The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-03

shop to have tire mended, or horse shod. ;
What discourses on New London horse
shoes he gave, hammer in hand, and the
hind leg of a horse /! Young Martin busted
himself with greater things. He was for
tunate enough to please the first merchant
done elsewhere till now Chains, bolts,
and all ships iron gear, he engaged of
young Martin, considering old Martin
doosed fool, and quite in the young mans
way. But he was compelled, in spite of
himself, to compare young Martins filal
obedience with that of his own son-the
gay Edgar Willis, the beau par excellence
of Tacktown. Young Martin was not par
ticularly respectful to his father in words,
but perfectly so in feeling and manner.
"There, old man." he often said, "dry
up your sass; you make me sick''-accom-
panying these words with a pleasant smile,
and tap on old Martins back, which, if
the old man had been Frenchman, would
have made him bestow kiss on young
Martins face. Sometimes, when he
thought the old man tired he said, SEQ
home, dad, and tell mother want short
cake for supper; you've been in the shop
long enough. Wash up, you are as black
as the ace of spades; and if you amt white
we can't go to Mrs. Wills's party to-
night. Which was great joke, as they
were not invited.
Old Martins "Ho, ho," and "IIa, ha,"
would last him the way home. Philosophers
might take lesson from the conduct of
this foolish old pair, SO devoutly believing
in young Martins hope of the short-cake
supper.
" Father, I've mind to cut into a ham.
1t is sharp to-day; he may have an edge to
his Appetite
well, Amy, if you'll brile it; other
wise faint worth while to cut into whole
ham,"
See here, now. My ounce jelly--I do
believe you have most forgot the taste of
that. Besides, they tell me it is sovereign
good to clear the throat. Singing-school
tonight, you know"
Uu,
be. Where's'my old fiddle P'
"Sho, old man."
81 was going on to say" added old Mar
tin, testify, "when you must needs put
your oar in-that Martin might like it."
No, indeed; he is going to blow on
something-an offglide, think he said.'.
"Why, they had em in New London as
thick as blackberries, blowing away at
one time, man and boy, like-like any
thing"
Now, father" said the cunning Amy,
Martin might not like TO hear of their
being so plenty; for, says he to me, Moth
er, don't know what folks will say when
my instrument comes from Boston p"
You don't say" answered old Martin,
delighted. "Of course t won't do to saw
a word; and mind your eye, old wo man
clack is claclS"
But the next day old Martin was afflicted
with another mystery, which broke like a
boil when the stage-driver handed from his
box huge bundle in green flannel to
young Martin, who was in waiting. 1t
contained an ophicleide-a dreadful instru-
ment-but it filled old Martins soul with
awe and delight.
"What ails you, fatter?" asked young
Martin. "You look as if you had catched
something"
"Do let it out Marttn.''
And Martin did, as full of secret delight
as his father was of noisy rejoicing.
The band was formed, and after sum
mer's practice it played one quickstep, a
march, and Fishers hornpipe; it then
went into severe winter quarters, to learn
cotillion music. 1t was a sight to behold
young Martin with his ophicleide; as he
was slight pale creature, the effect re-
minded one of little girl toting big doll.
He was very industrious with his practice,
playing off-nights at home, in his little
room upstairs. The groans of the instru-
ment were fearful. Its boom was so dread
full to Amy that she tied thick handker-
chief over her ears, pretending she had the
earache; but old Martin was game to the
backbone; he kept time with triumphant
mien, although he could not tell one tune
from another Amy noticed that he was
apt to go to bed in a hurried way on the
nights young Martin played at home, and,
contrary to his won't buried his head be-
meath the bedclothes, which proceeding
made him snore so, that one night, Amy
driven wild, exclaimed, Why, father,
you beller like the off--pigs, and I wish
you wouldn't"