., Pa.
Deeds. Bonds. Mortsaees and Lease earefullv
prepared and acknowledgements taken. All
kinds of Pension and Bounty papers drawn and
certified, will also take depositions to be reed In
any court In the United States. 7101y
TTTM. A. IV
YY JUBTICl
COLLECTOR, 1
MORRISON.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE and GENERAL
ECTOR. NkwGehmantown. Perrvco.. Pa.
Remittances will he tnmlA lirnmntlv fnr fill
Collections made. 7 u
yiLLIAM M. 8UTCH,
Justice of the Peace,
AND GENERAL COLLECTOR,
New Bloomlleld, Perry County, Penn'a
M flneclal Attention nniri tn r'nlto.Hn. 11
kinds. Deeds, Bonds. Mortraees and Agreement
eatlyn executed.
7 16U
REAL 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 Tlzcu, George
Ickes and others, containing . ; .
91 -A. O H E 3 ,
of Red Slate land, about 75 Acres are cleared, and"
In a, high state of cultivation. The balance is
well set with timber.
The i Improvements are a good two story Los',
and Weatherboarded '
DWELLING . HOUSE,
T . nin 1 IT-r n . -r- --r
DAnjBw 15AUiy
TENANT HOUSE, CARRIAGE HOTSE; NEW
.i a. itvunii, VVIlnlAV
HOU PEN and WOO
ifl HOUSE.
hoTise ' SlS0 VVeU ' K00tl Bt"' " -ar the
aSU
vmnhte,XSaU,e Vl"ae 01 Mar
e ulH!!!Liri.nf t0 VurehMe a home, should
iirent Pro'"ty D(J'ore making a llual Invest-
ArJ.,iCS,?(,!urDfy.ment'J82'000 on the 1st of
April, 187i, t which time a deed will be delivered
andpoMwsslon given . The balance to be paid In
threeequal annual payments, with interest to be
secured by Judgment bonds. mieresi, to De
Call ou or address
JACOB KLINE,
Markleville, Perry co., Pa.,
LEWIS POTTER.
New Bloomlleld, Perry Co., Pa.
Mutual Fire Insurance Company,
OP
JoneHtovrn, Penn'a.
POLICIES PERPETUAL at Low Rates. No
Steam risks taken. This Iw one of the best
conducted and most reliable Companies In the
Seftlm,!I'nVrlUand,a'111 "a property at 16 00
LEWIS POTTER,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA.,
18 Agent for Perry County.
LOOK OUT!
I would respectively Inform my friends that I In
tend calling upon thm with a iumivii r.u,H
of my
OWN MANUFACTURE.
Consisting of
CA88IMER8.
OA88INET8,
FLANNELS, (Plaluandbar'd)
CARPETS, &o..
to exchange for wool or sell for cash. .
J. M. BIXLER.
Centhk Woolen Factoht. 6,17,4m
. m. oiuvm.
I. H. GlBVm
J M.GIUVIN fc SON,
CommlisMioD Merchants,
No. t, SPEAR'S WHARF,
Baltimore. MA.
-Ws will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of country produce, aud remit the amount
promptly. s aiy
Auctioneer. The undersigned eives
notice that he will cry sales at any point In Perry
or liauplu counties. Orders are solicited ana
prompt attention will be given.
E. D. WEI.I.R.
New Buffalo,
Perryeo. ,P
( ALL KI1
PRINTING executed
( TlMSS"S
ALL KINDS of Printing neatly
U Kb Iflf) mAMlHriJ!i.l
'Stkam Job Orma.