The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-13
THE TIMES NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA. MARCH 10. 1877


so / kept out of the way, except when
duty called me forward. l had forgot
ten that the world, in itself, had any
charms until you came here and brought
the fresh air and sunshine to these dark,
dull rooms. When you brought the rose
geranium In full bloom 1t took me back
twenty-five years, when one Just like 1t
stood in Matilda's window. The songs
which the girls sing are the same she
sung, newly arranged and with new
names.N
" Not many weeks ago, had, as you
know, some dealings with Carver, the
Western man, who stayed over night
with us. In talking with him said
81 suppose you never happened to
meet with man in your State named
Watterson BlakeY''
Certainly have, thousand times.
Did you know him ?' he asked.
When told him he was almost
townsman of mine, he said:
Poor fellow he made sad wreck
of bright prospects. He died poor, three
years ago, and left his wits and three
boys in sad condition; but she is
jewel of a woman. Every body, loves
her and all would have been glad to
help her, but she had some idea of indie
pendence, which she wished to instill
into the hearts of her boys. So she gave
the encumbered farm over to Blake's
creditors, moved into the next town and
set up school for little girls"
Before he went away the next morn
ing, / drew check for hundred dol
lars, and sent it to the boys from an old
school-mate of their mother's,' and re-
solved to devise some plan by which to
start them in life.''
The more thought of it the more
] resolved that Matilda Day would make
the world new yet and l wrote and told
her so.''
Next month 1 am going West to
bring her and the boys home. 1 want
you to stay with us till you get home
of your own. L can never be thankful
enough for your coming to me. 1t has
broken the spell that bound me, and
brought me back to live among Others !;
before l only worked for them at arm s
length. Now that l love the world
more, my life will henceforth be of more
service"
The old stone cottage was repaired and
furnished before Deacon Jahiel set off on
his momentous journey; and the widow
and her daughters, now nearly grown
up, were rejoicing in the prospects of a
new neighbor and friend.
Matilda Blake, although q mature
woman almost forty-four years, brought
back more sunshine than she had taken
away from her native place quarter OF
q century before. Her anxieties and
sorrows had softened and frightened the
natural loveliness of her character, and
made her blessing, not only to the
| farm, but also to the church and town.
Indian Summer had indeed come to
the deacon's hitherto clouded life, and
his heart and his house were open afresh
| to the whole world. He looked hence.
forth more leniently on the follies of the
young and more charitably on the errors
of those who wandered from the right
way. His voice, his features, his gait
indeed the whole man-were changed
from solemn, unsympathizing bach.
elor,as he used to be regarded,t to genial
husband, father and friend.
There is nothing like solitary life tC
fix a perpetual winter in the heart
There is nothing like companionshir
with the good and true, who need aic
and sympathy, to bring back summer
though it may be an Indian Summer
| to the heart.