The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-12-12

now Hilda paused and blushed little, just
very little, but still it was discemable,
and Hilda knew it and reproved herself for
the misdemeanor by softly saying, "What
a very silly girl amp Then she strove to
be more collected, took up her pen in a
manner intended to be dignifed, and bent
over the unstained paper before her. But
no-she was not ready yet; small slip of
paper was taken and name written which
read cdr Norman Wilderp' and now
that the name was in black and white be-
fore her, she regained courage, took the
note-paper and penned the invitation, and
then with sigh of relief, she dropped it
into the basket, saying:
"There, am glad to have this business
of writing invitations off my mind. To be
sure, there was no immediate hurry, as it
will be more than a week from now to
Thanksgiving, but / like to be in season.
But believe am a little weary. Let me
see-I have written more than three hours.
I'll take walk to Dame Grafton's after
dinner, and that will rest me. Poor little
Bess, I've not seen her for a week.
In pursuance with her resolves after din
ner, aHilda donned her street attire, and
bent her steps in the direction of Dame
Grafton's humble cottage. She paused,
when within short distance, to watch
Bess, who had seated herself on the steps,
apparently to enjoy the warm sunshine,
though late in November, the afternoon
was more like early October. The child
sat with her delicate hands clasped, and
her large mournful eyes strained upwards,
as though she was wildly striving to catch
one glimpse at the beautiful sky above her.
Her long, faxen curls had fallen back from
her singularly transparent brow revealing
the exquisite contour of her features.-
Hilda stole noiselessly along to where she
was sitting. just as she reached her an
expression of anguish swept over her young
face, and bowling upon her BOSOM she
murmured: I" Yes, am blind-O, | am
blind! / shall never, never see the beauti-
full blue sky, nor the soft moon, nor the
twinkling stars, nor the sweet flowers o,
if could die ~
"Bess,," said IIilda, softly, for she could
not bear TO witness the child's distress
longer.
go, Hilda.dear Hilda, is it you? Oh,
am so glad you have come, for l was
afraid my heart was breaking! 1t is better
now; but Hilda, you do not know what il
is to be blind. For year / have come out
every day when knew the sun was bright
est. At first | could just see the sun, but
it has kept growing darker and darker, and
to-day, Hilda, though know it is shining
as bright as ever, it is all night to me-"
Poor Hilda! how she longed to breathe
one word of hope in the ear of the blind
girl, but she saw nothing to justify her il
doing thus, and so she sat on the step 10y
her side, her tears falling fast and silently
upon her little hand nesting in her own
At length Bess said quietly
"Did you ever think you would like t.
die, HildaP
"No Bess, dear, do not remember that
ever did,"
"Well, do very often-very often, ant
sometimes / ask God to take me to liv,
with him. You know, Hilda, shall no
be blind little girl in heaven. was ask.
ing him to take me soon when was look.
ing up into the sky, Is it wrong, Hilda
because if it is l will try to wait patiently
o, it is so dark-so lonesome to be bliudp
Hilda was still too much panied to at
tempt to comfort the child, so she reached
her a boquet of fragrant flowers, and sale
she would run in and see Dame Grafton
+" I will stay here little while, for grand
mother win be sad when she sees my littl
sober face. | never let her know hov
badly | feel, IIilda, should you9''
Hilda entered the cottage, hoping to fin,
something cheering, but TO her surprise
Dame Grafton was bending over her worl
with fearful eye.
Why grandmother, exclaimed Hilda
81 expected to find you all smiles, as us
ual, but you look as though you have beel
having real good cry, as people say"
"Ah, Hilda, I'm glad to see you, dear
for if any body can speak a word to Civ
me comfort it is you. 1t is all for my poo
blind little Bess am troubling. The chill
is stone blind now, and I'd made up m
mind to bear it and be patient,as though
there was no help for it. But just as go
sort of reconcled, something must happe
TO make me feel worse than ever You SC
day before yesterday, the child was out o
the door-steps and was picking up tn