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VOL. XIV.
THE TIMES.
in Independent Family Newspaper,
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cation.
$eledt Poetry.
I MUST WORK.
Death worketh,
Let me work too j
Death nndoeth,
Let me do.
Bus; as death my work I ply,
Till I rest lu the rest of eternity.
Time worketh,
Let me work too ;
Time nndoeth,
Let me do.
Busy as time my work I ply,
Till I rest in the rest of eternity.
Sin worketh,
Let me work too ;
Bin nndoeth,
Let me do..
Busy as sin my work I ply,
Till I rest in the rest of eternity.
Nora's Plot to Win a Husband.
SHE was Bitting under the shadow
of a fragrant lime tree that over
hung a very ancient well, and as the
water fell into her pitcher ehe was
mingling with its music the tones of her
"Jew's harp," the only instrument upon
which Norah Clary had learned to play.
She was a merry maiden of "sweet
seventeen," a rustic belle as well as a
rustic beauty, and a terrible coquette ;
and as she had what in Scotland they
call a " tocher," In England a "dowry,"
and in Ireland "a pretty penny o' mon
ey," it is scarcely necessary to Btate, in
addition, that she had a bachelor.
Whether the tune which was certainly
given in alto was or was not designed
as a summons to her lover, I can not
take upon myself to say ; but her lips
had not been long occupied before her
lover was at her side.
" We may as well give it up, Morris
Donovan," she said somewhat abruptly;
" look, 'twould be as easy to twist the
top of the great hill of Howth as make
father and mother agree about one thing.
They have been playing the rule of
contrary these twenty years, and it's
not likely they'll take a turn now."
" It's mighty hard, so it is," replied
handsome Morris, " that married people
can't draw together! Norah, darlintl
that wouldn't be the way with us. It's
one we'd be in heart and sowl, and an
example of love and"
"Folly," Interrupted the maiden,
laughing, " Morris, Morris, we've quar
relled a score of times already ; and a bit
of a breeze makes life all the pleasanter.
Shall I talk about the merry jig I danced
with Phil Kearney ,or repeat what Mark
Doolon said of me to Mary Grey V eh,
Morris ?"
" Leave joking, now Norry ; Ood only
knows how I love you," he said, lu
voice broken by emotion; "I'm yer
equal as far as money goes ; and no
young farmer In the country can tell a
better stock to his share than mine ; yet
I don't pretend to deserve you for all
that; only I can't help saying that
when we love each other (now don't go
to contradict me, Norry, because ye've
as good as owned it Over and over again)
and yer father agreeable, and all to think
that yer mother, out of divilment,
should be putting betwixt us for no
reasons upon earth only to spite her
lawful husband, Is what sets me mad
entirely, and shows her to be a good
for-"
"Stop, Mister Morris," exclaimed
Norah, laying her hand on bis mouth,
ao as effectually fp prevent a sound
escaping " "" . uotberye're talking
NEW BLOOMFIELD, !P.A.., TUESDAY, AITOL 0, 188Q.
of, and it would be Ill-blood ns well as
Ill-bred, to hear a word said ngniust an
own parent. Is that the pattern of yer
manners, sir; or did ye ever hear tne
turn my tongue against one belonging
to you V"
" I ask your pardon, my own Norah,"
he replied meekly, as in duty bound ;
" for the sake of the lamb we spare the
sheep. Why not? and I am not going
to gainsay about yer mother"
" The least said the soonest mended !"
again interrupted, the Impatient girl.
" Good even, Morris, and God bless you,
they'll be afther missing me within,
and it's little mother thinks where I
am."
" Norah, above all the girls at wake
or pattern, I've been true to you. We
have grown together, and since ye were
the height of a rose bush ye have been
dearer to me than anything else on
earth. Do, Norah, for the love of our
young hearts' love, do think if there's
no way to win your mother over. If
ye'd take me without her leave, sure it's
nothing I'd care for the loss of thou
sands, let alone what you've got. Dear
est Norah, think, you'll do nothing
without her consent, do think ; for once
be serious, and don't laugh."
"I'm not going to laugh, Morris,"
replied the little maltL, at last, after a
ery long pause, " I've a wise thought
in my head for once. His reverence,
jour uncle, you say, spoke to father to
speak to mother about it. I wouder,
and he a priest, that he hadn't more
sense! Sure, mother wbb the man;
but I've got a wise thought. Good-night
dear Morris; good-night."
The lass sprang lightly over the fence
into her own garden, leaving her lover
perdu at the other side, without possess
ing an Idea of what her " wise thought"
might be. When she entered the
kitchen, matters were going on as usual
her mother bustling In style, and as
cross as a "bag of weasels."
"Jack Clary," said she to her husband
who sat quietly in the chimney corner
smoking his duddeen, " It's well you've
got a wife that knows what's what !
God help me! I've little good of a
husband, barring the name! Are you
sure Black Nell's in the stable r" The
husband nodded. " The cow and the
calf, bad they fresh strawy" Another
nod. " Bad cess to ye, can't ye use yer
tongue, and answer a civil question)1"
continued the lady.
" My dear," he repl led, "sure one like
you has enough talk for ten."
This very just observation was, like
most truths,so disagreeable that a severe
storm would have followed, had not
Nora stepped up to her father and whis
pered in his ear, " I don't think the
stable door is fastened." Mrs. Clary
caught the sound, and in no gentle terms
ordered her husband to attend to the
comforts of black Nell.
" I'll go with father myself and see,"
said Norah.
"That's like my own child, always
careful," observed the mother, as the
father and daughter closed the door.
" Dear father," began Norah, " It
isu't altogether about the stable I want
ed to see ye, but but the priest said
something to you to-day, about Morris
Donovan."
"Yes, darling, about yourself, my
sweet Norry." ' ' '
" Did you speak to mother about it V
'No, darling, she's been cross all
day. Sure I go through a great deal for
peace and quietness. If I was like other
men, and got drunk and wasted, it
might be in reason ; as to Morris, she
was very fond of the boy till she found
that I liked him, and then, my jewel,
she turned like sour milk in a minute.
I'm afraid even the priest will get no
good of her."
" Father, dear father," said Norah,
"suppose ye were to say nothing about
it, good or bad, and juBt pretend to take
a sudden dislike to Morris, and let the
priest speak to her himself, she'd come
around."
" Out of opposition to me, eh V"
"Yes."
"And let her gain the day, then
that would be cowardly," replied the
farmer, drawing himself up. "No, I
won't."
" Father, dear, ye don't understand,"
said the cunning lass, "sure ye're for
Morris ; and when we are that is, If I
mean suppose father, you know what
I mean," she continued, and luckily the
twilight concealed her blushes" it that
took place, it's you that would have his
own way."
" True for ye, Norry, my girl, true for
ye. I never thought of that before!"
and pleased with the idea of "tricking"
his wife, the old man fairly capered for
joy. "But stay awhile stay, aisy,
alsy !" he commenced, " how am I to
manage f Sure the priest himself will
be here to-morrow morning early; and
he's out upon a station now, so there's
no use speaking with him. He's . no
way quick, either; We'll be bothered
entirely, If he comes In on a suddent."
" Leave it to me, dear father, leave it
all to me!" exclaimed the nnlinated
girl. " Only pluck up spirit, and when
ever Morris' name Is mentioned, abuse
him ; but not with all your heart, father
only from the teeth out!"
When they re-entered, the fresh, boll
ed potatoes sent a warm, curling steam
to the very rafters of the lofty kitchen ;
they were poured out Into a large wicker
dish , and on the lop of the pile rested a
plate of coarse, white salt ; noggins of
buttermilk were filled on the dresser,
and on a small round table a cloth was
spread, and some delf plates awaited the
more delicate repast which the farmer's
wife was herself preparing.
" What's for supper, mother?" In
quired Norah, as she drew her wheel
toward her, and employed her fairy foot
in whirling it around.
" Plaguy sulpeens," she replied, "bits
o' bog chickens, that you,ve always such
a fancy for ; Barney Leary kilt tbem
himself."
"So I did," said Barney, grinning,
and that stick wld a hook of Morris
Donovan's la the finest thing in the
world for knocking 'em down."
"If Morris Donovan's stlok touched
them they shan't come here," said the
farmer, striking the poor little table
such a blow with his clinched hand
as made not only it, but Mrs. Clary
jump.
"And why so, prayV" asked the
dame.
" Because nothing belongs to Morris,
let alone Morris himself, shall come Into
this house," replied Clary ; " he's not to.
my liking, anyhow, and there's no good
in his bothering here after what he
won't get."
" Excellent," whispered Norah.
" Lord save us!" ejaculated Mra. Clary,
as Bhe placed the grilled snipes on the
table, " what's come to the man "
Without heeding his resolution, she was
proceeding to distribute the savory "blr
deens," when, to her astonlsment, her
usually tame husband threw the dish
and its contents into the flames. The
good woman absolutely stood aghast.
The calm, however, was not of long
duration. She soon rallied and com
menced hostilities. " How dare you, ye
spalpeen, throw away any of God's mate
after that fashion, and I to the fore V
What do you mane, I Bay V"
"I mane that nothing touched by
Morris Donovan shall come under this
roof; and if I catch that girl of mine
looking at the side of the road he walks
on, I'll take the eyes out of her head,
and send her to a nunnery !"
" You will I And dare you say that
to my face, and to a child o' mine !
You will, will you I we'll see, my boy I
I'll tell ye what, if you like, Morris
Donovan shall come into this house,
and, what's more, be master of this
house, and that's what you never had
the heart to be yet, you poor ould
snail."
So saying, Mrs. Clary endeavored to
rescue from the fire the hissing remains
of the burning snipes. Norah attempted
to assist her mother, but Clary, lifting
her up, somewhat after the fashion of
an eagle raising a golden wren with its,
claw, fairly put her out of the kitchen.
This was the signal for fresh hostilities.
Mr. Clary persisted in abusing not only
Morris, but Morris' uncle, Father Dono
van, until at last the farmer's helpmeet
Bwore. ay, and that roundly, too, by
cross and saint, that, before the next
sunset, Norah Clary should be Norah
Donovan. I wish you could have seen
Norry's eyes, dancing with joy and
exultation, as it peeped through the
latch-bole; it sparkled more brightly
than the richest diamond in her mon
arch's crown, for it was filled with hope
and love.
The next morning, before the sun was
fairly up, he was throwing hia early
beams over the glowing cheek of Norah
Clary ; for her "wise thought had pros
pered, and Bhe was hastening to the
trystlng tree, where, " by chance,"
either morning or eveulng, she generally
met Morris Donovan. I don't know
how It 1b, but the moment the course of
true love " runs smooth," It becomes
very uninteresting, except to the parties
concerned. Soil is now left for me
only to say that the maiden, after a due
and proper time consumed in teasing
and tantalizing her Intended, told him
her saucy plan and Its result. And the
lover hastened, upon the wings of love
(which I beg my readers clearly to un
derstand are swifter and stronger In
Ireland than any other country,) to
apprise the priest of the arrangement,
well knowing that his reverence loved
his nephew and niece that was to be to
say nothing of the wedding supper and
the profits arising therefrom too well
not to aid their merry jest.
What bustle, what preparation, what
feasting, what dancing gave the country
people enough to talk about during the
happy Christmas holidays, I can not
now describe. The bride of course
looked lovely, and " sheepish, " and the
bridegroom but bridegrooms are always
uninteresting. One fact, howeve, is
worthy of mention. When Father
Donovan concluded the ceremony, be
fore the bridal klsa had. passed, farmer
Clary, without any reason that his wife
could discover, most Indecorously sprang
up, seized a shlllalah of stout oak and
whirling it rapidly over his head, shout
ed: "Carry me out! by the powers,
she's beat! we've won the day I ould
Ireland forever! Success boys! she's'
beat ! she's beat !"
The priest seemed vastly to enjoy the
extemporaneous effusion, and even the
bride laughed outright. Whether the
good wife discovered the plot or not, I
never heard; but of this I am certain,
that the joyous Norah never had reason
to repent her plot.
A SEA CAPTAIN'S ADVENTURE.
AN old sea captain in one of the South
American line of steamers, thus
relates an experience which he under
went while on a recent trip through the
forests of Brazil : " My way .lay through
a dense wood from which I emerged
only to find myself halted by the River
Amazon. Going along the banks I
found a small hut and obtained a boat
from the owner to row myBelf to the
opposite shore. When in the middle of
the river a big tree came crashing along,
and hitting my boat full on the quarter,
smashed her like an egg shell. I had
just time to clutch the projecting roots
and whisk myself up on to them, and
then tree and I went away down stream
together, at I don't know how many
miles an hour..
At first I was so much rejoiced at
escaping just when all seemed over with
me, that I didn't think much of what
was to come next; but before long I got
something to think of with a vengeance.
The tree, as I said, was a large one, and
the branch end (the opposite one to
where I sat) was all one mass of green
leaves. All at once, just as I was shift
ing myself to a safer place among the
roots, the leaves suddenly shook and
parted, and out popped the great yellow
head and fierce eyes of an enormous
lion !
I don't think that I ever got such a
fright in my life. My gun bad gone to
the bottom along with the boat, and
the only weapon I had left was a short
hunting knife, which against such a
beast as that would be of no more use
than a bodkin. I fairly gave myself up
for lost, making sure that In another
moment he'd spring forward and tear
me into bits.
But whether it was that he had already
gorged himself with prey, or whether
(as I suspect) he was really frightened at
finding himself in such a scrape, he
showed no disposition to attack me, so
long, at least, as I remained still. The
instant I made any movement, how
ever, he would begin roaring and
lashing bis tall, as if he were going to
fall on me at once. So, to avoid provok
ing him, I was forced to remain stoek
still, although sitting so long in one
position cramped me dreadfully.
There we sat, Mr. Lion and I, staring
at each other with all our might a very
picturesque group, no doubt, if there
NO. 15.
had been anybody there to see It. Down,
down the stream we went, the banks
seeming to race past us as If we . were
going by train, while all around, broken
timber, wagon wheels, trees, bushes,
and the carcasses of drowned horses and
cattle went whirling past us upon the
thick, brown water.
I was fairly at my wit's end what to
do, when all of a sudden I caught sight
of something that gave me a gleam of
hope.
A little way ahead of us the river nar
rowed suddenly, and a rocky headland
thrust Itself out a good way into the
stream. On one of the lowest poln ts of
it grew a thick clum'p of trees, whose
boughs overhung ' the water; and it
struck me that, if we only passed near
enough, I might manage to catch bold
of one of the branches and swing myself
up on the rock.
No sooner said than done. I started
up, hardly caring whether the lion
attacked me or not, and planted myself
firmly upon one of - the biggest roots,
where I could take a good spring when
the time came; I knew that that would
be my last chance, for by this time we
were so near the precipice that I could
see quite plainly, a little way ahead, the
vaper that hovered over the great water
fall. Even at the best It was a desperate
venture, and I can tell you that I felt
my heart beginning to thump like a
sledge-hammer as we came closer and
closer to the point, and I thought of
what would happen if I missed my
leap.
Just as we neared It, it happened by
special mercy of God tbat our tree struck
against something and turned fairly
crosswise.to the current, the end with
the lion on it swinging out into mid
stream, while my end was driven close
to the rock on which the clump-of trees
grew. Now or never ! I made one-spring ( 1
don't think I ever made one before or
since) and just clutched the lower bough
and as I dragged myself on to It, I heard'
the last roar of the doomed Hon ming
ling with the thunder of the waterfall,
as he vanished Into the cloud of mis
that overhung the precipice. As for me,
it was late enough that night before 1
got home, and found my poor wife in a
fine fright about me; so I thought it
just as well, on the whole, to keep nay.'
adventure to myself, and It wasn't till a
year later that she beard a word about
my strange fellow-voyager."
Slow and Sure.
This in the end Is a sure motto. I
the clerkship it is better to begin at the
lowest round of the ladder, as Mr. Dodge
did, and Mr. Stewart did, and Mr. Van
derbilt did, and thousands of rich men
did, and work steadily on, year In ad
year out, and learn to wait as well as to
work. Almost any honest employ meat,
faithfully and perseveringly pursued,
will bring a competency to an energetic,
good man, with an average amount of
sense. And if be has brains, with tact,
he will be recognized and put forward
by those whom he can serve to their
advantage, while be helps himself up
ward in business. " Stick to your busi
ness" until you are called to something
else because you have done so well in
what you were at. But " a rolling stone
gathers no moss." doing from one
thing to another makes one petfeet in
nothing, and this explains why so many
young men illustrate another proverb
about "coming out at the littW ead of
the horn." f
3" "No, dls club nebber be any
debates," replied Brother Gardner. " I
used to incourage sioh flngs, an dar was
a time when I felt myself a power in de
land on debate. But I lived to see de
evil eflecks. I dhtkivered dat if de ole
woman wanted an armful of wood I
wanted to stop for half an hour an' argy
the matter. If I'wanted a clean shirt,
she had fifteen different reasons why de
hull pile war in de wash. Member of
de society squatted in grocery stores an'
made demselves - believe dey were at
work an' alrnln $2 a day, and two of
dem would stop on de street an argy for
half a day'oberde query, "Which am
de greatest benefactor, de elofant or de
whale V I fink we am doin' well 'nun
as it am, an' we will leave dehateg to,
outsiders."