The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-20

pearanoe, with whom he had been exchang-
ing newspapers.
"I think all the better Of you that you
are not inclined to politics, Mr. Page"
said the old lady, "where's the use of tP-
pack of nonsense just got up 10 help the
elections, and empty peoples pockets
But suppose Mr.. Westover thinks he had
better get himself excited about it now,
for when he's sent away where they catch
whales he'll have no chance. You don't
30 to sea, do you ?"
No, ma'am."
"Then pray what may your occupation
be ?"
Clara started, but Mr.. Page, though his
eyes snapped very rapidly, answered grave
", al am the editor of the -"
"Oh dear that's a poor business, isn't
itP"
at suits me very well, ma'am."
"You are not hard to please dare say"
she returned, when, to the great relief of
Clara, the newspaper reader, who had
been lowering near, advanced exclaiming,
al am happy to find that I had the honor
of conversing with congenial spirit-let
me grasp your hand, sir-I do something
in the literary line myself. My name is o.
Goldsmith Twiggs-I presume it is not
new to you"
Mr. Page submissively yielded his hand.
"Glorious places these public rendez-
vous are for persons of our calibre,"
pursued Mr.. Twiggs, "to study human
nature and shoot folly as it flies but there
may be too much of a good thing, and /
always carry tho beauties of Shakespeare in
my pocket, to pore over when | grow
weary of the dull realities of life. Con-
fidentially speaking, Mr.. Page, what do
you really think of Shakspeare's Plays?"
"That-there's good many of them,"
said Mr.. Page.
Exactly-I understand" responded
Mr.. Twiggs, winking and nodding signif-
icantly, "not quite so great for quality as
quantity am glad that have such good
authority to agree with me. But between
ourselves have now series of papers
under contemplation" and as the man of
letters began to speak low and look mys-
terious, Clara thought it a good oppOr-
tunity to draw her aunt away.
"There, now, the matters as good as
settled p said the triumphant Mrs. Cripps,
when she had followed the hurried steps of
her niece to their room "you don't find
me long hemming and having about any
thing take in hand. I've managed to get
acquainted, and all you'll have to do
will be to talk little kind to Mr.. Page,
and rouse bit of courage in him, and
you'll have just the husband you want"
"My dear aunt, you are entirely mis-
taken in Mr.. Page" said Clara, drawing
her hands over her burning cheeks, and
then she stopped, for she knew that it
would be vain to try to make the old lady
comprehend the force of what was very
clear to her memory, the moment she
heard his succinct account of himself, that
he was celebrated as one of the rarest
humorists of the day.
"Why, what under the sun is the mat
ter with you, Clara?" exclaimed Mrs.
Cripps, in much surprise; "Ive not made
shadow of a mistake Mr.. Page is every
thing supposed him to be at first sight
He cares nothing about talking and eating,
as you have seen with your own eyes, and
heard with your own ears, and as to books,
could you have desired any thing better
than the way he answered that long
tongued, dirty -collared little fellow about
them, and tried TO cut the subject short
II you had ever listened to husband Diden-
If the name of book was broached to him,
he would tell what this critic thought, and
what that one said, and how SO and so
differed, and then he would spend his own
opinion, the longest, most mixed-up rig
marole of all. No, no, Clara, Mr.. Page is
the man--and he's right good-looking, too
better than might have been expected Of
him.
"Aunt Cripps," said Clara, solemnly,
81 don't think that Mr.. Page will have
any desire to pursue the acquaintance into
which you have SO strangely forced him."
"Then he'll be even more of fool than
1 think him, and the proper person to fol-
low up-so you needn't cry about IT,
thought you had better conceit Of your
self" fi4.1
Clara for moment was In despair at the
impracticability of her aunt, and then she
thought as she had often done before, that
il would be wiser to take hearty laugh at
it, which she did, though with tears in her