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VOL. XII.
NEW BLOOMFIlSLr), 1JA.., TUESDAY, OOTOI3EI1 8, 1878.
NO. 41.
Sffl. -
THE TIMES.
Id Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PURLIBHBD BVBIIT TUK8HAT BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
BUUSCltirTtON 1MUCE,
(WITHIN TIIB COUNTT.
One Year It 2
Hlz Month 7S
(OUT 0 Tn COUNTT.
One Tear, (Postage Ineluded) (1 PO
Mix Month, (Postage Included) 8ft
Invariably lu Advance I
W Advertising ratos (urnislied upon appli
cation. For Tub Times.
EVANESCENCE.
The oarly glow of human hearts,
Alas, how transitory I
How soon the lire of II fo departs
How fades Its fairest glory I
Its maglo wlue with rosy light
Fills Youth's enchanted palace
But shadows fall as dark as night,
When Ago presents tho chalice.
Our Bummer brings the odorous bloom,
Of lilies and of roses
Our Winter's frosty twilight gloom
Their scentless stems discloses.
The wreaths that round our brows we wove,
Or e'er wo know It, wither,
And wing their flight the birds of love
Ah, who can tell us whither 1
Tho music that was wont to cheer,
No more to gladness urges
Our heart-throbs turn to tolllngs drear,
Our roundelays t dirges.
The dreams are false that hannt tho night,
Nor comfort thence we borrow,
To-day la festal garments dlght,
In garb of dole to-morrow.
A world that seemed no change to know,
Was that whore first we fonnd us
But tombs arise as on we go,
And pitfalls lurk around us.
And change on every stdo appears,
And cares our spirits cumber,
Till, wearied out with hopes and fears,
To wake no more, we slumber.
Georgetown, D. C. W. L. Buokmakbr.
The Asher and Pittibone Feud.
THE cattle stood up to their knees In
the creek, and every bird in the
woods sat silent or whirred about in a
languid, discouraged way, it was such
boiling summer weather. The men
were afraid of sunstroke, and would not
go back to their threshing before two
o'clock, in spite of Job Asher's exhorta
tions. Both great doors of the barn
were open, and some lounged on the
floor in a pleasant breeze, while others
lingered on the east porch of the house,
or even explored the prim, dark parlor.
Thirteen strong, voracious threshers
were quartered for the day, and perhaps
for several days the length of their
stay depending on the amount of grain
to be threshed and the durability of the
machine at Job Asher's. They had
eaten a huge dinner, and there was only
one woman to wait ou them all. She
was not standing in the cool creek along
with the happier cattle, at that time of
day, I warrant you, not resting herself
in such air as might be stirring, after
the morning's labor of cooking for her
army. While the men lounged and Job
Asher fretted, his sallow, sad wife went
stooping around the kitchen, washing
the dishes, and preparing things for
supper. Really, it seemed her vitality
must be exhausted at the next step, but
she knew she should keep on walking
and working like a machine until all
which was required of her was finished.
She had long survived that period when
she could find any pleasure in accom
plishing tasks or the thrift to which
lier husband exhorted her. Poor Mrs.
Asher was a broken spring a stretched
out bit of elastic. She wished Jule were
there. If Julia had gotten home in
time for the threshing, she shouldn't
have had it so hard. Julia sort of rested
her, just by being in the house. She
really smiled slowly, and with a wan
glistening of the face, as she thought of
her bounding, ruddy seventeen year old
girl. Julia meant to get home, but
school was not out until that very day,
and her father did not want her to
miss any of the advantages which cost
him so much cash.
Mrs. Asher recollected, as she rubbed
the dishes off, how long she and the dear
girl had beselgod the father for tho
privilege of one year at boarding-school,
and how reluctantly he consented. Julia
went away the September before. She
had been away nine months, during
which time they had not seen her face.
It 1b doubtful whether Julia would ever
have Been the inside of a boarding shool
had notPettlbone been sending his girls
to one ; and whatever rettibone did,
Job Asher was bound either to contest
or outdo. There was a feud between the
two farmers, which began with some
Bheep and dogs when they were young
men, Just getting a foothold on tho soil
of which both now owned so many
acres. In those days rettibone had
called Job Asher a "wooden-headed
skinflint," and Job Asher hud called
rettibone a " pulled up booby," and
they had lived these neighborly lives,
keeping up mutual annoyances ever
since. If rettibone favored a preacher,
Job Asher set his face against that in
nocent man. If Job Asher was put for
ward for agricultural honors of any
kind, Tettlbone sneered at him nil the
time ho wus discharging his duties. The
rettibone girls and Julia Asher quarrel
ed at the district school. Mrs. Asher
and Mrs. 1'ettlbouo never dared to be
come friendly at social meetings ; but in
their later years, both the overworked
woman, who felt they were being pushed
down to the grave long before their
natural time, thought how foolish the
disagreement between their families
was, and perhaps in Sunday afternoon
prayer meetings they said kind, en
couraging texts especially foreach other.
Not thus was it with Job Asher and
rettibone ; if Asher made a prayer, ho
did bo bog the Almighty to bring down
the Btifl'-necked and the proud, and
show them the Judgment of Sinui, that
rettibone at once felt called upon to
rise, puff out his portly person, and
deliver himself in pertinent remarks on
the subject of people's making so little
progress in spiritual life, and remaining
in their first narrowness and meanness.
Pettibone prospered In a better way
than did Job Asher. He made his home
comfortable, and it became quite a
thoroughfare of kospltality. He han
dled stock, and took shares in banks,
and became quite the great patriarchal
father of the soil. Job Asher on the
other hand, set out with a greedy hun
ger for land. He lived in the sume old
house his forefathers occupied, and
added no improvements. He allowed
his wife no help, and kept down tho
social and refining wants of both mother
and daughter. He was always "land
poor." It was harder to cujole Ave
dollars from his pocket than to earn Ave
times that amount at hod-carrying.
rettlboue's ways were not his ways; yet
he was not going to let I'ettlbone carry a
high hand over him ; he didn't choose
to spend and not spare, but his daughter
would sometime ride over the thriftless
Tettlbones, and she should be educated
as well they were. So she was allowed to
go to boarding school, but in a way that
made her the butt of the rettibone girls,
and taxed her proud spirit more than
she would ever tell. Job Asher would
pay the exorbitant school bill and she
might have extras if the rettibone girls
did but clothes were another matter.
Clothes were a fleeting and evanescent
vanity Job Asher aimed at the solid.
Julia Asher went through her collegiate
year clad worse than any other girl in
the institution, and stinted and mortifi
ed in every way. But she had a brave,
sensible nature, and taking hold of her
advantages, she tried to live in them,
and forgot her mortifications. But who
likes, especially at seventeen, to be an
oddity and a sort of pariah Y Times
were when her life was a burden in spite
of all the long-desired adv antages. But
she found a friend in Charley rettibone,
an unexpected ally even in the midst of
the enemy's camp.
Charley rettibone was the oldest son
of the family, and had been a year or
two at college a college for both young
men and young women before his
sisters came. Jule Asher's calico and
rough boots attracted his notice from the
contrast with the elegant and befrlzzled
young ladies who were her classmates.
Her apt recitations and questioning
mind made her a comrade for him. He
had been brought up to think little of
the Ashers ; yet he beheld one of the
class who challenged not only his respect
but his admiration. Julia was a child ;
he felt quite a man ; and, therefore,
when he found her one evening In the
dusky chapel crying passionately over
Borne mortification, and ns passionately
determined to endure It without asking
her father to do any thing more for her,
he undertook to console her. He leaned
against the window while Julia dried
her eyes, and delivering himself of his
own and his father's opinion, declared.
" It's a Bhame I your father hasn't any
idea of the decencies of life, Julia I"
It was the clan call. Jullastralghten
ed herself.
" I said I was silly enough to cry be
cause Nora Dickinson hud no better
breeding than to laugh atmyeverlusllng
calico, and I didn't mean to ask father
for any thing more. But I didn't dis
pute my father's judgment in putting
me In calico, did IV"
" Well, you know he Is stingy," urged
Charley, uneasily, finding herself in the
predicament of having his Byinpathles
thrown back on his bunds.
" Well, I'm thankful he hasn't the
faults of some other people," retorted
the Asher.
" I don't think my father's perfect,"
proceeded Charles ; and I must say, I
don't sco why the two families have to
biker always."
And returning to the subject at in
tervals, the young man eventually found
out that two members, at least, of the
rival families, need never differ nny
more. They grew to be quite of one
mind. They consulted frequently on
hard questions in mechanics ; they hud
something to say on the languages
and perhaps in a language to each
other. The affair grow right up before
the I'ettlbone girls before they could
believe their eyes, they wrote home to
their father, and by that time vacation
had come.
I'ettlbone had threshers at his home
on that hot day when the letter came,
stating expllclty that Charley owned
to being engaged to " that Asher girl."
One of his men brought the mall, and
the rotund furmcr read this bit of news
after a delightful dinner, which in no
wise mollified him. Threshing at I'et
tibone's was not a labor to disturb the
flow of animal life. There was an
abundunt table, and the usual army of
laborers; but a cook and her assistant
shared the trials with Mrs. rettibone,
whose only desire was to get through
with this necessity of farm-life, and
have the house in order before the girls
came home the girls who were going
East with a party of schoolmates for a
few weeks, to return and flood the place
with company until September. Her
overwork was a different kind from Mrs.
ABher's, and perhaps carried more
pleasure with it, but was overwork all
the same.
" It'll be a very easy matter to settle
Charles." I'ettlbone wus angry, but in
a lofty and benevolent way, which be
came a man of his avoirdupois and in
fluence. He would Just meet Charles at
the deport and have a talk with him ;
there would be a good opportunity, for
the girls were not coming home, and
they would have the carriage to them
selves. Charles was the eldest, and his
pride. He would send the young man
East for a time, until he overcame his
fancy. He didn't know, though, but it
would be better to let the boy see that
Asher girl at home; that would cure
him 1 rettibone left his threshers to
attend to their business, and drove slow
ly toward the station to meet the train
It was a very hot day ; he was inclined
to got along slowly, and as he passed the
lane leading up to Asher'B, it occurred to
him to go in and have a word with Job.
If Job's girl had any design on Charles,
he would have it out with Job himself.
Asher's men had gotten reluctantly
up to resume their labors, and he was
perspiring with au inward fire of haste
as great as the outward heat of the sun.
Job Asher was a lean, brown, sharp
eyed man, and rettibone looked at him
with all his old dislike intensified. Mrs,
Asher, hearing carriage wheels, came to
the door and looked out eagerly; the
eagerness died out of her face, and she
shrunk back, hiding her soiled apron,
as she saw her neighbor. She thought
Julia had coine from the train. Her
husband had no time to go after the
child to-day. He said Borne of the
neighbors could bring her over, and he
would get her trunk . home some time
when he went to town with grain. He
was too busy to take out a team Just to
bring her In. She had been gone nine
months, and her mother's heart was al
most breaking to see her ; all her moth
er's bock was literally breaking for the
relief her willing young hands would
bring. But threshing Is one thing, and
women are another. Of the two Job
Asher was most devoted to threshing.
" Hullo, Job!" Bald I'ettlbone, draw
ing his linen, and giving his neighbor a
curt nod.
"Well, I'ettlbone," replied," Asher,
coming forward with Ul-wlll in every
line of his hard fuce, and chaff from
the grain covering him. He carried a
wooden ruke in one hand, and tried to
look the contempt he felt for the man
riding in his carriage.
"Hot duy, Isn't It V
" Yes, powerful hot. Threshing to
day up your way V
" Been at it since five. I'm Just go
ing over to the train now to meet my
son."
"Comln' from school, eh V I expect
my girl to-day, but I hain't got time to
look after her. I've got to look after
her sustenance and provldln' for her
future ; bo I can't afford to loll around in
carriages and let my farm go to the dogs,
Just now."
"If you mean to intimate that my
farm's going to the dogs," said I'ettl
bone, his black eyes snapping, " I can
assure you I ain't intending to let you
huvolt. You're always standing with
your mouth open ready to snap up any
piece of land around. I'd rather see
my family decently circumstanced, If
I was you, to be heapln' up what I
couldn't tuke with me."
" You can't take nothln' you've got
with you, I bet," exclaimed Asher,
hotly. "And lor all the airs of some
people In this neighborhood, my daugh
ter will be better fixed than any of
them after awhile."
" She's her father's child," said I'et
tlbone, with a sneer. " Looking out
for tho future, and sparing no pains to
help herself to all she can. Do you
know, sir," cried the fat farmer, giving
way to the wrath boiling within him,
" that your girl has got my boy to pro
mise to marry her r"
The lean farmer struck his rake on
the ground.
" That Isn't bo, sir. My daughter
wouldn't take up with none of the
I'ettlbone set!"
" I tell you it Is so, sir; and it's got
to be stopped I"
" And I tell you, sir, that your, son
can't have my duughtcr; and if he
comes 'round here I'll set the dogs on
him."
" Set the dogs on my son, sir! I'll
horsewhip you If you do, sir 1"
"Get off my place, sir!"
There was a pause in the threshing,
and the threshers, winking and nod
ding to each other, drew nearer this
conference.
" You're a contemplble, narrow-souled
snail," burled Tettlbone, perspiring
plentifully, as he began to turn his
horse's head ; you're in the same little
shell that your grandfather started In.
If a son of mine ever dared mention to
me that he wanted to marry your girl,
I'd out him off without a cent : so that's
your warning, sir. Tell her that she'll
get nothing by that transaction, If she
tries to carry it out."
" And your warning, sir, is the same
old warning," shouted Asher. " Your
dog came and killed ray sheep once, and
the whole tribe of you have been trying
to prey on me ever since. Your dog'U
be shot like that un was afore, so keep
the puppy at borne."
" That's a way for church brethern to
commune !" observed one thresher to
another.
rettibone started out of the farm-yard
gate, even his sorrel horse seeming to
shake the Asher dust off his feet, but
the way was blocked by a messenger
bringing a warning different from those
which the two men had been sending to
each other. This was Abljah rence ;
his nag was dripping, and the tall, lean
colt behind It looked but the spirit of
colt.
" My gracious!" cried Abijah l'ence,
shaking two fingers at the farmers,
" haven't you heard the news V"
Now, Abijah being always as full of
news as a walnut Is of meat, nobody
felt startled by that introduction ; but
when he proceeded, rettibone drew his
lines with a Bpasmodlo grip, and Asher
ran up and down like an insane man.
' The two-twenty train from the East
off the track down here hundreds of
passengers smashed In the wreck a
burning axle caused It and the whole
on fire!"
" What areyou Baylng,AblJah rence?"
called Tettlbone, hoarsely. " That's the
train my son's on 1"
" That's tho train my daughter's on 1"
cried Asher, jerking one of the horses,
Insanely, " unhitch this beast this min
ute. The threshlng'll have to wait,
men. I've got to go over there and see
to my daughter!"
"What's the mntterJ"' cried Mrs.
Asher, coming down to the barn lot,
with her kitchen sun-bonnet on.
I'ettlbone had lashed his horses ; but
he paused and stood up In his carriage.
"(Jet In with me, both of you," he
called, his face white and slid. "Get
in, Job Asher; our children's burning
to death, if they ain't mangled corpses
already. There's no use quarrelling
about them now."
The lean furmcr, without a word,
helped his half-falnttng wife into his
enemy's carriage, and his hickory shirt
sleeve rubbed Tettlbono's frantlo elbow
as It urged the galloping horse to the
scene of tho disaster. Job Asher was a
mean, miserable man, but he was a
man, as God knew. Ills Jaws were set
like Iron, while poor I'ettlbone's plump
er face worked spasmodically.
" Tears like you could make more
spocd if we were out, neighbor retti
bone," he said, humbly. " I don't
want to hinder you."
" O, don't speak of that," begged
I'ettlbone ; " do you think I could leave
you behind, and go on to see my son,
and your little girl, maybe, cryln' to
you all the time V"
" Oh, my Julia ! " walled Mrs. Asher,
rocking herself and wringing her bard
hands. " The kindest, lovlu'cst child
that ever was born I ' O, mother,' she
says in her letter, ' I'm getting the good
education, but I'll be glad when the
holidays come, so I can come home and
help you. I'm afraid you work too
hard, mother,' says she. Lord, how
can I give up my child 'i O, Lord, lay
not this burden upon thy tired, tired
handmuld ! O, my child, my child I"
" She was mine, too, mother," put in
Job Asher, hoarsely.
"And mine, In a measure," Bald Tet
tlbone, "if my boy was wantln' to
marry her. She was a likely, fine little
girl. My boy was a fine boy, too."
" That he was," assented Job Asher.
" bright and forward a young man as I
ever see. Do you s'spose there's any
hope that they may be saved ? Abijah
Tence loves his tall stories so."
I'ettlbone lashed his galloping horse
afresh.
" I was In a railroad wreck once,"
said he. " It's a chance if they escape ;
but the wreck being on fire !"
They dashed on at a furious rate.
When they reached the scene of terror
the poor, panting animal was ready to
stand of his own accord, and the three
distracted people ran around seeking
their children. A crowd had already
gathered ; men were trying to force open
the heaped-up cars with axes and crow
bars. The train was thrown into a dry
ravine, known as Black Lick. Job
Asher looked down and saw a swim
ming panorama of men panting up the
bank with helpless and groaning shapes
in their arms ; of long cars, half shat
tered, half bent ; he heard shouts and
yells and the long --! of escaping
steam, the roar of ascending fire, and
he felt Its terrible heat. Pale, yellow
tongues of flames were gathering color
and volume. Mrs. Asher hung to Job's
arm, trembling in every limb, and
shrieking with all her remaining
strength. The capable and energetic
farmer, who always wanted the head
and direction of every business, was
dazed and half senseless. He followed
Tettibone's lead when Tettlbone dashed
down the bank among the rescuers, and
he found himself chopping and shouting
with the rest; but through every yellow
sheet of flame, through every panel of
of the smoking carriages be seemed to
see his dear girl's face reproaching him.
" Yes, It's too late now, father," her
silent voice said, "I'm lost to you.
You can't do any thing for me any
more. I know you were living for me,
but you made my life just as hard as if
you were living against me. What
good does all your pinching and stint-