The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-11-12


people of all sorts of ages, and suppose it
was an almshouse. / was treated SO cruel
ly there that ran away and wandered to
Irvington, where my adopted parents took
me to their home and hearts, in place of the
little ones they had lost. have an unut-
terable longing sometimes to know who and
what am, and where my parents are, If /
have any. 1t is not pleasant to be taunted
as have been sometimes with having been
the inmate of an almshouse."
"It would no doubt be great satisfact-
ion to you to know certainly of your pa
rentage and the circumstances of your
birth: but as far as concerns your present
station in life, or your future prospects, it
can make no difference. In our republican
country, whether one is well-born, in the
worldly acceptation of the term, or not, is
a matter of very little moment. The an
cestors of some families who feel the most
arristocratic were shoe-makers, carpenters
or masons, men who got an honest living
by the labor of their own hands. My own
grandfather was blacksmith, and as stur-
dy a son of Vulcan, suppose, as ever ham,
mered at the anvil. He was man of stern
integrity withal, and honor him as my
ancesor quite as much as though he had
strutted about in velvet coat, satin vest,
silver knee-buckles, and the other fine
things that the gentlemen of his day so
much effected. So never let yourself get
morbid in brooding over this matter, Miss
Humphrey you may have been born in the
greatest poverty, or heiress to a coronet, it
matters not; yoH have only to be true to
yourself, and the world must and will re-
spect YOU"
"Thank you," faltered Madeline, as she
hastily wiped the tears away from her eyes,
"I cannot tell you, Mr.. Carroll, how much
your words have helped me. / suppose
have brooded on this subject too much for
my own good, for when am among strang-
ers where they treat me kindly won
der If they would regard me in the same
light if they knew what know of myself.
1t was this feeling that led me to tell
you what have, and am glad now that I
did, for your words have comforted me so
much. ! shall never let this matter trouble
me again as it has done, and shall strive to
learn as st. Paul advised, ain whatsoever
situation am Herewith to be content. :"
81 am glad if 1 have said anything to
comfort or encourage you, for wish you to
be as happy as you can, for your own sake
and mine, too" he added, in lower tone
Madeline's keen ears detected it, how
eve, and it was the one drop that made her
cup Of pleasure for that day overflow.
81 declare" exclaimed Mr.. Carroll, whip
ping up the horses, "Hosmer's Hotel is in
full view, and believe we shall be the last
of the party to arrive My horses must
look to their laurels, for they have certain
ly been outdone in speed to-day"
The elegant supper at Hosmer's, and the
feast of reason that followed, Madeline en-
joyed with the keenest relish. And then
the delightful ride home by moonlight, in
which Mr.. Carroll and herself found SO much
to talk about wherein they fully sympathiz-
ed with each other, would never be forgot
ten.
The months sped on at Lakeside, bring
ing at length the spring vacation, and Mad
cline joyfully embraced the opportunity of
visiting the old home. Mrs. Humphrey
was busy with her spring cleaning, and
her husband was mending up his farm
tools, and making timely preparations for
planting.
Madeline had noticed that her father had
worn the old detected look upon his face
almost ever since she had come home, and
so she thought she would visit him out in
the barn-shed and do what she dould to
cheer him up.
Well, father, said Madeline, as she
perched herself upon an old pile of boards,
chow have you got along on the farm since
/ have been away?"
so, after the same old sort. / don't see
as my luck has turned yet. sold consid-
cradle many pumpkins, and about twenty
five dollars worth of apples last fall, and
then when we killed our pig sold consid-
eaable pork, SO that, deducting our living,
have saved about fifty dollars"
"Why, that's better than nothing, but
it's small sum towards raising the money
to pay the mortgage. l cut a number of
cords of wood last winter, expecting that
old MIR. Seaton would buy IL; he just as
much as engaged it in the fall, but some one
else offered him the wood little cheaper,
and he bought 1t Of them. That seaton
family learn are terrible mean set, with
the exception Of Ernest, and he really did