The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-21

"But your ears can drink it, respond
ed the old lady, not knowing she had made
a pretty speech.
Joel played one old air after another, and
the walls echoed the strains pleasantly
which seemed trying to bring the differ
ent heart-beats there under the roof-tree
into consonance and harmony. When the
music ended, the old man, who had been
pondering with his chin sunk in his stock,
drew back little, and laid his hand rath-
er heavily upon the table, and said, break
ing out suddenly:
81 s'pose the up-shot of the business is,
young man, you want to marry my GIRL
You've KEEP running here pretty nigh a
year and half, and the matter must end
some time or other. Taint my fashion to
daub much with untempered mortar, and
tell you plainly what I've got against
you is your want of stiddiness and propen-
sity to fool away your time, and live on
other folks. don't propose to support
no son-in-law with my hard earnings
Everybody around me must use his own
hands and feet, and put in as much as he
takes out. Now that's the long and the
short of it, and Pm prepared to hear your
views"
Joel, thus summoned, looked as if he
would much rather run away, but he stood
his ground and spoke with his eyes cast
down, and his face slightly pale, while the
Squire's shrewd, keen countenance was
turned attentvely toward him.
81 do want to marry your daughter"
he began, and l should have asked for
your consent long ago, but l knew you
were prejudiced against me, and opposed
to taking me into your family. 1t don't
seem quite fair to condemn man before
he has had trial. Hester shall not re-
pent if she marries me-"
Fine promises never raised hill of
potatoes, said the father sarcastically. 81
know good clean timber when see it, and
I know crooked stick. tell you, young
man, you've got to put by your fine airs
and buckle down to hard work before you
can earn living for a family. Pm agin
shiftlessness, tooth and nail, and always
was. But, Hester, what have you got to
say ?"
Hester had held the apple she was par
ing suspended in her hand. The color
varied in her cheeks, and now tide of
crimson swept over them. Her voice fall
tered, and almost broke at first, but it
gathered strength and she went on, SO clear
and distinct, that it seemed as though the
old clock in the corner even stopped to
listen. 60 Father" said she, 81 hope you
won't oppose us till the last. have tried
to please you, and be good daughter,
but there comes time when girl must
listen to her own heart. have faith in
Joel, and go am willing to go with him
any where in the world. Whatever is
against him now will all come right. We
will make our way together, and what he
has to bear and suffer will bear and suf-
fer with him. You never shall hear any
complaints, father, from me. If our cup
board is empty ; it won't keep you awake
nights but don't ask me to give him up.
1 am too much like you, father, hold on
till death.''
"There it is" said the old man, in a
heat, "you are obstinate, and wilful, and
headstrong, and mean to have your own
way if the sky falls. You'd little rather
get the consent of the old man that's
clothed ye, and schooled ye, and KEEP ye
ever since you was born but if you can't
get it, no matter take the bit between
your teeth, and ride right over the feel
ings, and idees, and wishes of them that
brought you into the world, and then see
where you'll be-"
Hester covered her face with her hands,
and the hot tears began to make their way
through her fingers. The old man got up,
and sternly took his boots in one hand and
long tallow candle in the other, and
marched away TO bed without another
word.
Mrs. Preston, who had been mixing
emptyings in the buttery, with the door
on the crack, came out, brushing the dust
Of -four from her apron.
"La, children, "said she, "the old Squire
is more dangerous when he don't say no
thing, and sets in brown study. 1t looks
to me as if the wind was changing few
p'ints. 1t has been blowing northeast
about long enough, and l shouldn't won
der If it got round southland. You see, I
come from down the coast way, and there
amt much about a weather-coek and the
: old Squirrels disposition that don't un-