Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-16
NUMBER 3S.
BROTHER PAUL.

would call our home Grassville, though
we struggled long and hard for Graceville.
However, when the nickname got into the
Gazetteer, we gave it up. Paul was fine,
strong fellow, five feet eight inches high,
with ruddy complexion, and life in his
eyes. His brown hair curled, his lips were
loving like girls, und he was what is
called &" a mothers boy" There is no bet
ter recommendation for young man. His
dress was striped homemade cloth, indigo
blue and white made in the form OF a blouse,
with wide pantaloons, over which were
drawn long leather boots. The blouse had
a square collar, which was tucked back,
which revealed fine, white, and very neat
ly-made shirt made it, though say it
who should not say it." The blouse was
confined at the waist by black leather
belt. A very full knapsack, with blanket
strapped outside, a very bright rifle and
axe, completed the accoutrement OF the
traveller He walked as if his nerves were
perfectly tempered steel springs, and as
though all means of locomotion were con-
tempt BILE save those included in himself.
He was going to his farm in the woods, or
rather to his "lot of land" which was to
become a farm when it was cleared and
brought under cultivation. When he had
walked twenty miles he came to Woodville.
dis place lay beyond, in the nameless re-
gion known as Z" the Heavy Timbers." The
hard wood and heavy growth frightened
many, but tempted my "live brother" as
we used to call him. As he passed on his
way he came to house in the outskirts of
hamlet, consirting of saw and grist mill,
a clothing MILL and five or six dwellings,.
Paul was hungry-he was a genuine hero,
but heroes get hungry like ordinary NOR
tails. At the edge Of slope, little be-
fore he came to the house, was spring,
and "a dear pretty girl y was filling a
bright tin pail with the crystal water
Whether the sight of the young lady inten-
siied Paul's hunger cannot say, but he re-
solved to get his dinner at the next house,
for hotels were unknown then in this re-
gion He had bread and cheese in his pack,
still he had a fancy to rest and dine. He
knocked at the door of the wayside dwell
ing a cheerful voice said "come in," and
he entered a neat, large, square room. Two
girls-almost as pretty as the one he had
seen at the spring-were spinning one
was spinning woolen rolls, the other cotton
roping. In each case the material was re-
duced by machinery to a roll about as thick
as the little finger of the spinner. The
wheels occupied one side of the room, on
another a man was making shoes, and at a
front window worn, faded, but lady-like
woman with failing sight was mending
boys clothes. 1t was a sad fact that the
boys of this family were something of the
nature of a nuisancn. The neighbors said
the father did not like to give them his own
trade, for he felt above it himself. Certain
it is, they were not trained to useful work
but were sometimes made to do chores" :"
They were imprisoned in school in winter
and they raised Cain" the year round
They tore their pantaloons bird-nesting, they
made elbow room" by holes in the sleeves
of their jackets, they went swimming in
dark deep pools in Black River, and they
were any thing but I" a real blessing to
mothers"
In the country where openings alternate
with forests, and a village has six dwellings,
a traveller is a sort of irregular newspaper
Every body is glad to see somebody, when
seldom comes along. There is
life in the grasp OF strangers hand in the
of forest life. Paul was made to
feel at home at once. The family of Mr.
Joseph Jones soon learned that he was from
Grassville, that he was the son of his ia
ther, who was a man of mark among the
settlers, and that he was going to - the
Heavy Timbers to take up md clear
hundred acre lot The girls were not frigh-
tened that he was going alone. They even
promised to come and see him in sugar
time, as they were only seven miles from
his opening that was to be, and there were
blazed trees to mark the way, so one of the
boys could p lot them.
But will come for yOu," Paul said,
gallantly. Mrs Jones looked a little more
worn and weary as the young people talked
it over, and said what good fun it would
be-" Poor lady she had made Just such
with her husband twenty years
since She had helped him clear good
many acres, but he was not persevering.
Thev had sold out years ago, and he had
50 taken up" several kinds of business. For
the last years he had worked at shoemaking
This he had also taken up" which means,
that he had never learned the trade He
was clever, this Joseph Jones but there
was sorrow in that home, and he caused it,
L HC SCIllISl lIOOlS Sdld w Hat plIN
such clever man should be unsteady !"
The bolder and less kind said, "What a
shame that such a man should drink y He
was not habitual, daily drunkard, but at
all raisings, logrollings, at Christmas, and
in all times of illness and trouble, Mr.. Jones
was sure to be in liquor" so as to be use
less. This terrible unreHabilty had broken
his wife's spirits, and almost broken her
heart and at forty she was wrinkled, gray,
and prematurely old. Some thought books
and a superior education had spoiled Mr.
Jones others said more books, a Lyceum
an agricultural association, and competing
for prizes, would have saved Joseph Jones
But he was not saved, and his family were
not blessed in him as they should have
been in a man Of his education and ability.
An hours talk, nice dinner and the
smiles of these pretty girls, set Paul Wig
orously on his way Did he steal any thing
in that home He took something away
with him which he never returned, and
which he hid as carefully as if it were a
thief. Why is it that the first conscious
ness of affection leads us to conceal? There
is one name that we can never utter freely
and cheerfully, though the sound of it
thrills the heart with delight, even though
it be Smith, Brown, or Jones. Paul took
away great deal from that wayside house,