The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-13

buy himself pairofslippers He threw
open the long unused parlor, and said
to the girls, Make yourselves at home
here"
He soon found there was great lack
in his establishment, by overhearing his
niece lament the piano they had out
West. He never spoke of Il, but en-
gagged the minister's wife to goto town
and select one for him. The first the
music-hungry children knew, it was
brought into the house; and still he
never spoke of it, Indeed, he rarely
spoke of anything at all.
The family lived on thus very happily
for several years, when all at once they
noticed a great change in Deacon Jahiel.
He began to whistle at his work, and to
sing with the girls; he bought a new
carriage-Ketury described it as . car
riage like folkses carriages" he even
got violin and checker-board from the
garret, and for the first time in twenty
years played on them both with zeal and
interest.
Passing down the main street of the
village, one day, he saw buxom girl at
the window, and leaning over the fence,
he called out
Martha, hear there is a quilting
coming of before long at your house."
Yes, sir; the quilt is my own work
"a rising sun, with a square and com
pass in the heart of it. Mother said if /
ever got it done l should have quilting
just like those she used to have when
she was young" replied the girl.
Amt you going to invite me, Mar
tha?' was the question that startled the
village girl.
why deacon ~ she cried, looking at
the hitherto grave man, to discern if he
had taken leave of his senses. "You go
to young folks quilting?"
Certainly will, if I'm asked"
said the deacon, smiling. Your mother
can tell you how expert used to be at
chalking the line, snufling the candles,
and throwing the apple pairing, in old
times"
OF course he got an invitation, and
before many hours had elapsed it was
noised abroad that Deacon Braden was
going to dance at Matte Borland g quilt
ing party, and that the folks thought
him crazy.
For the first time in quarter of q
century the deacon set off for a trip to
Boston, and, as Ketury said, ''made all
over new!" From the crown of his
steeple-topped hat TO the sole of his tai
low soaked cowhides, he was renewed
as to exchange his ponderous silver
watch for gold one. In place of the
porcelain shirt-buttons with which Ke-
fury had always adorned his cotton shirt
the deacon appeared with gold studs in
nicely polished linen shirt bosom, gold
sleeve buttons, and divers other worldly
vanities such as made great stir in the
Cedar Creek meeting-house but it was
only because he wore such clothes !;
Others there had dressed as well. You
may be sure that the young folks stared
at him as he sat thus, with Mr.. and
Mrs. Borland, looking on at the spots of
quilting; and the question was whisper
ed from one to another:
What on earth has come over Dea-
con Jahiel?"
They soon found that the autumn sun
had come out in a brighter radlancethan
its earlier glory, and that life's Indian
summer had come for him, with bright
skies, with flowers, and with the sing
ing of birds in the heart.
One morning, soon after this, the
deacon called his sister-in-iaw and her
daughters into the parlor, and said
81 have plan to lay before you; i
shall need this house for myself now.
You may live beside me in the stone
cottage, or will build you little house
in village"
We will stay as near you as we can
but who is to take my place." asked
the widow in amazement
"You remember Matilda Day, the
girl to whom gave my pet COW, Dilly
on her wedding dayY A few weeks age
l heard of her for the first time in many
long years. Her husband was never
worthy or her. He ran through hel
property and then took her into the will
derness to live, away from all privileges
of schools, churches, and society. She
buried her Oldest children and was left
alone and very poor, with three young
bows