The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-06-06
A Clarion County Love Story.

kerS Landing, ana not great distance
from where tho Clarion river mingles its
pellucid waters with the swifer-rolling
tide of the Allegheny, has lived for
years a man named Hewitt, who, coming
to the country in its early history erected
a cabin, and maintained an humble exis-
tence by following his profession of horse
shoeing.
The years glided along, and nothing
occurred to vary the monotony of his
humble and happy life save an occasional
fracas with an unruly horse, or now and
then being confined to his bed for few
weeks from the effects Of a mule-kick
on the Uranium, or a dig in the ribs from
the hind foot of rebellious OK for How
lit used to pursue his trade in all its
branches, and furnished shoes to every
thing that came along whereby an honest
penny could be made. Meanwhile. a
daughter was born to him, who grew up
in her mountain home like the pines that
surrounded his dwelling, and was as
graceful and beautiful as the wild flowers
amid which she played. Laura, for that
was her name, obtained fair education
at the district school, aided by her moth
er, who was an accomplished graduate
from an Eastern academy, and her natu-
raj beauty and brightness was increased
by an occasional visit to Pittsburg and
Eastern cities, where, amid higher social
scenes than those which surrounded her
birthplace, she rapidly acquired the nu-
merous little graces and coquetries of
fashion which 90 to make up the girl of
the period 1t is no wonder, then, that
to the old man she was as the apple of
his eye-as bushel Of apples, in fact,
of the old-fashioned, rosy-cheeked none
such kind-and that, as she attained wo-
mans age and stature, the father looked
with a jealous eye upon the native admi-
rers who surrounded her, and sternly
frowned upon the forward young cultiva-
tor of buckwheat, who, by the slightest
action sought to win her young hearts
affections and transplant his wild flower
to another soil and home.
"About this time the oil excitement,
which for several years previously had
ragged upon Oil Creek and its tributaries,
broke out in the vicinity of Parker's; an
influx OF strangers, operators, and specu-
lators began, and shortly after portion
of Mr.. Howitts farm was discovered to
be on the belt, and leased for round
sum to wealthy operators. Though now
comparatively wealthy, Hewitt still fol-
lowed his original trade though with
light heart as he thought of the bank
account which would enable him to bring
up and educate his family in superior
style, and place his daughter in a posi-
tion socially to which her attractions and
attainments entitled her
But at this junction a cloud appeared
upon the old blacksmith's horizon at first
it was about the size of mans hand, but
it speedily grew to the full size and shape
of man himself who proved to be
workman upon we'll short distance
from the Hewitt cottage, and who fell
head over heels into that delicious pool
of affection, in which most of mankind
have padded blindly during their young
lives. At first Laura resisted her suit
or's advances but as weeks passed, and
there was a lack Of society, which at 9TH
er times might have served as an antidote
to the growing admiration, she began to
feel for the young driller, who was come
ly, young and strong, and possessed the
not unpleasing name of Henry Richard
son. She gradually sought his society
her father had long since forbidden his
coming to the house-and hardly day |
passed but that she was seen in the der |
rick, watching the pulsations of the
walking beam and her heart at the same
time, and listening to his stories of ad-
venture by flood and (oiD field
She loved him for the danger he had |
passed, and he loved her because she be.
lieved his yarns, and no one else would
and finally one bright day, as he had just
finished a terrible recital Of escape from
death by falling sand pump pulley, she
cried, and said she wished that heaven
had made her such man, when Henry
abandoned the temper-screw rope and
caught the fair Laura to his petroleum
stained bosom, wiped the benzine from
his brow and lips, kissed her, and said,
= | am the man
While enjoying the few moments sue
ceeding their etrothal-blissful moments
that only come twice in a mans lifetime,
once when he finds his mothers preserves,
and the other as mentioned lovers
were startled by the sudden entrance of
the village blacksmith who seized his
daughter, and without saying a word to
the disconsolate, Henry, carried Laura
home, and locked her up. Days passed
without communication between the low