ljc tmc0, New EHoomficfo, JJou 2 The Doctor's Joke. 'rnUE OLD DOCTOR," was what X they called him. His mustache was gray, he was past forty-flvo, and, not being married, was considered solitary. It mattered little to him. The care of his patients mado him'uright and active. His profession was sufficient for his wants. He was the loved and respected physician for half the families in the place, and he never wanted for company and friendship. Why he never married had been the specu lation of the village. The subject was now threadbare, and they had ceased to talk of it. He saw much of female socioty, for ho was one of those fine rare natures that make ' brothers to girls.' His general good nature, and, above all, his ability to keep secrets, made him in deed the brother to all the girls in 'Wau chusetta. They came to hint with their little pains and ills, and their little heart breakings and love-sorrows. For one he had pills and advice ; for the other,' a ready ear, counsel, help and confidence. No wonder Sally Dopford came tearful and angry to him in her little difficulty with Sam Barett. A small rage made her the more attractive As the doctor heard her woeful tale, ho could hardly fail to study her face with ad miration. Being twenty .years his junior, rather pretty, reasonably well educated, sensible and quite ready for a joke at any time, she preferred the bright side of everything. Hence her present sorrow. She did not wish to bo ' bothered' as she expressed it, with a serious love affair. It was a trouble, vexation, an interference with her pleas ure, and " Well there ! It's entirely dreadful, and I don't want it, nor him.' Just as I was fairly out of school and preparing to have a splendid time with the girls, then this thing comes along, and I don't like it, " That is so, doctor. Is it not?" The doctor bad no immediate reply to make. lie would consider the case and her. ' i' There was something so attractive about her face, that it was no araallwondor that Sam Barett, the last beaux left in the vil lage, was desperately in love with her. She frowned. He was so slow. '' " " " Come, sir, parade your wisdom. : I can pay for your advice, and I want it." " Go to bed early, get up late, and sleep itoff.' , ' - : - ' " " ' "That's very good for him. Toll liim that, please. As lor me it does not help me a bit. There it stands. He will pur sue ma with attontioiiH. 1 I don't want1 '"Soubhim." '-'. " ' ""He's not smibable. Snubbing falls harmless ' on his good natured tempera ment." I tried It and it don't work. He took it like a lamb." :"' " 1 "Tell him you're bot at home." " 1 nen be leaves his card, and be says he will call again, and he is sure to do so." " Poor boy. ' He has it ' very bad this time." The symptoms aro alarming." ': "They are, doctor, they are, and I don't like it. It's a nuisance and bother, and besides that, I hate him.' There" Peel better, tny dear?" ' ' -'a "' " " Yes ; for I'm getting mad. I feel tike breaking things, and" ' '. " You do.i I Yon do it all the timo. Poor boy. I'm not ' surprised. Here you go about the place, being attractive as possi ble, and then you break all oar hearts, and cold us for jt.", , ... , ,,, , 4 , ," It's not my wit, I don't,, make my. . self." ' ' , " Well no not exactly.'? , ' " For heaven's sake, doctor, why don't you do something? Advise, me." , , " Get married.",) j,, ,, ;., V Doctor, yon are too hateful" . , , , t' I presume so ; doctors always are. But that's my advice ; get married; then be can no longer trouble you." . ... "Now, you're silly, doctor, and I shan't tell you any more. You don't care a straw for my troubles, after all, and -" , , Here she began to be teary, and threat - ened to have 'a " good cry." " My dear, ray advice is Dot so bad. You must admit that if you wero engaged he would leave you at ouce.". ,. " I suppose so." " Yes. Theu get married ; or, it you don't care to. go so far, arrange with some young snan to be engaged temporarily. Then your Sam , " He's not my Sam, thank lieaven 1" " Then your Sam will take uuto himself another wife, and when all' is seoure you .can, break your engagement, and all will be serene again." .- . , "What an absurd .ideal Jump iuto the water for the sake of escaping droweiing .1 fcifl you I don't want anybody's atten tion. It would te a dreadful trial tote .engaged at all, even in self-defense." "Rot if the other party would agree to Jjcep himself away aud leud a diamond ring 'far a while, and play the part of the .distant Intended."" ,'.. i.. ... ;i "I dut't knew, doctor ; it is a desperate sneasum. But it will be effectual.'' : "Ofoomne." '.!,' i x i t .'I'... "It wduUi be rather: amusing to go home jtjid buiHuo i that I . wits engaged. ; I should .liavetoteil) mother how it (tally tood, aud father would be, of ;coursi,'lt jnti the ifcift The rest need not kuow. Goodnww 1 what a scattering there would be, and how all the old ladies would talk." "You need not care. It would be easy to act your part, and in a fovr weeks all would be comfortably over and everything would be serene again." " I declare, doctor, the more I think of it, the more amusing It seems. It is very wicked, no doubt, but then the case is a hard one " ' " And demands beroio remedies.'.' " Precisely. Now the next atrip is to get up a good lover. I Bhall not expect much. Any straw man that s convenient will an- . i . swer. ISO you Know oi one, uuuwji good one ? He must be nice, and all that, or I couldn't endure It.""" """"' u Well no I cannot think of one just now. l ucre are none living near mav am available." " Doctor, I have an idea." " How startling ! Bring it . forth that I may admire it." "You be the lover." " All right, I'm willing." ' "Then we're engaged." " Yes for the present." "In fun, you know." "Oh, of course. Till Sam gets married. or you wish to break it." . "Where's the ring?" " Oh,. I have one up stairs an old one. I kuoDose that will answer to cover our little arrangement." " How splendid of you, doctor." " Now you must go. Old Sirs. Davis is comlnz with her neuralgia. Bhall I tell her?"--. "Tell her what?" , " Of the engagement." " Yes. Just hint it, aud before night the town will know it." And they did. How they snatched up the stray morsel of gossip and stirred it into their tea and their sugar. Fortunate circumstances. It soured on their stom. achs the news, not the tea. Even the sugar and good Bohca did not save them from exnrcssimr with beautiful freedom just what they thought about it. " Such an old goose to be taken in by that desitrninc Sally Depford. Tho minx ! The littlo contriving, artful " Such language. It is not pretty. His tory like this cannot stoop to report all that was said concerning the lost new engage ment.' , As for Sam Barett, he faded beau tifully away, and actually disappeared.- He suddenly found a tip-top chance for business, you know in New, York. Ought to go light on and fix it up. ,tlI,. ,. ., His parting with Sally was not particu larly affecting. She . wouldn't allow it. That curious, antique, diamond ring flash ed in his astonished eyes, and his affection melted softly away into nothing, like the cloud of. white steam under which be es caned in the 8:40 p. in. express. . The whis tle echoed, among the Wauchusetta bills, and the gentle Sally beard it without a sigh, ;,,',; ', y, . ,v.i ui- . ' -v. . . ; ; Some of the other girls could hardly for- give her for driving away , the only availa ble young man in the place, but they sooth ed their larceratcd. feelings with the sweet hope, that as the, summer vacation was near: at ; hand, anew, importation of city visitors from Boston, npd New York might make it gay again, ',and spread wide once mote the, matrimonial horizon. ,M( .. ,J: . The suddennoss and , complete success pf the victory rathor surprised the victor. She had ' succeeded beyond expectations. Now that it was all over, she would return the riug, and-p-well, no, perhaps jtbe might keep- it one mora nighU Cousin,. Mary Depford was coming to, spend the night and it would be rather amusing to .wear the ring a little longer, and let her into the secret. - She would return the ring in the morning. . ni i . ? -i i h Pleased with this unspoken plan,' she set the ring . firmer on her finger, and pre pared toreoeive hto eompauy. i ,-i , , : .Cousin Jary Depford was ebarmed with the Aug, and was profuse in her eongratu lationsv .',.'-,' ' !!-..!. j. -I .," It's all joke, you kuow, sear." , -; ... "A joke?! ,.' - ' - . "Yes. dear, a little well game, if I may so speak." ,-- ,-v . . Cousin Mary was properly shocked. In the retirement of their own room, she ex pressed her mind fully, and declared she would cot wear the ring another moment. It was a pretence and a shame to do such athing. ,, :, , ,, ., , . Sally was startkd, and plead the dread ful necessity of the caw, . , " He was such a bore, you, kuow, and really wiiat could I do? It was all iu fun. There's nothing serious. ' I mean to re turn the ring to-morrow." , , ,"i ,, , . " I wouldn't wear it another miuuta, if I were you,. SftUi Depford..' - , , , , ,, . Sally laughed and still retained the ring. Bhe would return it to-morrow. , She would near it one more night for it was, really, such a handsome ling. , . . The doctor iiehaved beautifully. lie ouly called opec, snd didn't even ask her to tide or walk. ; , , , . He, walks so fant, and, as for the old chaise you know how it creaks. . , .. . ; Jt was a very proper engagement.. liath ercool, perhaps. , What could you expect? Ho yas past forty, if a day, they said. J , 1 She did not return the ring the next day. It rained. She sent a not to the dootor by a friend the following day, asking him to cull for it He was away wouldn't be back until Monday. Of course she musk wear tho ring one more Sunday j and she did, in spite of cousin Mary Depford's re monstrance. 1 , : On Monday she carried the ring still on her finger to the doctor. Ho was just starting off on a professional tour when she came, and was so merry, and there was so many things to talk about, that she quite forgot the ring. Besides, there stood the widow Bigelow, in the next . yard, pretend ing to Jiang out her clean elothos on the line, and watching with both eyes. Oonsin Mary Depford was harassing. They had a little Sipat,' after the mannor of girls, aud made it up on the strength of a promise from Sally that she would cortainly return the ring to-morrow. On the morrow she started, ring on finger, to duly return it. . He was not at borne. She went again, just before tea- time. He was at tea, and pressed her to take supper with his good old housekeeper and himself. She hesitated a moment, then accepted. She could quietly hand hirn . the ring After supper, and in the meantime she might as well have a 'good time." . s The fine old house, the elegant dining room and the cosy table set for three, were charming. The doctor was a good talker, and cultivated and refined in his manners. She bad been obliged to bear much wretch ed r Kosslp for the last week . or two. It would be rather amusing to see just how she seemed to be engaged. She might as well have a good time, for it would soon be over. She would return the ring as soon as the housekeeper retired. ( The housekeep er did nothing of the kind.. . As soon as tea was, over she took her knitting, aud sat down by the open . window in the parlor, where she could sea everything that hap pened both in the house and in the garden. The doctor acted bis part to perfection. He was not too attentive to attract atten tion from the housekeeper, nor did he for got for a moment to be watchful of his guests happiness. ... ,. . . At 10:30 p. m. Sally returned to ber own room, looking wonderfully serene and hap py. Cousin Mary Depford was silent and watchful. , Presently she saw . something and said : , ,,!-. . . .. i . ..(' "Oh, Sally!" "Well, dear?" . t: . . i . ' "Where's the ring?" . i:' "Oh, my love ! , I quite forgot all about it ; I did, indeed. . I'll toko it right , back to-morrow,", .. . . . ( As for tho doctor, he sat , up half the night, pacing his room alone and in the dark. At midnight he was called to see some distant patient. He was glad to go. The cool ride through the solemn dark gave him a chance to think.- , The next day Sally boldly started for the doctor's to return the ring. He was not at home. Of course she could not leave it with the housekeeper. Besides, why should she take the trouble to carry it to him? It wag not hor place. He should ask fop it. .,.:,....,, ; ,i ; ' Cousin Mary fairly raged. , For .the first time Sally, was .really unhappy over the matter, and in a little passion she pulled off the ring and threw it in a drawer, , ,"I'll return it by mail,,. Mary, Now leave, me in peace." , , , .., There was no peace, .. Without a thought she walked up i alone jto the post office through the village streot to get the eve ning mail. It did seem as if the whole town were waiting for their letters,' ' It was too warm for gloves, and in her haste to get the letters she forgot the absent ring. Such a lifting of eyebrows and whisper ing. Flushed and angry ; with herself, she darted out of the letter office ouly to al most run into the doctor's arms. '" She hid her hands In the folds 6f her dress aud With a forced Wile bade bim good evening. He spoke pleasantly, smil ed and passed on. In a moment Sally heard his footsteps behind her' as she walk ed rapidly home. She would not tarn' nor speak to hlrri on the public road and ' that would make raatteis ten times worse. What wib she to do ? It was dreadful I How she wished she bad never touched the ring. '' ' ' i- To her surprise, he overtook ber, and quietly and firmly put her arm in his. For a moment she experienced a sense of unutterable relief ' and : satisfaction. She leaned upon bim for support, aud was grat ified as he seemed to draw her closer... How good in him to come to her rescue. . ' ' The curtain has not been rung down yet, Miss Depfoid." , "i.'.,. The curtain I. Oh, he was ouly carrying ont the joke. With a forced laugh she took the bint, and in a moment was as merry and chatty as ever. Once the doe tor looked at her in a questioning way, and ouce he was silent for a whole minute. . , They walked arm in arm up the village street, and at the sight half the town was dumb, with astouishmc nt, and the other half whispered the dreadful news about the misting ring. ..-,; .(..,. ,, . Little did they care. . They walktd on and on, and almost before Bally was aware of it they arrived at the doctor's gate. The doctor opened the wicket, and with a smile held it wide open for her to enter. - . She paused. - Was it right? Was she not carrying the joke aliogelher too far? The blood mounted to her temples, aud she was silent. . . " Will you not come in, Miss Depford, and make us a little call ?" " No I thank you. Not now." She put out her hand to sustain herself, and laid her ungloved fingers on the top of tho gate post, She felt ready to faint with mortification, shame and disappointment. This was the end. It was only a joke a pretence and "Miss Dopford," said the doctor, in a low voice, " where is my ring ? She snatched hor hand away, and, hiding it in ber dress, turned away to hide her facfl. . i i i , ' f . , "Pardon me, doctor, pardon nie;I am much to blame. I didn't mean any harm, and I hated hated '? " Hated whom ?" '"That Bam Barett aud I was ' so glad to escape from him, that I am afraid I've done very wrong very wrong indoed." "How so?" " In carrying out this, dreadful joke, as you call it. I am well punished for my folly. I took the ling off bocauso I must return it to youw" " But 8ally I do not wish you to re turn it" v She turned around amazed. What did he mean ? One glanoe was sufficient. " Come In please my love." - . She took his arm without a word, and they walked slowly up the graveled path toward the old mansion. The housekeep er came out and bade them welcome in a grand and impressive manner. The criok ets began to chirp in the grass. Tho air seemed laden with the perfume of summer flowers. The ancient ivy seemed to even vaguely hint of autumn, as it hung in mo tionless festoons from the - walls. There was a sober air about the place, far differ ent from her childhood's home. The doc tor offered hor an arm chair on the wide piazza. : How courtly and dignified bis manners His hair was gray with honorable toil. He loaned over her and whispered : " It is an old-fashioned place, and I am Buch an ancient, solitary " ' " Hush 1 please." she quickly said, and the doctor was sharp enough to soe the real state of the case. I may, therefore, as well close my story, by saying that the engage ment was no longer a joke, but a act which neither party ever bad oocasiou to regrot ' " ; 1 Plcnse Dont. ' 'Don't tell the little one, who may be slightly willful, that "tho black man will come out of the dark cellar and carry it eft if it does not mind." Don't create a need less foar to go with the child through all the stages of its existence. " ' ' - Don't tell tho little five-year old Jimmy "the school ma'am will cut off bis ears." "pull out his teoth" "tie bim up" or any of ' the horrible stories that are com. monly presented to the childish imagina tion. ' Think you the little one will believe anything you tell him after he becomes ac quainted with the gentle teacher who has not the least idea of putting those terrible threats into execution ? . ;."," '. Don't tell them they must not eat sugar or' sweetmeats,, because it will rot their teeth. " Pure sugar does not cause the teeth to decay ; and sugar with fruits is nutri tious and ' healthy, notwithstanding the "old saw" to the contrary. The cose of city children is often cited as if the cause of their pale faces and slight constitution were an over amount of sweetmeats with their diet, when the actnal cause Is want of pure air and proper exorcise. : Don't tell the sick one that the medicine is not bad to take, when you can hardly keep yonr own stomach from turning "in side out" at the smell of it. Better by far to tell him the simple truth, that it is dis agreeable, hut necessary for his health, and yoti desire him to take it nt once. Ten to one he will swallow it with half the trouble of ' coaxing and worry "of ' words, and love you better for your firm, decided manner. Don't teaeh the children by example to tell white lies to each -cither and to their neighbors.' Guard lips and bridle your tongue, if. you desire to. have the coining generation truthful. Truthfulness is one of the foundation stones of heaven. He member tbe old Book says, "no liar" shall enter within the gates of the beautiful city. There is no distinction between white lies aud those of a darker hue. The falsehood is an untruth, whether the -matter be great or small.. . ' Mistakes Mill Happen. A rich landholder of La Beauce arrived with his wifa and two daughters at Uie Grand Hotel in Paris the other day. '. Room No. 117 was assigned to the father and mother, aud No 110 to the young ladies who retired about 11 o, clock ou tbe evening of their arival. After, they had gone to bed the elder of the girls left her room, wishing to get mote air. , The ball was lit, but she bad uo candle. She returned after a few minutes rather sleepy aud jumped quickly into bed. "I am frozen," she suld to her sister, "warm me up." With pleasure," responded a bass voice. The young girl gave a shriek and bounded from the room, . She had entered No, 121, having mistaken it for her own room, No. 110. For the next eight dnys she did not dare to leave ber apartment. Finally, ven turing to go down to tbe table d'hote, she found herself placed by the side of a milita ry gentleman of distinguished appearance. The jolut was brought aad our heroine auked her neighbor, the officer, to pass the suit. " With pleasure," answered the voice she had heard in her night adventure, and slio fainted uwny. , Ilur marriage to the officer will Bonn take place. Troressioual Cards. JE. JUNKIN. Attornny-at Iaw. Nw Hlomnlleld, Ferry eo.. Pa. Odlce Next dtior to the residence of Judge Jmikln. 4;'lt AM. MAKKET., Attnrnpy-Rt-Law, New BliMimlleld, Ferry county, Ta. -Omce with Clian. A. BarneU, Esw., Ceutre Square, adjoining Mortimer's Store. JEWIS POTTER, A I AO KN Ex AT IjAAY, ' NEW JJLOOMFIELD, FERRY CO., FA. . -Clalms promptly secured and colleotnd. WrltlnKsand all Ipizul IhiiIiirm carefully aitnlHl. ed to. 32 yl JAME8 It. FEKQUSON, Attorney-at-I.sw, . . JNKWFOUT. FA. WOnice Market Street, near the Square. 36 6 PIHARLES II. SMILEY, Attornov nt, T.nw. New Bloomlleld, Ferry Co. Pa. VOIllce with O. A. Rurnntt Esq., next door August 20, 1872 to Mortimer's store TTM. A. BPONSLEK, Attorney-at-Law, TV Ofllce adjoining: his residence, on East Main street. New Hloomneld, Ferry eo., Fa. 3 2 ly CUA8. A. BARNETT, Attorney.at-I.RW, New Hloomneld, Ferry co., Pa. JuOmce ad'sining Moitiaier' Store. 3 2 ly JBAILY, Attorney at Law, New Woomneld,PerryCo.,Fa. Office opposite the Court House, and two doors east of the Ferry County Bank. Refers to B. Mclutire, Esq. June 27, 1871. JOHN Q. 8HATTO, Burton Dentist. . NewBloomtleld,Ferryco.,Pa. All kinds of Mechanical and Surgical Dentistry done in the heat manner, and at reasonable prices. ,omce at his residence, one door East of the Robinson House, and opposite Wm. A. Sponsler's Law ofllce. 8 21y "1T7"M. M. 8UTCII, ATTORNEY-AT-I.AW, New Bloomheld. Pprrvco.. Pa. -OfHc Two doors West ol Ji". Mortimer Store 37 ly CHAS. J. T, McINTITtE, Attorney-at-Law, New Hloomneld, Ferry oo., Pa. W A 11 professional business promptly audi alth fully attended to. 3 2 lv. WM. M. 8E1BERT, Attorney-at-Law, New Bloomueld, Ferry co., Ta. Bloomlleld,8 33lT. f EWIS POTTER, jiOTABT public. New Bloom. Jk -A I field. Perry Co.. Fa. Deeds. Bonds. Mori caires and Leases carefully Erepared and acknowledgements taken. All Iiuis of Pension and Bounty papers drawn and certilled, will also take depositions to bo rer.d In any court In the United States. 7 10 ly "TTTM. A. MORItlSOTf, VV JUSTICE OF TH E PEACE and GENERAL. COLLECTOR, NbwOkkmantown, Perry co.. Fa. Remittances will be made promptly tor all Collections made. 7 H -yy-IL,l,IAM M. 8UTCII, Justice of (ho Peace, AND GENERAL COLLECTOR, New Bloomfleld, Perry County, Penn'a Special attention paid to Collections of all kinds. Deeds, Boiids.MortKaKes and AKreements eatlyn executed. 7 lot! HEAL ESTATE At Private Sale. . The undersigned will sell at private sale his val uable farm situate in Juniata township. Ferry co.. Fa., adjoining lands of George Tlzell, George Ickes aud others, containing , .... 91; -A. OR'ES ,; of Red Slate land, about 7fi Acres are cleared, and In a high state of cultivation. Tho balance Is well set with timber. . , . . ' The improvements are a good two story Log and Weatherboarded DWELLING HOUSE, LARGE BANK BARN, TENANT HOUSE, CARRIAGE HOUSE, NEW . 1IOG FEN aud WOOD HOUSE. There Is also a Well ot good water near the bouse. There are also TWO GOOD APPLE ORCH ARDS on this farm, with a variety of other fruit trees. This proiei ty Is near the village of Markle vllle in a good neighborhood. Any person desiring to purchase a home, should see tills property before making a ttual invest ment. , Price $5,000 1 payments, 12.000 on the 1st of Adi 11. 1871. at which time a deed will b delivered. and possession given . The balance to be paid lu three equal annual payments, with Interest, to be icureu uy juugiueut our. M-Call on or address JACOB KLINE. Marklevllle, l'erry co.. Pa., OK LEWIS POTTER. " New Bloomtleld, Ferry eo.. Pa. 2tf LEB A1NTON Jliitnal Fire Insurance Company, ' "' "'! of "' '" " ' ; '' '. JoneNtown, Ponit'an POLICIES PERPETUAL at Low Rates. No Steam risks taken. This in one ot the best conducted and most reliable Companies in the State. Country proerty Insured Perpetually stM 00 per thousand, and Town property att& 00 per thousand. LEWIS POTTER, NEW BLOOME1ELD, PA., 4 16 Agent for Ferry County. .LOOK OUT I I would respectively Inform my friends that I In tend calling upon Hum with a (apply of good, of my OWN MANUFACTURE. ' '' Conslstingot 1 CAS8IMER8, 0A8S1NET8, FLANNELS, Flanandbar'ax UAUI'liiTH, VO., toexchange for wool or sell for cash. J. M. BIXI.Elt. CBNTBBVi'OOl.in FiCTOliY. 6,17,4m . m. eiHviM. , j. h. ttiavm J M.QIUVIN & SON, CommlinDloii Slerchants, , No. , SPEAR'S WHARF, lUllluiore, M 1 . .We will pay strict attention to the sale of all promptly. j .,..'. , ... , , Mly Auctioneer. The undersigned g'ves notice that he will cry sales t any point In Ferry or Daupiu common. Onleis are tvlivlied and' prompt ulteutlou will be given. " IS. D. WKLLS, , . New Huffs lo. i Ferry co,, Ps. AFPLK-PAHKUH and Dour Bells In new styles, call L bought ol V. MORTIMER.