The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-02-04

and beard all white with the thick, cold
snow. There would be no more letters for
that day, he said, for the trains were all
detained, and there was no knowing when
any of them would getin. The horse cars
had not run since midnight, and there
were only two or three omnibuses, on run
ners.
els there a letter for me ?" asked Geor-
gle, looking at his hand.
"No, Miss But two for Laura, per-
haps she will divide"
If George had hoped to find any straw
to cling to in the postman's coming, it has
been in vain. Had she hoped for anything?
She hardly knew herself; any way, it was
all over now, and she started rather aim
lessly to leave the room. Laura called af-
ter her.
George, dear, would you mind stay
ing with baby little while for me p
Nurse is half sick, and / want to go into
the kitchen to see about dinner. She
won't be much trouble will she? If you
only keep an eye ON her, and see that she
is happy with her playthings. Nurse will
be in the next room, and you can take your
work or your reading"
"Just what / should like,' said Geor-
gle, frightening. "I'll take care of her
the whole morning, Laura, and you need
not be disturbed about her at ALL" So
away she ran up stairs to find her little
blue-eyed niece, who always shouted with
delight at any attention from her pretty
aunt Georgia.
"Deordie, Geordie p cried the little one
gleefully, springing into her arms as she
entered the room, and then nurse was sent
off to try to get rid of her headache, and
baby and her grave young aunt began a
series of glorious romps which ended only
when both were thoroughly tired out.
"Tired, Tot, are you ?" So am I. Let's
have a rest ?' and drawing great rock
ing chair up in front of the fire, she seat
ed herself with baby in her lap, the big
blue eyes looking dreamy and quite ready
for sleep. George looked steadfastly
down at the innocent baby face, while the
round dimpled fingers held hers in tight,
warm clasp. She had been told that the
child resembled her.
care you like me, little Tot?" she said,
softly, land are you going to be like me
always? was happy little girl once,
with ever so many to love me, and had
beautiful times.
"Don't you be like me after you're
twenty, baby, because you'll be woman
then, and some one, splendid and noble
will come and make you love him. But
if you are like me he will go away, and
never care for you, and that will break
your heart, little Tot so you can never love
anybody again, and then maybe you will
grow reckless and wicked, and marry some
one you don't care for, if you are like your
aunt George"
And there she fairly broke down ant
began to weep passionately. Her poor
aching, erring heart was trying to fight itl
way out to peace, and she did not know
how near the victory was. 1t was baby
who helped her to conquer at last; ant
and when, for by-and-by she grew calmer
and looked down on the child, now peace
fully asleep, and went on in her old trair
of thought, mingling all sorts of fanciei
with it, about what she thought Tot would
do if she should be like her aunt George
Suppose it were really SO, that her owl
life would decide what Tots life should be
OF course there was no truth in the fancy
but suppose it were true, and her own hanC
had the power to decide Tots future, thei
would she be willing to let her darling
niece grow up to blight her womanhooC
by lovcless marriageP She gazed at TIN
sweet little innocent face, and shuddere,
at the thought. No a thousand times no
1t would be better for baby to live alon
all the days of her life, without any love
and keep her soul white and pure. And
better for baby, why not better for aun
George herselfP
"Never mind, dear, you may be lik
aunt George all you want TO, for sh
means to save us both Of us. Life is goin
pretty hard, little Tot, but you must b
brave and true, and not let any falls
thought stain your SOUL And then, If yo
are very lonely,you may come and live wit
aunt George, and whatever else we mis-
of, we will at Seast be honorable womei
, will not accept Mr.. Hprt-I will not ~
cept him, and may Heaven help me alwaS
to be true woman ~
1 So she made her resolution and won HI
S victory and sitting there in her quiz