The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-05-29

time"
Robert Immediately went out, con-
graduating himself on his good fortune,
and laughing all along the road at the
folly of Mr.. Taylor, who had let him off
so cheaply from paying his rent.
He had never been so joyous as at the
moment of returning home as he efound
nothing to complain of, and his dog
came to sit down at his feet without his
furnishing him for his familiarity.
AS he seated himself on his arrival,
his wife did not, at first, notice the
white cross which he had on his shoul-
der; but having passed behind her hus-
band to wind up the clock, she suddenly
exclaimed, in shrill voice.
"Why, Robert, where have you been ?
You have on your back cross foot
long. You have been to to the tavern,
and some drunkard among your friends
has played you trick to make you
ridiculous. Get up and let me brush off
this cross"
" Awayl" exclaimed Hope, hastily;
"my clothes do not need your brushing.
Go knit your stockings, and let me
alone"
That shall not be ~ exclaimed Mrs.
Hope, in voice more shrill. 81 will
not have my husband become the
laughing-stock of the whole village, and
if 1 tear your jacket to pieces, you shall
not wear that ridiculous cross"
AS she spoke thus, the wife attempted
to brush Roberts shoulder; and the lat
ter, who knew that resistance would be
useless, walked off, shutting the door
after him violently.
"What a fury !" muttered he, as he
went away. eff she had been more
gentle, would have told her of my good
fortune; but she does not deserve to
know it,"
COL o! Robert" exclai med old Fox,
at the moment when Hope turned the
corner of his house, "what is that white
cross on your back :"
"Take care of your own clothes,' in
solently replied Hope, going on his
way.
Mr.. Hope" said little Patty Stevens,
the grocer's daughter, "stop one mo-
ment if you please, that L may rub out
that great white cross you have on your
shoulder"
"Go and sell your herrings lazy girl"
raY,1ioI ID ohapt GgnrI
yourself about the passers-by."
The little girl, silenced, hastened to
re-enter her mothers shop.
At this moment, Hope arrived at the
house of the butcher, who was conves-
ing on the threshold with his neighbor,
the blacksmith.
You are just the man / wanted, {"
said the latter, stopping Robert; and he
began to speak to him on business but
hardly had he commenced, when old
Peggy Turton arrived, in her plaid gown
and blue apron.
Mercy Mr.. Hope" exclaimed she,
taking up her apron, "what is that on
your back ?''
Robert turned to tell her to let him
alone, but the blacksmith then per-
ceived the mark made by Mr.. Taylor.
Heavens - said he, laughing, she
might serve for sign to White Cross. "
" suppose" said the butcher, +" that
his wife has marked him thus for fear of
losing him."
Hope felt that there was for him but
one method of escaping at the same
time from the apron of Peggy, and the
jokes of the butcher and blacksmith, so
he hastened to leave the spot, not with
out some abusive language to his neigh
bors; but the cross had begun to weigh
more heavily upon his shoulder than
he had at first supposed.
The unfortunate Robert seemed des-
tined this day to provoking encounters,
for he had gone but few steps when he
found himself opposite the school-house.
School was just out, and the scholars
were at this moment issuing from the
door, ready for any fun that might pre-
sent itself. Hope was terrible uneasy,
and imagined he already heard cries be-
hind him. His fears were soon realized
he had scarcely passed the school-house
door when a long shout was heard, and
fifty scholars at least began to pursue
him and point at him, throwing up Their
caps in the air.
Look, look, exclaimed one; there
is sheep marked for the butcher"
Don't you see, replied another, sit