The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, November 26, 1878, Page 2, Image 2

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THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMF1ELD, PAKOVEMBEII 2G, 1878.
MRS. SPEERS' SEAMSTRESS.
" TU8T like Betsey BlRke," Bttfd Mrs.
U Speers. " All rendy for her and
she don't come. Now I know the Btory
she'll tell. Couldn't finish Mrs. Jea
Bitp'g clonk In time, and found the
flounces took longer to trim than ulie
thought they would. I wish there was
another dress-maker in this place; I'd
not put up with Betsey, that I know.
Well, young woman, what do you
wantV"
Bhe uttered these hist words with a
sort of a start, for as she looked up from
the pile of goods spread upon the sitting-room
table she saw a girl standing
by the door a girl she had never Been
before, wrapped in that leveler of
womanhood, a water-proof cloak, with
the hood over her head, and wearing a
pair of rough shoes, cut and torn by the
stones and white with the dust of the
road.
Bhe was young and pretty ; but it was
a dry, warm day the cloak was quite
unsuitable. How old the wrap was,how
torn the shoes !
" Well!"' she repeated ngnin,for there
was no answer. " Well 1"'
" I stopped because I saw the door
open. I am very tired, hungry and
thirsty," said the girl. "I thought
perhaps you could give me a piece of
bread and a cup of tea, and let me do
some work to pay for it. I can do any
kind of housework, and I can sew."
" Oh !" said Mrs. Speers, cautiously.
She was not one to let her heart go out
at once to a dusty stranger. "Well, of
course, if it is civilly asked for I don't
think is Christian duty to refuse any
one a little food. I never give money ;
but I generally find that beggars don't
want work."
" If you mean beggars," said the
girl, "I suppose they don't I do,
though. What is the use of beiugproud
and saying I'm not a beggar when I've
just asked for food V Only it's not my
usual my I haven't been in the habit
of It I lint is what I'm trying to say."
" You don't look like it, young
woman," said Mrs. Speers. " Trouble
will come to good people, I know.
What has happened V"
" My parents are dead," said the girl.
" Didn't they leave you anything V"
asked Mrs. Speers.
" I haven't a penny in the world,"
Isaid the girl. "Iam going to walk to
Loudon, if I can, to get dress-making to
do."
" Can you cut and fit?" asked Mrs.
Speers.
"Anything," replied the girl. "Oh,
do you want to try me V"
Mrs. Speers looked at her sharply.
" I will," said she. " I suppose it's a
rink ; that's a good dress, but"
. " I can fit you as no country dress
maker ever did," cried the girl. ' I
can make you look like a fashion plate.
You can give me what you like, you
know."
" I'll try you," Bald Mrs. Speers. " You
can have your breakfast first, and then
begin. You'd better take off your
cloak."
" Please let me keep it on," said the
girl. " Wait I can't keep it on and
sew, can IV I suppose I must take it
off, but"
' Well V" repeated Mrs. Speers, more
'grimly than before.
"" I haven't no dress on underneath,"
said the girl.
" No dress on 1 I never heard of such
a thing 1" cried the old lady.
" I hope not," said the girl. " You
see, I've been robbed."
Mrs. Speers considered.
" I'll lend you an old wrapper," said
she. " Why, what has been happening
to you V"
But the girl said nothing. She went
into the little back bed-room, donned
the wrapper and, having been fed, set
to work. Soon Mrs. Speers found her
self obliged to acknowledge that Betsey
Blake was outdone; but the girl would
not talk Would tell nothing of her
story ; " that," Mrs. Speers said to her
self, " she did not like much.".
At noon-time futher and son came la
the father a grave, slow-speaking,
slow-thinking farmer; the son college
bred, and spending his vacation with
his parents.
" Who is that pretty girl at the sewing-machine,
mother V" the youth asked
in a whisper. " I thought you ex
pected old Betsy Blake to make your
dress?"
" That's a girl that came for work,"
said the mother. Pretty I I don't see
how you fiDd anything so dreadfully
pretty about her, in my old woru-out
wrapper, too 1"
After Mrs. Speers' dress was done that
lady thought that so cheap a seamstress
would never come to hand again. Shirts
were to be made, counterpanes pieced
and quilted, work of all kinds to be
done, and the girl was handy in many
ways. It was Hose here and Rose there,
up stairs and down etalrs,in the kitchen
and in the lady's chamber.
Out ot her tiny wages neat calico
dresses had been bought. She wns trim,
tidy and comfortable.
On Sunday she went to church in a
bonnet made out of Mrs. Speers' old
one, that looked prettier than anything
in the milliner's shop-windows.
Frank used to walk with her some
times, and It seemed to him that 'Squire
Peters' daughters, and even rich Mrs.
Hubblngton looked vulgar beside his
mother's seamst ress, Bose.
One day he said so to his mother.
After that, somehow she contrived that
he should see lessof Rose until Ma vaca
tion came to an end and he went back to
college.
But the old folks knew nothing of
what pnssed in the lane between the
meadows where the brier-rose grew over
the low fences, and the grass was long
and wild.
He had been sitting on the fence wait
ing for her to come.
"I am going away to-morrow, Rose,"
said Frank.
" They will miss you, Mr. Speers,"
said the girl.
" Will you miss me V" asked Frank.
" Don't call me Mr. Speers ; I call you
Rose. I don't know your other name.
Call me Frank and say you will miss
me. But next year I am going home to
marry the girl I love, if she will have
me. Do you think she will, Rose V"
" How do I know V" she asked.
" No one else knows, Rose," said he.
" Rose, you know I love you."
" Without even knowing my whole
name?" said she. " I came to your
mother's door and asked for work. That
is all of my story that you know, and
you would many me ?" '
" If you can love me," he said.
She gave him her hand.
"You have a great deal of faith in
me," she said. "Well, I have faith in
you. Only we will say no more about it
just how. Fancy your mother's feel
ings I"
She laughed softly.
"I know you are the sweetest thing
that ever lived," he answered. Then he
kissed her.
" Neither of tliem knew that the
mother was hard by. She saw them as
they crossed the stile.
"I do not like to Bee it she said to
herself. " It must not go on."
Late that night Frank Speers heard
the window of a room near him open
softly. He hastily dressed himself and
hurried down to the door and out upon
the gardeii path. A ligure was letting
itself carefully down. It was dressed
in hat and shawl and had a little bundle
in its hand.
"Rose!" he cried.
" Frank !" she answered. Then they
stood looking at each other.
"Where are you going?" Frank
asked.
" Where they will let me beat peace,"
she said. " I am hunted like some wild
animal. Come away further from the
house,where our voices cannot be heard.
To-night, after all the work was done, I
sat alone in the little sewing-room. I
was not listening, but I heard your
mother say to your father:
" 1 Listen to this. We are in search
of a young woman with light hair and
black eyes. She will give an assumed
name, and is a fine seamstress. Any
one harboring her will be dealt with ac
cording to law. The peculiarity of her
attire when she escaped was she wore
no gown,' said your mother, it is Rose.
I shall write to these people. Mean
while, she shall not see this paper. She
has evidently been in prison. It is our
duty to give her up. Besides, Fra"nk
admires her too much.'
" Frank, it is I whom they seek. You
will not prevent my escape ?" said the
girl, in a low voice.
' I will help you," said Frank. "But,
darling, the time has come when you
need me. Marry me ; I am of age, and
no one can take a wife from her hus
band." " You do not doubt me, even now?"
asked Rose.
" Doubt you I" he answered ; " I love
you. "Doubt and love cannot exist
together."
"It is time you should know the
truth," said the girl, and she whispered
something in her lover's ear.
" Now," she said, "I will marry you
if you want me."
Rose went back into her little upper
room. Frank sought his ; no one knew
either bad left the house.
A letter went slyly to the post a few
days after, aud Mrs. Speers watched her
seamstress with argus eyes. One eve
ning, about a month after Rose's descent
from the window, a carriagedrove along
the road, and from it stepped a lady and
two men. Mrs. Speers hurried out to
meet them.
" I received a note from some one In
this bouse," said the lady. " You de
scribed the person of whom we are in
search correctly. Can I see her."
" Rose 1 " called Mrs. Speers.
The seamstress descended from the
sewing-room.
" It is she 1" cried the lady. ".These
men are officers of the law. Rose, you
can come quietly, or reBlst,as you please,
but you see you must cctme all the
same."
"Not without her husband 1" ex
claimed a voice, and Frank stepped for
ward to the girl's side.
" You married to that girl 1" said the
mother.
But the lady, with a look of fury,
turned away.
" Come away. We will go," she said,
firmly. " I can do nothing now."
She entered the carriage and was
driven down the road.
Rose turned to Mrs. Speers.
" You have heard of the Norman
property?" she said. "I was Miss
Norman, Its heiress. The lady who has
driven away is my step-mother, whom
my father married late in life. He made
her my legal guardian until I came of
age or married. At either of these
periods her power over me ceased. She
hns a son by a former marriage to whom
she desired to give me and my fortune.
While I was still only a child I prom
Ised to marry him, but as I grew older
I found him to be bad, coarse aud mer
cenary. I did not love him nor did he
love me. I refused to fulfill my engage
ment. From that moment she behaved
in a way that terrified. At last, finding
me determined to leave her house, she
locked me in the garret, without my or
dinary articles of clothing. At night I
found means to escape; fortunately, I
had upon my finger a ring of some little
value. This I gave to an old woman for
the cloak and shoes which I wore on
my arrival at your door. I Intended to
conceal myself until my next birthday
gave mo thelght to bo own guardian.
Your son desired to marry me that I
might have a protector ; but by the act
he also made me a rich woman ; for the
fortune my father left me Is now mine,
and I am Indeed happy to share It with
one who loved me when he thought me
a poor girl. Now, you know ny mo
tive; will you forgive me, mother?"
Mrs. Speers thought that It was better
to take upon herself the role thus offer
ed, especially as her daughter brought
Into the family that wonderful Norman
property which she held in such respect.
The Troubles of Mr. Donald.
MR. DAVID DONALD, of West
Liberty, has had some experience
in a crln. con. case that, though not
pleasant to him, was humorous to the
public.
David has or had a family Mrs.
David Donald and four or five little
Davids. The little Davids resemble their
father, in possessing enormous appetites,
which fiddling at frolics and a slow sort
of jobbing failed to satisfy. It is said that
under stress of an inefficient commissary,
Mrs. Donald became too Intimate with
David's landlord, one Thomas, an elder
ly gentleman of some real estate and
amatory propensities, who looked and
courted his neighbor's wife through a
pair of old-fashioned, steel-rimmed
spectacles.
The visits of the proprietor of the real
estate and magnifying glasses became so
frequent he went, lie said, to collect his
rents that the village gossips took cog
nizance of the same, aud noted that the
rents were always demanded in the ab
sence of David, as good a sort of King
David as his better half was a Mrs.
Uriah. And all these facts coming to
the ear of the King come to think of
it, we are getting these scriptural refer
ences somewhat mixed well, to sum
up, David threw up his matrimonial
rights and hauled off. He employed
learned counsel to procure him a di
vorce and as he wanted alimony also
to enter suit for damages against the
said Thomas aforesaid, proprietor of real
estate and old-fashioned steel-rimmed
spectacles, forcrlm. con.
David was aggravated by the slow ap
proaches of the law, and furthermore by
Mrs. Donald serving notice publicly that
she would not be responsible for David's
pecuniary obligations. The poet of the
village put this last in rhyme, and David
was vexed in soul, being himself a mu
sician, to hear bad little bays singing
about the streets
" Dave Donald's loft my bed and board,
These few days, these few days ;
lie went away of his own accord,
And ain't a-comiug home.
I warn the town from trusting Dave,
These few days, these few days
His little bills they'll have to shave,
For he alu't a-coinlng home."
This was but a sample of many verses,
and to create diversion David went to
all the stores and volunteered to sort
over the old eggs, taking therefrom the
spoiled ones, claiming to know these
through a dexterous shake that betrayed
their inner quality. In this way he col.
lected quite a basketful of " decayed hen
fruit," as it is called in the village. Thus
armed and equipped David stationed
himself on the picket line, as it were,
hid by a picket fence, in sight of his late
happy home, now blighted and forever
lost to him, through an unfaithful wife
and a proprietor of real estate and steel
rlmmed spectaoles.
His watch was well rewarded in the ap
pearance of the proprietor of land and
spectacles emerging from his blighted
ttome. The troubadour permitted the
perfidious proprietor to draw within
short range, and then fired a hen pro
duct that took the amorous old gentle
man between the eyes, knocking his
Bteel-rlmmed spectacle off, and so blind
ing him that he could not see his assail
ant. He opened his mouth to protest in
some profanity, when another of the
fixed ammunition entered that orifice to
his mental edifice, exploded and render
ed him hors du combat.
The betrayed and blighted being con
tinued his assault before a gathering
crowd, until the aged deceiver was cov
ered with the spoiled product of the hen
house. The projectiles being exhausted, King
David retired, amid cheers from the
populace. His accuracy of aim was
greatly admired, for only one projectile
missed its mark and hit the town con
stable in the commissary, while hurry
ing up to quiet the disturbance.
The proprietor of real estate and late
steel-rimmed spectacles " skipped" the
town, as they say out West, and King
David has many honors conferred upon
him. He Is the hero of the hour and
the hen-yard.
An Educational Revolt.
THE reign of cram in primary school
ing is seriously threatened, amP Bos
ton leads the revolt. Henceforth, if
success attends the effort, the Boston
public school teacher will teach, not
simply hear recitations as heretofore;
and the pupils will acquire knowledge
after the normal method of childhood,
by being taught, by seeing and think
ing, Instead of by the memorizing of
words from books. Language will be
taught by talking-lessons with and
about pictures, plants, animals, every
day life and experience. Oral instruc
tion will also be given upon form, color,
measures, animals grouped by habits,
vegetables, minerals, hygiene and the
human body. The metric system will
be taught from the metric apparatus. No
spelling books will be used, the reading
books taking their place. In the gram
mar grade,grammar,as generally studied,
has been abolished with the spelling
book. In the stead of parsing and other
technical work, lessons will be given in
composition, in the use of capitals, in
letter writing and in the arrangement of
sentences. Much of the time formerly
devoted to geography will be given to
natural philosophy and physiology.
Oral instruction will be an important
feature of all the classes, and in the low
est two it will predominate. In the
lower classes the subject for oral instruc
tion will be natural history, plants from
May to November, animals from No
vember to May, irades,occupations,com
ruon phenomena, stories, anecdotes,
mythology, metals and minerals. In
the upper classes, physiology, life in
the middle ages, biographical and his
torical sketches, and experiments in
physics.
This method labors under one serious,
we fear fatal .difficulty the teachers will
have to know something. Their knowl
edge will have to be real " live" knowl
edge, not dead verbiage ; and they will
need to know a good deal about the nat
ural, social and industrial life that the
children come in contact with out of
doors and at home. Such knowledge is
not to be gained from books ; and it is
hard to turn a book student into a prac
tical observer. We sincerely hope,how
ever, that the teachers of Boston will
succeed in their difficult task, and dem
onstrate to the rest of the world the
feasibility of this promising and long
needed reform.
A Strange Scene.
A well dressed man walked into one
of the saloons the other day leading a
little boy by the hand, and called for a
drink of whiskey. The little fellow
burst into tears and begged his father
not to drink, and the saloon keeper, to
his credit be it said, refused him, where
upon the man jumped behind the bar
and seized a bottle of the article in ques
tion. The bar-keeper attempted to take
the bottle from him, and a scuffle en
sued, during which the liquor was
spilled, and the stranger ejected. A man
of family who was present was so struck
by the conduct of the boy, that he left
the saloon and made an oath that he
would never drink another drop.
What a scene for an artist's pencil I
A wonderful battle, in which a little
boy conquers the bar-keeper and the
man of family present, but cannot pre
vail over his own beloved but besotted
father.
A little five-year-old boy ut Hart
ford was asked by a lady a few days ago
for a kiss. He immediately complied,
but the lady, noticing that the little fel
low drew his hand across his lips, re
marked, " Ah, but you are rubbing it
off."
"No, I ain't," was the quick rejoin
der, "I'm rubbing it In!"
DR. WHITTIER,
No. 802 Ponn Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.,
Continues to alWdrelln'i'e special treatment or
Private and Urinary Diseases. Perfect cure
guaranteed. Spermatorrhoea or Seminal Weak
ness resulting from self-abuse or sexual excess,
producing nervous debility, night emissions, de
spondency, dlxxlness, dimness ol sight, pimples
of the face, weakness of mind and body, and
finally limiotency, loss of sexual power, sterility,
ete.,unlll tlnB the victim for marriage or business
aud tendering life miserable, are permanently
cured In shortest possible time. Gonorrheas.
Gleet, Rtrlctures, all Urinary diseases and Hyphl
lls. (all forms, cunsls lug of Skin Kruptlons, Ul
cers In the mouth, throat, or on other parts of the
body, are perfectly cured, and the blood poison
thoroughly eradicated from the system. Dit.
WHITi'IERIsB regular graduate of medicine, as
his diploma at nniue shows; his life Ion special
experience In , all private diseases, with purest
in did ne prepared by himself, enables him to
cure dllllcult cases after others fall It Is self-evident
that a physician treating thousands ol cases
every year acquires great skill. The establish
ment Is central and retired, and so arranged that
patients see the doctor oulv. Consultation and
correspondence private and free. Pamphlets sent
sealed for stamp. Medlolnes sent everywhere.
Hours 9 A. M. to 4 P. M., and 6 P. M.. 1o 8 P. M.
Sundays from 10 A. M., to 1 P. M. Everybody
should read the
MARRIAGE AND HEALTH GUIDE,
144 pages, fine Illustrations, price 20 cents. A
book for private, careful r.ndlng by both sexes,
married or single, explaining wonders and mys
teries nf sexual systemf reproduction, marriage
Impediments, etc., causes, consequence and cure.
Bold at olllce or by mall, sent securely sealed, on
.r, m ioo iii money or postage stamps. AO-
uress un. wnu iiliB, No. 302 Penu Bt.. j
burgh, Pa.
Pitts-
W 46 ly
J. M. Oirvin.
J. II. Girvih.
J. M. GIRVIN&SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 04 South Gay, St.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Couutry Produce aud remit the amounts
promptly. 451vr.
J. M. QIRYIN & BON.
EWAllItlNtl'8
(1S7G Uniform Copyrighted 1877)
x,a.w BiLisrrcs,
The Latest and Best. A Great Improvement a
want supplied. We furnish low aud whatever
you need.
Law and Commercial Supplies of all Kinds.
n Send for samples and price lists of what
you want.
-Oatnlgnes of Blanks furnished at THIS
OFFICE, ordlrect from the publisher.
JS. WAH1NU, Tyrone, Pa.
JyJEAY AY AGON SHOP.
THE undersigned having opened a
WHEELWRIGHT SHOP,
NEW BLOOMFIELD,
are now prepared to do any kind of work In their
line, In any style, at prices which cannot fall to
give satisfaction. Carriages of all styles built
and all work will be warranted.
BTOUFFEIt & CIUST.
NewBloomfleld, April 23, 187.
jypSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now offer the public
A MAKE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
DRESS GOODS
Consisting sf all shados suitable for the. season.
BLACK ALP AC CAS
AND , i" f '
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY, i
BLEACHED A2?D UNBLEACHED '
MUSLINS,;
k AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS!
We sell and do keep a good quality of .
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS,
And everything nnder the head of
GROCERIES!
Machine Needles and oil for all makes of
Machines. .
To be convinced that our goods ire
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
J- No trouble to show goods. '
l
Dou't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
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