The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-10-24


popular with his clerks, for besides being
agreeable, he gave good wages and did not
work his employees to death. had been in
the counting house but six months, when
he one day called me aside and said
Christopher, how would you like to
visit the West Indies 7"
al should be delighted sir, replied
do you think of sending me there 2"
Yes" he answered. Z" there is little
matter concerning the shipment of some
sugar, that seems to give more trouble
than see any necessity for. It's deliv-
cry has been delayed so long and so many
excuses have been received in regard to
the fpl6lment of the order, that | would
like you to go out to Arecibo in the Man
uelta, which sails in few days. | will
give you instructions in regard to your
action tomorrow"
Very well, sir" | replied, "I'll be
ready, and hope that | shall justify the
good opinion you have formed of my bus
iness qualities"
A week later was on board the good
schooner Manuelta, Captain Dobbin,
skimming away over summer sea- 1t
was the first time had ever been out
side of land and through the weather was
pleasant and the ocean smooth, was
nevertheless badly sea-sick for several
days. At the end of that period | was on
deck trailing hook and line astern for
Spanish mackerel and baraconta We
had delighted weather all the way out,
and made a tolerably speedy passage. |
had almost forgotten to say that one of
Mr.. LoriDg's reasons for selecting me to
attend to his business, was the fact that
l spoke Spanish fuently.
The last school | attended had four or
five Cuban boys as pupils, | roomed with
a couple of them, and very rapidly ac-
qured their language.
1t was beautiful day when we let 90
anchor in the port Of Arecbo. must
confess | was not prepossessed with the
appearance Of the place as viewed from
the deck of the Manuelita The houses
seemed low. fiat-roofed, and all of dingy
color, and looked as if they wanted white
washing. As soou as Captain Dobbin
and myself dressed we took the boat and
went on shore. The cargo was consign-
ed to the house of Dlaz e. Domingues
Armed with my credentials from Mr.
Loring, walked with the Captain to the
business place of the firm and presented
my letters to Mr.. Daz, his partner being
absent in Europe, lie wasa short, corpu-
! lapt littla mon v;tb ;ron ,,rov bo;, a,t
exceedingly close to his head, and he had
keen black eyes that possessed merry
twinkle. He read my letters, shook
hands cordially and insisted that | should
make his house my home during my
stay.
That afternoon my baggage was sent
on shore and was introduced to the
family of Mr.. Daz, with the usual asser-
tion that everything in the house was at
my disposal. This is common phrase
out there, but it don't mean what it con-
veys, and must not be taken literally.
Otherwise / should have Immediately APP
propriated the daughter Of my host, ask
ed her fathers blessing, and hunted up u
church and married her on sight. The
wife of Mr.. Diaz was good natured little
woman, quite fat, with an excellent flow
of spirits, and was necessarily talking.
Amelia, the daughter, was about seven
teen, with jet black eyes aud hair, petit
figure and the clearest white complexion
ever beheld. She was very pretty, in
deed, she is SO still, and is now looking
over my shoulder as / write and pulling
me by the ear, calls me " scallawag.''
She has learned this beautiful American
word, and sometime applies it very i'm,
properly. But must not anticipate.
During the thirty days the schooner
was detained in port, | became very init
mate with Mr.. Diaz and family, and had
got deep in love with Amelia. had not
neglected my business, or rather Mr.
Lorings but arranged it satisfactorily
and had written Mr.. Lorng of my sue
cess. Amelia Diaz returned my passion
sub rosa. She informed me cordially,
that it would never do to let her father
suspect our attachment, as he would not
listen to our marrying, that he had Sc
lected husband for her in the person OF
a gentleman who lived in San Juan, he
was old enough tn be her father, but he
was rich, and they thonght he would
make her an excellent husband She
detested him, however, and if | would
run away with her she would marry me
for she loved me and she knew she
would never be happy if she married
Senior Valdez. The candor of the young
girl was something tina: gave me a new
sensation, and | determined 10 spoil the