VOL. XII.
NEW BLOOMFIELD, !Pl., TUESDAY, JA-lSTtTimY 2, 1878.
NO. 4.
THE TIMES.
Ad Independent Family Newspaper,
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THE BABY SOLDIER.
Another little private
Mustered In
The army of temptation
And of sin.
Another soldier arming
For the strife, .
To fight the toilsome battles
For a life.
Another little sentry
Who will stand
On guard while evils prowl
On every hand.
Lord, our little darling
Guard and save
'Mid the perils of the march
To the grave.
THE JUDGE'S STORY.
" HUT, JUDGE, you never told me
.D why you did not marry Miss
Van Horn. We all thought that matter
was settled, but suddenly we were sur
prised by the news that you married a
stranger in the city, and Helen Van
Horn was left desolate. I wonder what
has become of her V She must have
married well, however ; she had a fine
chance to choose, for there was scarcely
a good match in the city that was not at
her command at one time."
"Yes, yes," answered the gentleman
addressed Judge Hume, a distinguish
ed, handsome, intelligent-looking man
of about 45 years of age ; a successful
lawyer, who had some years before been
raised to the judicial bench almost by
acclamation " no woman could have
married better than Helen Van Horn.
Why I did not marry her is a short,
simple story, nor without a moral ; and
I will tell if you care to hear it. I have
never told it before, even to my wife,
ludicrous as some of its phases are. Ho
take a cigar you will find it a good one
and hear how, possibly, Helen Van
Horn is not Mrs. Hume to-day.
" You knew her father," began the
judge, and remember that he was reput
ed to be very rich. However, it turned
out upon his death, and after his debts
were paid, that there was left a mere
pittance for Helen, obliging her, the
petted child of fortune, to live with ex
treme economy ever since."
" Do you mean'to say that she has
never married V" asked the guest.
"Married!" repeated: "no Indeed!
and in that may be seen the moral of
my story to which I referred. But do
not let us anticipate ; let us begin at the
beginning.
" One evening, going to fulfill au en
gagement with Miss Van Horn, as the
servant ushered me unannounced into
the parlor, I found her engaged In con
versation with a singularly handsome
young man, who I saw at a glance,
might readily become a formidable rival,
and I felt for the first instant a sharp
pang of that unainiable, disconcerting
passion, jealousy. But as my entrance
had been unobserved, I was able to re
cover myself before saying In my bland
est manner, "Good evening." The
gentleman started, and stiffly returned
my bow. As for Helen, with suffused
cheeks she said :
' Why, Mr. Hume, I did not hear you
at all ; you are absolutely as gentle as a
lamb.'
" Somew hat augry at her satirical
tone, I observed she was engaged In con
versation, and probably did not hear me
enter, and added that I had called to at
tend her to the gallery to see the pic
ture she was so anxious about.
44 4 But really, Mr. Hume," him said
somewhat confusedly, looking from the
stranger to me, 1 1 had entirely forgot
ten all about it, and so promised Mr.
Churchill here to accompany him to see
Richelieu to-night.' (
" I glanced toward the stranger and
he returned the glance with a slight
frown upon his face. Miss Van Horn
continued, ' But oh ! I beg your pardon,
gentlemen ; I had forgotten you were
not acquainted with each other. Mr.
Churchill, of Richmond,' aud carelessly
fell back into the chair, from which she
had half risen for the moment.,
" I am sorry Miss Van Horn has so
treacherous a memory ; but I hope Mr.
Churchill with your approval can be
prevailed upon to defer his engagement,
for I assure you the picture is a rare
gem, and well worth seeing." I persist
ed in this because I had become slightly
roused by the indolent way of receiving
the homage paid her, and there seemed
to be a gleam of triumph in the face of
my rival. . '. . ,.
"The young man looked at me grave
ly, then silently turned to Miss Van
Horn for some expression of her wishes.
He was evidently very much displeased
at my interruption of their tete-a-tete,
and was sufficiently interested in the
lady to be seriously ruffled by my rival
ry ; he was not altogether pleased with
the fact that she seemed so careless with
respect to her engagements, which did
not accord with his standard of women.
He was a well-educated youug man, of
good fortune, accustomed to be well re
ceived by women, and yet as he after
wards told me he could not help for the
moment some apprehension that the
lady's choice for the evening might go
against him, for you know I was called
quite a lady's man In those days.
"As for Miss Van Horn she gat, mean
while, demurely toying with a large tas
sel suspended from the arm of her easy
chair for a moment, as if in deliberation
then exclaimed . 'Really, I am sure it
must be very wrong iu me to be so
thoughtless, is it not?' Here a captiva
ting smile illuminated her beautiful feat
ures and parted her beautiful lipsjust
discovering the pearly teeth between
them, and she added, 4 Will you not set
tle the question, gentlemen, between
yourselves i"
- 'iThe matter must be arranged in some
way, and, as I was the most intimate
friend in the family, and my rival a
comparative stranger, I was about to
magnanimously withdraw my preten
sions, and leave the field, when sudden
ly there was a loud' ring at the front
door, and Miss Van Horn started to her
feet with the exclamation :
1 "'Ah, that must be Mr. DeStultus!
what au unfortunate, thoughtless girl I
am, for I do believe I am engaged to go
to the opera with him t.-nlghtl'
44 That quickly settled the question in
dispute between Mr. Churchill and my
self; and with a common impulse we
both rose to our feet, smiled at each
other pleasantly, and with a mere hur
ried good evening to Miss Van Horn, I
stooped for my hat, which had fallen
from my hand in my surprise, and
struck my head agaiust the corner of the
piano. Mr. Churchill rushed into the
hall almost upsetting the diminutive
DeStultus, whom he met, the very pic
ture of effeminacy and ultra-foppishness.
" Descending to the sidewalk, where
the brilliant equipage of DeStultus met
our view, we both simultaneously burst
into a laugh that seemed to break the
ice between us, for we walked off togeth
er for several squares. As I complained
of a severe pain in my eyes from the
blow I had received, my companion
said : " I hope Mr. Hume will pardon
my recent rude persistence iu my fan
cied engagement with our fair acquaint
ance, and let us be good friends out of
sympathy for the denouement. As we
are here at nay hotel, let us enter and
drink to the good fortune of Mr. De
Stultus.' " I gladly accepted the Invitation, and
we were engaged in a pleasant conversa
tion, wheu a loud noise was heard in the
street, mingled with the cry of a woman
in distress.
"Suddenly starting to our ieet we
rushed forward to render assistance.
The first object that met our sight was
Helen Van Horn, covered with mud,but
happily more frigbteued than hurt.
De Stultus was also in a wretched plight,
but too much engrossed, as might be ex
pected of such a creature, with his own
mishap, to give the least attention to his
associate In misfortune, whom he left to
struggle to her feet unaided, and to make
her way to the sidewalk, where she
hysterically explained how a truck,
against which De Stultus' carriage had
been carelessly driven, had left them
stranded In the muddy street, fortunate
ly and marvelously, however, without
broken bones.
" Churchill called a carriage and we
escorted the wretched demoiselle back to
her residence, at the door of which we
congratulated her upon her lucky escape
and bade her good night.
" My new friend then proposed that
we should at once drive to the opera,
where he hoped we might meet a party
of his friends, to whom he would be
pleased to introduce me, aud In whose
society we would find surcease for our
disappointments in regard to Miss Van
Horn. I assented. Churchill's friends
we met as he had promised, and among
them were two beautiful sisters, so at
tractive that they speedily drove all
thoughts of a mere handsome girl, super
ficial and spoiled, like Helen Van Horn,
out of the head of Churchill as well as
my own.
A charming evening at the opera
ripened into a serious attachment on the
part of Churchill and myself for these
sisters, which ended in our marriage, and
no one ever had juster reason for say
ing, 4 There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough bew lliem how we will,'
than I have. And now you know why
I did not marry Miss Van Horp, and
also how two men, for a moment about
to be made enemies through the reck
less, unscrupulous coquetry of an in
ferior, heartless woman, by a happy
stroke of fortune became friends and
brothers.
" As for Helen Van Horn, she still
lives In single blessedness, and upon the
memory of her many conquests, finding
her chief gratification for some yeurs
past in recounting the various eligible
offers she had refused, including always
Churchill and myself among her re
jected suitors. A heavy speculation Into
which De Stultus had been beguiled
about the time of Miss Van Horn's
triple engagement for the evening re
sulted so disastrously to him that her
doors were at once rigidly closed upon
that admirer, who disappeared like a
quenched meteor from society. Mean
while occurred the death of old Mr. Van
Horn, which, as I have said, left the
daughter no other attraction thau mere
physical beauty, that had now become
so used that it ceased to please marriage
able men, and she was no longer able to
make three engagements for one eve
ning."
A Little Misapprehension.
MB. A. COTTONHEAD, of the dry
goods persuasion, has for some
time past been making himself very nu
merous about the residence of a Blxth
ward widow lady who Is the proprietor
of a daughter who is singularly beauti
ful, although she Is addicted to needle
work. The visitations of Mr. C. had
been in progress until the elder lady be
gan to Inquire of her daughter in that
peculiarly .aggravating way which
mothers have, if she didn't think 'this
thing had been going on long enough,'
when he met her on the street the other
morning and remarked :
"Mrs. Acidulous, if you'll be at home
this evening I should very much like to
see you."
"Oh ! certainly, my dear Mr. Cotton
head, I shall make It my particular bus
iness and my especial duty to be disen
gaged," and as he turned the corner she
added to herself: "Well, It's a good
thing that that young fellow has con
eluded to get his proposal off, before it
bursts him,or I do."
In the evening Cottouhead appeared
in the Acidulous mansion, and found
the old lady awaiting him instate; in
fact, in so much state that it pretty near
took his breath away. He hung his hat
uponavacaut nail hole, and at once
proceeded to business.
" Mrs. A., I've been coming here for
some time because I wanted to ask your
daughter something, but I'm always bo
nervous that I can't make up my mind
to do it, so I thought if I'd ask you it
would do Just as well."
44 Maybe It will, now. Maybe it will.
I'm sure I never asked Maria how she
felt about it."
" Oh I I guess she's all right. In fact,
I've no manner of doubt about it."
" Well, If she's satisfied, my dear Mr.
Cottonhead, I'm sure I've no desire to
stand In your way."
" Then you'll ask her if she will oblige
me by consenting "
"Oh! give yourself nouneaslness.my
dear boy, I'm sure she'll consent."
" I'm very much obliged to you both,
I'm sure," said Cottonhead, with a ra
diant smile, " I'll Just consider it all fix
ed, and to-morrow I'll send up the stuff
and one of my old ones."
44 W-h-a-tV" shrieked Mrs. A., In a
tone that lifted the youth half way across
the floor. 41 Miserable man, what are
you talking about ?"
41 Shirts, madam, shirts. I want your
daughter to make me some"
"You forlorn Idiot," and she arose in
majesty pointing to the door, "go home;
go home, and tell your mother to put
some thickening In your brains."
And he went.
WANTED HER MALE.
f A ND, JACOB, be sure and f,ee If
xV there is any mall for me."
This Is what Mrs. Dracut sang out to
old Jacob Miller from the front porch
where Bhe was tying up some climbing
roses.
The old man was driving through the
gate, and he partly drew hlB reins as he
heard these words, his countenance as
suming a thoughtful and rather perplex
ed look.
Then It suddenly cleared.
41 Ah, ah, yes," he muttered, as he
jogged along. 41 She wants some to take
my place wtlle I'm gone. Let me see.
Guess folks is mostly busy at this time
of the year, but p'r'aps I can git one of
the Thompson boys."
The Thompson boys were not to be
had, and after Jacob had done the rest
of his errands, he drove over to the vil
lage tavern, whose proprietor, John
Baker, was standing on the porch, talk
ing with a stranger, a fine-looking,
stalwart young fellow, who had just
come in the sttige.
41 Do you know of auy one I can git to
stay with Mrs. Dracut a week or two,
Mr. Baker V"
" Wall, no, I can't say that I do;
everybody's so busy hayin'. Here's a
man who's goln' up toward Corner's;
p'r'aps he'll give you-a lift."
This was spoken to the stranger, who,
turning to Jacob, said :
41 1 should be very' glad if you would
take me as far as you go. 1 can easily
walk the rest. I will pay you for your
trouble.,2'
There was something in that frank,
pleasant smile and cheery voice that
pleased Jacob. . :
44 You can ride au' welcome, sir ; and
I won't charge you nothing, neither.". .
" You are living on old Deacon Dra
cut's place 5" said the stranger, as, leav
ing the village, the two rode along under
the tall, over-archlng trees. ,
44 Wall, yes that la to say, it was his
when he was alive. He's gone where
farms an' sich ain't of no account. The
deacon was powerful fond of money if
he was a deacon, but he couldn't take
none of It with him."
44 He left a young widow, I hear 5"'
" Young ? Wall, yes, I bhould think
so. I never was so dumbfounded in my
life as when the deacon brung her home,
a sweet, pretty critter, young enough to
be his gran 'darter. They never dis
agreed none, though it was easy eeclu'
that she waren't any too happy, poor
thing! They do say that she was dis
appointed; that she was engaged to a
young man that went oft' an' .married
somebody else. But I don't know as to
the right ou't."
44 1 think I heard you speaking about
her wanting help. I shouldn't mind
hiring out myself for a while, if I thought
I could suit her."
Jacob's face brightened. .
" If you would, it would be really an
accommodation. You won't find it
hard only tlte dumb critters to feed, and
to do the chores. I want to git away for
a week or so 'mazlngly."
At this momeut they stopped at the
gate, over which Mrs. Dracut a pretty,
blooming brunette was leaning.
" Did you bring any mail V" she said
to Jacob, not notiulDg, in the dusk of
the gathering twilight, the stranger Just
back of him.
44 Wall, yes, marm, though it's all
luck an' chance my gettln him. This
is Mrs. Dracut," added Jacob, turning
to his companion. "I don't mind as
you told nie your name." '
Opening her eyes widely, Mrs. Dracut
looked from one to the other, reddened,
and then as the nature of poor Jacob's
blunder broke through her bewilder
ment, barst Into a merry ringing laugh.
"I beg pardon, sir," she said, as soon
aa she eould speak, " but it Is such a
ridiculous blunder. I asked Jaoob to
see if there was any mall matter for me,
and be" 1
And again the pretty widow went off
into a merry peal of laughter, in which
the stranger was forced to Join.
There was something In the sound of
that laugh that made Mrs. Dracut's
pulse quicken. She turned toward the
stranger, who . now , suddenly grew
sober.
41 So you don't want me, Susan V"
As Mrs. Dracut looked attentively at
the speaker, her face blushed, and then
paled. .
"Robert! Is it possible 5"'
41 Quite possible, Mrs. Dracut, as I
suppose I ought to call you now."
' How how is your wife,Mr. Ainsle 1"
" I have no wife; it was a wicked lie
thot they told you. I am the same my
heart is the same as ever. And your'
The face was very bright with smiles
and blushes that Susan lifted to that
questioning gaze.
" Neither have I altered. But come
In, Robert; you will go no further to
night." Robert Ainslie walked in, and, though
he, went the next morning, he came
again and yet again.
There was a time, not very far remote,
when he came to go no more, though
this did not occur until Susan had gone
through the formality of having her
name changed to Ainslie.
Old Jacob Miller lives with them
finding ample employment in the gar
den and stable.
Facts About Bristles.
IX a readable article on Brush mak
ing, as carried on in a leading estab
lishment of this city, the Polytechnic
Iieview gives these facts about bristles :
Next to wool and silk, bristles are
about the most important of animal
products. Of these the principle sup
ply does not come from our own hemis
phere, where they lack flexibility; nor
from Great Britain, where fine breeding
has improved the flesh at the expense
of the bristle; nor from France nor
Southern Europe; nor from the German
States, where the bristles are either too
short and rigid or too long ; nor from
the Immense forests of Poland, which
once furnished so many ; but it is the
Russian Bear to make a bull that
furnishes us with the best bristles.
In Northern Muscovy are intermina
ble forest of pines and larches, oaks and
beeches, birch-trees and rowans. Be
neath these the ground is literally knee
deep with cones, acorns and berries,
rich and easy food for countless droves,
of half-wild swine. Of these a special
race, fattened in a certain way, yield
the bristle par excellence. The desirable
food Is the refuse of the great govern
ment tallow factories. The most suita
ble animals are the rustic pigs, being
nearest to the wild boar, from which
they spring. The best bristles are from
the back of the animal. The northern
central governments furnish the most
bristles, exporting annually over 40,
000,000 pounds, worth about $5,000,000.
From France come bristles, white in
color, soft and elastic to the touch. The
German bristles rank about with the
French. Pennsylvania bristles are good j
those from our Western States poor.
The Russian bristles are long, straight,
clear at the butt and transparent. The
French and German are dead In color.
Of the whole bristle crop the cobbler
has the first choice, getting for his
" waxed ends" the longest and strong
est. To make an artist's "camel's hair"
brush some one must flr-t go gunning
for squirrels. The bain are weighed
and bunched, the buuch put points
downward lu a flat-bottomed metal cup,
which Is rattled in a peculiar way upon
a stone table, so ns to get the points
'even. The butts are then trimmed off
even, the bunch stuck through a solder
ed flat tin ferrule, which is further
flattened with a hammer, so as to grip
the hairs. In the4' English" style the
butts are first cemented then glued, the
handle is then inserted in the ferrule,
the glue partly holding it For use in
varnish, which does not affect glue, the
cement is not necessary. The French
style is still further secured by cross
nails, driven through the ferrule and
cemented butts and clinched hard.