The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-17

some inches without discovering her mis-
take. The error was corrected, the omis-
sions supplied, and for time there were
really signs of something being done.
Elderly ladies snapped their knitting
needles ilercely, and younger ones piled
their bits Of steel with unusual assiduity.
But soon the interest began to flag
Tongues moved faster than fingers, and
promised to do more mischief The virtues
and vices of the absent were discussed, and
the golden rule entirely forgotten olt
'1"Have You heard the newsP'' eagerly
asked Miss Almira Ferris, a maidenlady Of
thirtylfiye, Of Mrs Twiss! b'iat'i'i, h
No; what is itqD .do af3t haa dr
WHY, that flirty widow Barton has
asked Mr.. Shears, the tailor, to take her to
ride r'm oda .b3g43n9 90 oi l9r1a la
"You don't say SO! Horrible, amt itP"
exclaimed Mrs. Twiss, dropping her work,
and looking the picture of astonishment
a." Yes" pursued Miss Almira, pursuing
up her mouth, Sand never heard of a
more brazen-faced piece of boldness in my
life. wonder she isn't ashamed to show
her head P' o. iii Hat' aii h9da.i
o"A And dds she ask him, point blanlxP"
pursued Mrs. Twiss. ih p s"
why, she told him the weather was
fine, and the sleighing good I; and what was
that but an invitation, wonder. "'' 'e.'iA
"Sure enough. But you know these
widows say and do anything. They have
not mite of modesty. shouldn't wonder
if she even asked him to marry her." And
Mrs. Twiss shook her head, and sighed,
that people could so forget themselves. {"
"And that isn't ALL" added Miss Ferris,
inserting stitch. a' '" llhW
"a" Good gracious It can't be possible p
cried the other, in o suppressed voice, and
bending her head to catch the words. a'
"I shouldn't want to have it 90 from
me, and you needn't meplop,it; but they
do say that she offered to make shirts for
him. What shameless hussy But ev-
erybody knows that she has been running
after Mr.. Shears these six months. And
to see the cnrls and low-necked dresses, one
would suppose she wasn't more than
twenty years old but she'll never see forty
again." continued Miss AImira, CHANGING
in an opposite mirror. g ~ '' ",.'''''
az always said she meant something by
not joining our circle, =" added Mrs. Twiss,
significantly. "You know she told the
next door neighbor, that she could earn
more money and do twice as much good
by staying at home and mindiRg her own
business An impudent speech, call it.
! should think Mr.. Shears had better buy
his shirts of the circle, instead Of patron
izing that selfconceited widow ~ '', y ''
'"what do you mean to do, Mrs, I'wiss,
with the different articles of clothing see
scattered about P'' asked Mr.. Wells, polite
ly, as he passed through the room about
tea time.
'"Why, bless your heart, sir, We sell
them, and send the money to DR.. sprout,
who takes charge of it, and when he gets a
chance, sends it to the heathen."
"Who is DR.. Sproutp never heard Of
him." added the gentleman.
fits pity you don't know him, for
he's such a handsome literary man, Z re-
sumedi Mrs. TwisS, with enthusiasm, =
''He came in one evening, bought . book
mark, and talked SO beautifully about
Timotheus, Arabia, and the cannibals, that
we ali liked him at once. We let him
take all our funds to keep, and he took 'eIn
gratefully, sir, assure you.'' d o8
"No doubt" said Mr. Wells, with a
quiet smile. But how much do you earn
at one such meeting as this ?'' ei
80 sometimes mofe, and sometimes less,
though generally we do sight Of work.
answered the lady, plying her needle al al
once with uncommon rapidity, as an ok.
/ ample Of their industry. 81 really believe
I've got as many as twenty five boys jack
cts, and US many aprons piled up at home,
| that we've made.v III hi ,inii mii lo.
1 "Not very available property, fear,''
rejoIned the gentleman laughing. 'po' g
Gwen, they don't seem TO be fetching In
much just now, sir but we've great hope,
Of 'em. Your wife thinks we shall have tc
auction 'em, hope not though, fol they'll
be terribly sacrifcedI I'VE dor a'ds lh
1 Mr.. Wells seemed in an observing mood
he heard allthat was said, and noticed al
TINT was donea After conyersfng awhile
longer with Mrs Twiss, he walked away
just fast ehough'to hear the following re-
mark from q fat parsonage on his ieft. y.
(" Deacon Grants wife has got another
new silk dress Anybody would think her
husband was made Of money. She ought