IN TI1K DARK. I wouldn't liave been llo'oinson Cru coe, not for five hundred n year and no slack. It's nil worry well being your own foremnu mid master, nnd so on, but (lien such n life to my mind's like a well-flagged deal-board just ready fur ilour:rj. You'vo been over it, nnd touched it well down with your j-.ick-)!atic, and iinished off with your tiying. plane, nnd there it is or ought to be if it ain't scamped just liko a bit o Fiitiu, ovcry knot just like n smooth brown eye, nnd every bit o' grain itand inz out as if polished ; but then turn it over, and it's all a rough and shaggy, anJ splintery ns can bo. It's all werry well being master and gaugcr, but then you has to be journeyman and laborer into the bargain. But that ain't it so much, for 1 wouldn't give a clout nail, let alone tuppence, for a feller ns can't turn his hand to anything in a push; it's the loncFomcncss of the tiling. 1 expect it's not liking to be alone made me pet married ; uuJ must, say that now there's an old bird nt homo, nnd five little fines in the nest, 1 ain't wtrry Inucsomc there. How tlicy do open their precious young beaks, end what sight o' tuff it does tako al'orc you can persuade 'cm to shut again ! But I ain't grumhliug about that, mind, nnd I hope 1 never shall. However, as I said afore, I don't like being alone, for it puts me in miud of a werry lonely time; but I do like having a mate come iu for an hour's chnt, and join me over a pipe and a pint of Lalf-aud half iu a quiet, sociable manner, same as you have to-night, Dick t'mith. That's a good trying-plane of yours the one you had in the chop to day but I never did see, and dou't suppose I ever shall sec, such a tool a3 one I lost about four years ago least ways I didn't lose it, for I sold it ; but it was a loss, for all that, Fine sound bit o' beech as ever you saw ; while as to the iron, there was never a bettor bar o' suft" came out o' Sheffield. Just show it the ilo.stand now and then, and knock it up to the right sot, and then whish ! whish ! the shavings would seem to run off a board as fine, and thin, and soft as as well ns shavings, you know. I sold that plane for two (drillings, nnd the nest week I'd have given five to get it lack, but was gone again, and I've never set eyes on it siucc. You see, nothing looks worse than for a man to be parting with his tools ; nnd when you sec a fellow doing of it, he's cither one as isn't worth his salt, or clso he's werry hard drove. Now I suppose I do make my salt, mostliugs, or else I shouldn't have been two years in this shop ; but about the time I told you of, 1 was going to part with one o' my tools, so you may sup. pose that I was hard drove. Tt don't matter where it was, but it worn't a hundred miles from Gray's Inn Lane; and, after being out sis. weeks, I was took on, and got my order to bo off with a lot more down iuto Survey, where there was a cottage army, as they calls it, a building. I slips off out p' the yard, ready to bust with the good news, and I was at the bottom o the lane aud across IIol born in no time ; and in less than that I was down to court where wo lodged, and up two pairs o' stairs, and into the room before my wife bad timo to bide what she was doing of. " Hooray, mother!" I says, "took on!" and then I stops short; for though I would not let her think I knew she bad been having a good cry, it all at once struck me that I should bo setting nor ou again ; lor i d engaged to go down iuto the country for a month cer tain, and I should have to leave her be. hind so I stops short. " 0 fatter 1" she says, " I am thank nil ; for I don't know what could have gone next. We had, somehow, then got into the way o callin ourselves ' Mother nnd " l-ather"; and so she said she didn't know what could have gone next ; and I'm sure I couldn't have told her, fur a many of our things had gone about that timo ; for what with no work, and a long spell or two o' sickness, we had to make a good many visits to a certain remtive, as I'm sure every honest, bard working man bates the worry name of. And now that I ain't speaking fair, for I said we had to make a good many visits ; but it warn't wo, for I'm blest if I wasn't such a coward myself that I daren't go.butstopped sneaking at home, and let the wife go instead, which worn't at all manly, i-ays you ; no more it worn't. Howsomevcr, when she said that, I knew that something must go; aud I felt so light-hearted with the idea o' that work that I mado up my mind to 0 myself, and wrapping my old favor, ite piano up in a rod handkerchcr, I slips out iuto Fetter Lane and sold the plane tor two shillings. I was hard to work to comfort the wifo when she knew that she was going to be left alone; for " O, Tom," she ays, "the poverty's hard enough to bear without having to bo cparatcd." But I promised her that I'd take a lodg ing, and got her down with mo as soon as I found tho work likely to last ; but ext nittjning at breakfast I saw more than one tear drip into her teacup. But it was a bright morning, and I'd been doing all I could to cheer her up ; for I wasn't going to start till nine ; so I gave young Tom a treat washed his bead for him, and rubbed on the soap till bis little nob was all white. " Now bloosh, faryer," he says ; and I slooshed him, and never got the soap ouce io his eyes, nor yet up his nose, Which Wasn't Mirm-iKinc seeing what a little chap he was then, and no nose at u io spm or. Well, nt last I had my tool basket ready, and a hammer through the han. dies to swing it over my shoulder. There were three cloun aprons inside, and some odds and ends I should want ; and then there was nothing else to do but say gnod-by. But there, I won't tell you about it, for she took on a great deal, ns it was the first time I had been away from her. " You will write, Tom ?" says she. " Why, of course," I says. " And I've put four sheets nnd some envelopes in," she says, " so that you needn't write on the back of tho sand paper with yourjpencil, for it's so hard to make out." And then, after five minutes' silence, I bolted out, and wouldn't look behind till I was out of the court. Why, of course, I was soTy to leave her behind ; and I went along with my heart feeling as heavy as a lump of lead, and everybody I met looking dim aud weary, which I should think mu-st have beer, indigestion, or something of that kind; but it soun wont off, and the clear sunshiny morning seemed to brighten one up, till I felt so hearty and cheery that I was ashamed of myself, for I felt ns though 1 ought to be mis. erablo, like 1 kuew the wife was at hiimo. But there we were, several of us along with carts full of scaffold. poles and material, and beforo loug we were out in the open country. Out in the open country God bless it 1 with tho birds twittering in the trees and hedgjs; tho bluo sky over head, with now and then a light cloud slowly sailing across; the soft wind smelling that delicious, that wo opened our mouths aud drew iu great long breaths, as though wo should never be tired. There were flowers everywhere lilac, laburnum, nnd may ; orchards full of pmkey applo blossom ; whilo as to the green ot tlio holds in the golden sunshine, ah ! it was a sight to men who had been cooped up in close London courts, without knowing where tho next day's bread was to come from ! Out in the open country, with fresh beauties at every turn. Why, wo were liko so many boys, running by the carts, larking, shouting, and making regular fools of ourselves, winch must, of course, been owing to tho light, free air. I've heerd talk of prisoners, and sick men, and their delight at being out once more, but they could not have felt bnppicr than wo did, out in the open country, on tuat bright Jlay day. Lvery now and then, though, some thing dull would keep coming over me, and I wasn't sorry when it did ; for what business had I to be so happy and chcvrlul, knowing how miserable 1 had left some one at home ? But so it was ; and the bit o blackness wore off, and was as lively as the best of them five minutes after ; for, mind you, it isn't money as can give the real gladness of heart. Well, we got down to the place, and the work went on merrily. The foreman was a good fellow, and made me one or two little advances ; and as there seem, ed to me to be work for a good three or four months, I began to look out for a little place where I could bring some one down to ; and a comfortable lodging I soon found, made all my little ar rangements, and sent a letter up with a post-office order inside, so that some one and the two little oucs could come down comfortable the next day but one. Every one, I dare say has his own fancies ; and I don't mind telling you one o' mine. I don't know any one thing so satisfactory as diiviujjr a nail home. You make a small hole witli your bradawl ; iu goes your nail ; and then tapping gently at first, you go on Dy degrees until tuo ncad gets nearer aud nearer, aud at last is driven right into the sol t deal board. Not much in it 1 says you. Perhaps not to your way ot thinking ; but every man to his trade, and, you may depend upon it, in every trade there's a similar way of thinking. I've seen blacksmiths laugh as they pegged away at their iron the old cobblers grin as they drew tho wax. end tight ; the painters wag their heads as they laid on the flatting ; and soniuthing o' the same kind in ino: trades; fur a fellow would not be much of a workman if ho did not love his own crait. icii, i was uusy driving nails in n piece o' boauliug, thinking all tho time about the missus coming down, when I makes a false stroke, hit the nail on ono side, and it flew up and caught me in the right eye. Talk about agony ! No one knows what I suffered, for in a short time the inflammation spread from one eye to tho other, and I was quite blind, so that 1 had to be led home to my lodging. Perhaps you know what a bit o' dust, or a lash, or anything o' that kind is iu your eye ; you know tho pain and wor rying it gives you ; so you can think what 1 suffered a great, tall, stout fal low as I lay turning about with tho sweat dropping off mo. Doctor came and did all ho could. Next day came, and tho pain seemed easier. Next day after that came, nnd a letter saying my wife would uot bo there for another day, and some one had to read it for me, for everything was black as night; and at last, worn out with pain and louesomencss, and the horrid fear that I was to be a blind, helpless man, I turned over upon my face, and sobbed there till the pillow was quite wet Yes, I know it wag the act of a child ; but I felt ono then, as I thought of the bright light of God's sunshine gone from me forever; that I should gaze no more upon tho loving face of my own wife, and that the merry, bright eyes of my little ones would sparklo for me no more. That I should henceforth grope about in tho dark, socking like that sorcerer in the Testament, for some one to lead mo by the hand. That I, the great man of bono nnd muscle, should be in a moment stricken down helpless, to be henceforth a burden to my poor wile, and wo poor people. It was the act of a child. I know; for, with an exceeding bitter cry, I lay there and sobbed miserably, while every tear smarted and burned like melted lead running over my eyeballs. O, yes, it was the act of o child, and I know I was now ns helpless as the weakest. How I lay and thought of poor blind Samson, nnd pitied him ! How I called to mind those with sightless eyeballs whom I had often passed by uncaringly and how I thought and thought what could I do for my bread in the long, long night that now seemed to be my future. " In the dark ! in the dark 1 " I kept on groaning to myself as I lay ; nnd then the thought came to me of other blessings which never seemed blessings before, for being mostlings short o' mo ney, I always thought myself hard used, and growled more than I need have one. An at last of all thinking nnd suffering, my head seemed to get hot, and I turned delirious half mad, you know nnd went on terribly, I suppose, till two days after, when I seemed to wake up in tho dark, and lay still, think ing and wondering where I was, till I heard a noise as of some one moaning, and I calls out, " Who's there ?" I knew who it was directly, fori just heard tho ono word, ' Tom," sobbed out, and then there was an arm under my head, and tears falling upon my poor sightless face, nnd such tender, hopeful words whispering to mo, ns made my heart swell and beat ; and I felt that como what might como sickness, come sorrow, blind, or able to see I had some one to lean on, and lead me by the hand. We were werry quiet then, and I lay on my side trying to look through the black darkness at that dear old face that 1 could feel close by me as some ono kneeled down by the bedside ; bv no, J could not see it with my evts, though I could with my heart. And then she stopped sobbing, and talked of hoping for tho best, nnd of how tho eyes of the blind had been opened, and and that perhaps my affliction might, by His help yet bo removed. And so we talked and talked and, and she said that wc would sorrow no more aoout it, and then how much 6he could get by needlework, and nil on so hopefully, that I seemed to brighton un ; but on ly for a few moments, for I knew what a dead, helpless burden I should be. And then she must have seen my face working, and poor lass ! she broke down herself, when I said she had better been left a widder. At last, in the quiet o' that little room, not a sound to bo Ucaid Imt the twittering o' the birds outside the win dow, I said in better hope, some wotdi with her,. as she knelt by me, but we got no turther than " Thy will bo done." Dick Smith, I never knowed how much love, and tendernes, and gentle ness there was in the world till I groped around i i the dark. I'd been bitter, as many a disappointed workingman, and railed at my betters ; but now, in the midst of my trouble, I learnt that I had walked all my life in the dark, stumb. ling about, and not seeing tho blessings that were spread around mo. We never knew want during that dark month which we spent in that pleasant coun try place, where my wife led ino about amongst the sweet spring flowers, while everybody had a kind and lovinz word for me. The governor allowed me half wages, and somebody did needlework, and they used to pay her double and treble ; and Bend me all sorts o' things, so that were well off. Then the doctor came every day, and told me I wasn't to fret about it, for he hoped I should gat my sight yet. One day I sat trcmbliug in my chair, with tho doctor operating not tremb ling nt the pain, but for fear he had been deceived; somebody stood there, too, holding my hands, for she had got leave tobe present. All at once there was a bright flash of light, and then I felt my head swim, and I fainted dead away, for I could not stand up against the swelling joy that burst upon ino. As keen a pair of eyes, as ready a pair of hands, and as willing and hopeful a heart as 1 hope aro to bo round in any workshop in England, Dick Smith ; and I m a humble aud thankful man for it But the Lord bless you, I has my fits of ill-temper wheu things goes three cornered; nnd then Patty comes and whispers God save her in my car, when the sun shines ngaiu, and 1 thiuk of old times before my accident, and say to ner " Eyes shut, Patty. I was in the dark! " Senator Fessenden is sick with va rioloid. n i mi i .. uencrai j. nomas ana lamily are rusticating at Lookout Mountain. Clement C. Clay was released from rortrcss JMonroo. Sir. Joceph Coltart. for morn than forty years a business man of Pittsburgh, died on the 19th ultimo. Mrs. Horace Greely and daughter, and Mrs. II. E. Johnsou, nee Harriet Lane, are visiting Havana. Hon. Charles Shaw, Mayor of Bidde. ford, Maine, has been appointed Com. niiraioner to the Paris Exposition. IThen is Echo like a visiting ac quaintance? W hen ehe roturns your call. D It U 0 STORE BORDWELL & MESSENGER, DEALERS IN DRUGS, MEDICINES, LAMP OIL, IMINTS, LEAD, LUBRICATING OIL, TANNER'S OIL, PERFUMERIES, VARNISH, BRUSHES, DYE-STUFFS, CONFECTIONERIES, RAISINS, CITRON WATCHES, JJEWELRY, FANCY ARTICLES, ALBUMS, STATIONERY, "NEWS VIOLIN STRINGS, BIRD-CAGES, TOBACCO & SEGARS, PURE LIQUORS, FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, ONLY, INSTRUMENTS &, IMPLEMENTS PERTAINING TO THE DRUG BUSINESS GENERALLY. BORDWELL & MESSENGER, RIDGWAY, PA. FOUTZ'8 CILlDBlltD House anil Cattle Fowta. This preparation, long and farorably known, will thor oughly rcinrlgorate broken-down and low-Bplrltcd hone, by strengthening and cleansing tlx etomaca and Inter tinea. It lj a tore pro Tentlve of all dls e&sea incident tn thl animal, inch aa LUNO rt.Vi.tt, iiibbun nA TER. HEAVES, COUGHS, DIS TEMPER, FE VERS, FOUNDER LOSS OF APPE TITE AND VITAL ENERGY, 4c. Iu use improve! tba wind, Increase the appetite-give a imootn and gloijy akin and transforms t h miserable skeleton horse. into a fine-looking and spirited To keepers of Cows this nrenaratlnit u iinM It increases the quantity and improves the qnality oi ui miiK. it naa been nroven bv ac tual experiment to increase ma quan tity ef milk and eream twenty per cent, and make Ino batter firm and sweet. In fattening cattle, it gives uiem an appetite, loosens a toeir mat, ana i makes them thrive much taster. In all diseases ot Swine, such as Coughs, TJloen la the Lungs, Liver, Jsc, this articlo acts as a specific. By putting from one-half a paper to a paper in a barrel of swill the above diseases Will be eradicated or entirely prevented. If given in time, a certain preventive and cure for the Hog Cholera. Price it Cents per Paper, or 6 Papers for 9JL ar FBEPARED ST S. A. FOUTZ &c urto., AT THEIR WHOLESALE DBl'Q AND MEDICINE DEPOT, No. 118 Franklin St., Baltimore, Md. For Sale by Druggists and Storekeeper! through out the United Btatca. Sold nt Manufactures prices, by Bordwell & Messenger Ridgway, Agents for Elk county. AGENTS WANTED TO TAKE ORDERS for tho best Belling book now publish ed. Thrilling Stories of the Great Rebellion. Comprising heroic adventures and hair breadth escapes of Soldiers, Scouts, Spies and Refugees ; daring exploits of Smug piers, Guerillas, Desperadoes and others ; Tales of Loyal and Disloyal women : Sto ries of the Negro, &c, with incidents of Fun and Merriment in Camp and Field. By Lieutenant Colonel S. Greeno, lato of the United States Army. Handsomely il. lustrated with engravings on steel and in oil colors. Send, for circulars and see the liberal terms offered. CIIAS. S. GREENE & CO., Publishers No. 134 S. Third St., Philadelphia. IXECUTORS NOTICE. WHEREAS, U Letters Testamentary upon the Estate of Daniel Hewitt, lute of Jay township, Elk county dee'd, have been granted to the undersigned. All persons indebted to the said estate, are requested to make immedi ate payment, and those having claims against the same, will preseut them duly authenticated for settlement WM. B. nEWITT, JOSIAH W. MEAD, ipri3'666t-pd. Eivoutori 1 . V NEW ARRANGEMENT! TREMENDOUS RUSH TO THE NEW STORE OP FREDERICK SCIKENING, CENTREVILLE, ELK CO., PA. NEW GOODS daily arriving THE PEOPLE AWAKE TO THEIR INTEREST! As manifested by the daily throng of cus tomers exchanging "GREEN BACKS" for goods. All the Domestic Cotton .Goods are high. Customers one and all exclaim HOW CHEAP YOUR DRESS GOODS ARE My stock consists of DRY GOODS, GROCERIES, HATS &, CAPS, BOOTS & SHOES, CLOTHING, CROCKERY, TIN WARE HARD WARE, OILS J- PAINTS, PUTTY, NAILS, GLASS, WOODEN WARE, PORK, FLOUR, FISH, SALT. It is useless for me to attempt, to give a full list of the stock, but invite one and all, to drop in and see for themselves. BUTTER, EGGS, TOTATOES, GRAIN, HIDES, CALFSKINS and all country produoe taken at market price, for goods. FREDERICK SCHOSNING, Centretilie, Jims lit'65-ly. J iggJB AWTFnTiTrTllTnTf .1 41 V J J JV Is kept up by the DAILY ARRIVAL OF NEW GOODS AT FREDERICK RUDOLPH'S Cheap Cash Store, Where he has on hand and for sale MEN & BOY'S CLOTHING, DRY GOODS, LADIES & GENTS FURNISHIG GOODS, LADIES DRESS GOODS, LADIES At CENTS' SHAWLS, SONTAGS, BREAKFAST SHAWLS, NUBIAS, COMFORTERS, SCARFS, HOODS &c. ALSO HATS & CAPS, BOOTS & SHOES, A very large and well selected STOCK of the best made, and warranted in every respect ALSO GROCERIES, COFFEE, SUGAR, TEA, RICE, FLOUR, SALT, TORK, FISH 4c. ALSO CONFECTIONARY AND YANKEE NOTIONS IN GREAT QUANTITIES AND QUALITIES TOBACCO AND SEOARS OF THE BEST QUALITY; JBtiyl say, to one and all, that my stock is full and complete, and will be gold i small profits. Give me a call before purchasing c!ge where. FREDERICK RUDOLPH! St. Mary's, Not. 25'66-ly.
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