' . ' c
VOL. xtii.
NEW BLOOMFIELD, 1A.., TUESDAY, MAY13, 1870.
NO. 20 .
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBLISHED BVBBT TUKSIUT BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
SUBSCRIPTION P 11 ICS.
(wrrnm tub couktt.)
One Year II M
six nontHs, 75
(OUT OF TUB COUNTY.)
One Year, (Postage Included) II 150
81x Months, (Postage Included) 85
Invariably lu Advance I
W Advertising rates furnished upon appll
cation.
$ele5t fPoeti'y.
Sweet to Have.
When fair fortune smiles kindly npon us,
And hope sbeds her bright rays around,
When prosperity crowns each endeavor,
And riches and honor abound,
When life's pathway Is strewn with rich gar
lands,
And cloudless the bright skies above,
It Is sweet to have some one to love us,
auu Direct .I iioto Buiug uun w iuiqi
When adversity throws Its dark mantle
Around our bright visions of Joy,
Wheu despair fills our bosoms with anguish,
And seeks our fond hopes to destroy,
When the friends that we cherished so fondly,
Prove false, and turn coldly away,
It Is sweet to have some one to love us,
Who will not our friendship betray.
When the days of our youth have all vanished,
And time leaves Its Impress behind,
When the furrows of age are upon us,
And silver and gold Is entwined j
When the lamp of our life dimly flickers,
And death hovers dark o'er the way j
It is sweet to know some one will love us,
Throughout long eternity's day.
A POOR BOY'S SUCCESS.
T TELL you I won't stand it. I'll
JL go for you, if you don't quit ? Do
you want me to lam you V"
"Boo-hoo! You leave me be. Ma,
he's killing me I'' rang out a shrill, boy.
iah voice.
Ma came to the rescue from an inner
room, with face flushed from bending
over the wash-tub, and arms wet and
red with the Buds. She jerked the angry
boys apart, and, rescuing the eldest.took
him upon her lap, brushed the boyish
curls over her bony fingers, kissed the
low forehead, and wiped the pinched,
red nose from which the blood was ooz
ing. " Is my darling hurt V Oh I he is
bleeding to death !" turning with threat
ening air to her younger son, a sturdy,
surly-looking boy of seven. "You
cruel, cruel boy I is this the way you
treat your angel brother y Do you not
remember how the Lord punished Cain
for murder V and how dare you try to
take your own brother's life "
John stood gazing at the pair with
curled lip, and vouchsafed no reply. The
angry scowl upon his forehead, and the
bitter expression of his mouth, made his
plain face almost ugly.
" Tell mamma all about it, Ikie. Did
John hit my precious lamb first V"
" Boo-hoo I" bawled the lamb, as the
blood streamed from his nose. " I am
going to die, I know I am ! That cruel
bully has done for me this time."
" Call me a bully.do you V" exclaimed
John, squaring about,and suddenly con
fronting his late antagonist. " Me a
bully, as saved you from being licked by
Jim Sykes yesterday 1 No, mother, if
you'll believe my word against that
sickly baby, I caught him a-copylng my
sums that I worked on all last evening,
and the he got mad, and rubbed 'em all
out. A saint won't stand that, and
neither will 1 1 I'll go for him again if
he dares hand 'em in !"
" O my sons, my sons !" groaned the
poor, overworked mother. A hurried
rap interrupted the lecture upon morali
ty she was about to deliver, and she
arose to open the door, admitted an ele
gantly attired lady.
The lady (V) was dressed in the richest
of lavender silks. Heavy chain brace
lets hung like shackles about her fat
wrists, and her chubby hands were con
fined In the tightest and lightest of
kids.
"Am I in the abode of my laundress V"
came in an oily voice from the mass of
silk and laoe.
Martha Fielding's face became, If pos
sible, more flushed : she drew down the
worn calico sleeves over her bare arms,
dusted a cane-bottomed chair with her
apron, and jerked Johnny from too
near contact, with the lady's precious
robe.
"Iam Martha Fielding, ma'am, at
your service. I have the honor of
speaklDg to Mrs. Jones 1"'
" Lud, no, woman I I've been to
Europe since those days, and am mar
ried to a right handsome young man by
the name of Landersdale. Mrs. Ross
Landersdale. Quite an aristocratic ti
tle, ain't it V But I didn't come to talk,
though, seeing a9 you used to wash for
us in old times, before dear Jones specu
lated and got rich, it's but nateral tbat I
should like to gissip a bit. I'm inclined
to be very friendly with my Inferiors,
and Landersdale scolds me for it ; but I
told him at the last Inaugural Ball,
when I danced with two ginerals, that
I could never stand It to be etiquetical
for any length of time."
She evideutly enjoyed Mrs. Fielding's
breathless admiration ; and, as she drew
herself up with suddenly remembered
dignity, there was a comical mixture of
freezing hauteur and good-natured fa
miliarity In her manner.
" Lud, Fielding, it's a terrible trial to
life and limb to climb these stairs. The
footman wanted to come up for me, but
I told him no, your time was more
precious than mine, and you couldn't
afford to leave the wash-tub and come
into the street, even to talk to rich
folks. What Is your price a dozen
now!"'
" A dollar for fine pieces, ma'am, and
I allow one white skirt to the dozen V"
"Preposterous!" Mrs. Landersdale,
although wealthy, shared the weakness
of most rich people, and was parsimo
nious. " Seventy-five cents was all I
used to pay."
" Yes, madam ; but times is hard.
There is the fuel, the rent, and the chil
dren. Poor folks must keep body and
soul together, you know."
Mrs. Landersdale vouchsafed no reply
to this, but rolled her small blue eyes to
the celling, and seemed to be counting
the flies thereon or . rather the small
white spots where the flies were not.
Ike had taken refuge In the kitchen,
but now appeared radiant, after ducking
his pretty face in the tin basin, and rub
bing it with a coarse towel. His large
blue eyes were cast down behind theb?
curtains of golden lashes, and his long
chestnut curls hung in graceful con
fusion below his waist. He was cer
tainly a remarkably beautiful boy, and
Mrs. Landersdale, with all her failings,
possessed a passionate maternal love for
pretty children. :
" Oh, what a duck of a boy I What
a precious cherub I Will the little dear
come and kiss the lady V"
Ike advanced, the blood mantling his
fair cheeks and temples. He looked
very little like a boy that would steal
his brother's sums, fight, and tell lies.
His appearance was truly angello ; and
no wonder Mrs. Landersdale, who pos
sessed very little penetration, was
charmed.
" Just what the Lord has denied me
a child. Ah, Fielding, is It possible
this little sprig of aristocracy is your
son "
Martha's face reddened at her visitor's
insolent tone.
" The Fieldings have good blood In
their vlens, ma'am, and my folks were
honest New England people. There's
no aristocracy in America and my son
may be President yet who knows V
" To be sure, Fielding. When uni
versal suffering comes in, he'll get all
the women's votes, and hearts too, by
his beauty."
She chuckled, and drew Ike, with his
coarse boots and patched trousers, upon
her lap.
'My dear, will you go home with the
lady, and ride a beautiful pony,and wear
a velvet dress? What is my precious'
name?"
John made a face as Ike, looking
bashfully up, caught his eye. He knew
that this saintly manner was a sham,
and beauty did not Influence him as It
did the fairer sex.
' Isaao Vernon Fielding," answered
his mother, with a glow of pardonable
pride. His father's name was Vernon :
he belonged to a respectable family, but
was driven from home for my sake. Ah,
tney were proud folks. Poor soul ! he
was charmed by my yellow curls and
blue eyes, or he'd never have given up
weaitu for me."
She raised her faded gingham apron,
and wiped away a few scalding tears.
"Yes: good blood will tell," mur
mured Mrs. Landersdale. "I knew
that no Irish chap could wear this
one's refined face. I'll tell you what
I'll do, Fielding. I have no children of
my own, and this child has captured me
entirely by his sweet face and winning
ways. If you will sign a paper resign
ing all claim to him in the future, and
promising never to try to see him again,
I'll adopt him, educate him, and leave
him comfortably well off. Come, now,
that's an offer you won't get every
day."
Martha Fielding's face grew pale at
this proposition. What! part with her
pet lamb ? Sell her child for gold ?
Then ambition whispered :
" Was not this a golden opportunity
for her boy V wealth, luxury, the best
of clothes, a carriage to ride in, and no
work to soil his pretty hands. If she
made this sacrifice, would he not re
ward her for It all when he grew up to
be a rich, honored man V"
No good angel whispered In her ear
that he might live to be ashamed of his
humble mother ; her faith in him was
infinite.
She was ignorant, worshiped what
gold could buy, and would have cut out
her heart if her idol could have been ben
eflted thereby.
There was one terrible struggle with
her mother-love, then the tempter tri
umphed, and she gave her son, whose
soul should have been her most prec
ious responsibility, into the hands of a
worldly-minded, coarse woman, who
bellved that money was the open sesame
to even the gate itself.
"I appreciate the honor done us,
ma'am," in a husky voice; " but it Is
hard, the terms you make. If I could
only see my darling once or twice a
year."
" Impossible, my good woman !" with
a decided, ugly shake of the head ; "Im
possible. You must give him up entire
ly, or not at all. I'll have no vulgar re
latives claiming my pet. He shall be
all Landersdale, and nothing coarse
must come near to spoil his future. Ver
non Landersdale. I will have Bishop
Stafford christen him at once. How do
you like the name, my dear V"
Isaao was only eight years old, but he
was sharp enough to comprehend the
lady's meaning.
" I love you already, ma'am, and, If
ma will let me, I'll go and live with
you."
" That Is a precious lamb. Come,now,
Fielding, be sensible."
"Well," with one last struggle be
tween love and expediency, " take him,
ma'am." Then, with a burst of tears,
" Go now. I know it Is for my dar
ling's good but, If you don't take him
right off, I can never part with him."
" We musn't have a scene, Fielding.
Kiss your boy, and then we will go at
once. I.wlll get my lawyer to draw up
the papers, and come here to-morrow ;
and, If you decide to take it quietly, I
may give you a little something too.
Of course you must give up all idea of
washing for me; for, though I'd like
to help you a bit, it might cause the
servants to make scurrilous remurks
about Vernon's birth."
The mother clasped her son in her
arms for the last time, and pressed burn
ing kisses upon his lipa ; but his eyes
were dry as he slipped from her caresses
with a peevish cry.
John stood by while this scene was
transpiring, scarcely realizing what had
happened. As Ike was about to leave,
he ran forward and caught bis brother's
hand.
" Good-bye, Ike. Don't hold a grudge,
do you V I don't ; and I think it's bul
ly you are going to live in a big house,
and have a swell time I"
Mrs. Landersdale paused at the head
of the creaking stairs and looked at
John through a pair of gold eye-glasses
she sometimes affected when she desired
to appear particularly awful.
" And who is this vulgar Utile rough,
may I ask V"
"Oh, this is John, my youngest,
ma'am. A good enough boy, but he'll
pick up gufler talk, you know."
There settled upon Mrs. Landersdale's
features an expression which betokened
her extreme annoyance.
" Dear, dear ! a coarse brother to fol
low my pet through the world, and spoil
bis prospects. But he shan't do it! no,
sir 1" turning decidedly toward John,
who had grown very warm and red.
"You musn't come sneaking about my
house, for I won't have it! Do you
hear V"
"I'll be darned, old lady, if I don't
keep clear of the whole raft of you 1"
"Old I" exclaimed the horrified Mrs.
Landersdale, taking the-boy by the col
lar and commencing to shake him.
" You little brute 1 how dare you?"
Then she suddenly remembered her
long-suffering dignity, relaxed her grasp
and floated down stairs as gracefully as
her two hundred pounds avoirdupois
would allow.
Ike followed, but In passing stepped
upon John's toes, and whispered with
an insolent sneer :
" You'll never lam me again, you gutter-snipe.
I'll pay you off some day
yet!"
Then, as Mrs. Landersdale turned, the
sneaking, vlllanous expression left his
face, and a bright smile came in Its
stead.
"Vernon, are you coming V"
" Yes, ma'am. I'll hurry. Oh ! am I
going to ride lu that beautiful crimson
carriage V How good and sweet you
are!"
Martha and John watched through
the steaming window the footman, all
In gray livery and brass buttons, de
scend from his perch and open the
door for their Ike. Yes, and Ike sank
back in the crimson cushions beside
Mrs. Landersdale as if he was to the
manner born, and never even gave one
glance up at the heart-broken mother,
who was leaning out of the window now
that she might catch a last glimpse of
the flying wheels and shining horses.
"Poor darling!" she sighed, as her
tears fell hot and fast into the wash-tub.
" How sweet he looked with those blue
eyes and golden curls all wrapped up In
the robes ! I pray God he may be hap
py, and that his poor mother's heart
won't break."
The tears blinded her again, and she
left the clothes In the suds, leaned her
head upon the table and gave full vent
to her grief.
A sunny day in May, with a spring
freshness in the air. Central Pork wore
a gala aspect this Saturday afternoon,
and John Fielding, as he danced about
the Zoological Garden, feed the deer with
peanuts and made faces at the mon
keys, wore as happy a face as any of the
delicate little scions of aristocracy out
taking their constitutionals with their
nurses.
There was no envy In his heart as he
gave these favorites of Fortune a passing
glance now and then. He curled his
Up contemptuously as he met boys of
his own age with long curls, peevish
voiceB, and puny limbs.
"What a precious set I " he mused:
" they are so pretty, it's a pity they are
not girls. Jingo 1 if there don't go a
regular beauty, though I Why, it's a
little angel, I guess."
The little creature who had attracted
his attention was dressed in the height
of fashion. Her white embroidered
skirts barely touched her knees, and her
her tiny feet were encased in the most
impossible-looking kid boots. Her long
yellow hair, caught by a ribbon, fell
over her blue sash, and the large hazel
eyes were upturned to her companion
a pleasant-looking gentleman of thirty
or thereabouts.
" O uncle I do look at this sweet little
deer. Can't I feed him some candy J"'
Her uncle smiled indulgently "down
upon the pretty vision. His dark eyes,
long side-whiskers, and exquisite toilet
made a pleasant exterior; but the weak
mouth, half hidden by a tawny mus
tache, and low, slightly receding fore
head, betokened to a shrewd observer a
lack of firmness, and a morality that
might give way under the strain of great
temptation..
"No, Maudle; I wouldn't venture
too near the animals. Come up with
me, pet, and see the swans ; then you
can run round, while I smoke this
cigar."
She left rather reluctantly, and watch
ed our hero half enviously as he patted
a timid-looking fawn upon the head.
" Oh, look, look, uncle I The dear lit
tle toad Isn't a bit afraid of that boy.
He looks like a kind, good boy; mayn't
iBpeaktohlmy"
" No, no, child : what would auntie
say f Don 't be ridiculous, Maudle, an d
come on."
She took his hand and danced away
up the path, but not until she had
thrown Johnny two or three candy
hearts. He picked them up and stood
gazing after her in a dazed sort of way.
They were going up to visit the swans ;
why might he not go too V
He answered the question satisfactori
ly for himself by taking another path
toward the lake, and was rewarded
when he reached the spot by catching
sight of the object of his search. The
gentleman was seated upon a bench, lost
In a paper, and Maudle ran along the
water's edge, throwing pebbles Into the
sparkling lake.
John seated himself upon a rock, and
watched the child as the sunlight danced
in her long curls and lighted up her
mischievous brown eyes. A beautiful
white swan was sailing majestically on
the blue waters, and she was using every
childish wife to Induce him to come to
shore.
"You dear, sweet little bird!" John
heard her whisper, " won't you come to
Maudle t She's got candy for you, and
will eat it all up If you don't hurry."
Then she clapped her tiny hands, as
the swan, moved by her persuasive pow
ers, no doubt, came with a slow, grace
ful movement toward the spot where
she stood.
She ran to the edge of the lake, until
the water washed against her blue boots,
and, in her eagerness to touch the bird's
white feathers, stood upon tip-toe, and
held out both hands, forgetful of the
danger.
John started as he saw her reach for
ward over the deep water, but he was
too late. He heard a childish shriek of
terror, then two brown eyes were lifted
Imploringly toward him,two tiny hands
reached in a mute appeal for rescue, and
a white dress fast sinking from the view
was ail he could see of Maudie.
Before her uncle, roused from his pa
per by her scream, could reach the lake,
John had thrown off his coat and vest,
and was diving for the little girl.
He was athletic, strong for his age,
and, thanks to his education, a splendid
swimmer ; so, before many minutes bad
elapsed, Maudle was in her uncle's arms,
wet and pale from the dousing and
scare, but none the worse for her bath.
" Why, darling! what a careless wretch
I was, to be sure ! Why, it Is a miracle
you were not drowned I Where is the
boy?"
John had already gone from sight,and
was wringing out his wet hair and re
placing his coat and vest.
'He went behind that tree, uncle;
and hs Is the one you wouldn't let me
speak to. He is a dear, good boy, though
he is dreadful poor," in a confidential
whisper, " for he ain't got no good
clothes, and his trousers are all patched
up."
The gentleman went behind the tree
indicated, and found John, who blushed
and looked foolish enough when he saw
he was discovered.
"My good boy," in a lofty, conde
scending tone, " you have done a very
brave act, and of course you must be
duly rewarded. I am going to call a cab
and you can accompany us home ; then
we'll see what can be done for you."
" O sir 1" began John In an expostu
lating voice; but the gentleman did not
heed him.
He took Maudie in his arms, walked
down the rood, and ordered John to fol
low. They were near the entrance to
the Park, when an elegant-looking turn
out passed them, a boy's head was
thrust out of the carriage, and a shrill
voice cried :
" I say, Johnson, you here, pull up
your horses ! There's Uncle Boss and
Maud."
Johnson, In obedience to the polite
command, accordingly pulled up, and
Mrs. Landersdale herself leaned out of
the carriage.
" What under heaven, Landersdale,
are you doing in the Park on foot this
time of day y and Sunday, too! You
will mortify me to death yet. I just
passed Gineral Gun's family and the
Petersea. Lud! I knew that Peters gal
saw you, for everyone knows where her
heart has flown to, and she craned that
long neck of hern away out of the car
riage to see you. It is perfectly disgust
ing, these American manners. I de
clare, give me foreign women for refine
ment." Mrs. Boss Landersdale echoed the last