The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-19


morning and the song of the birds. The
dew twinkled on the grass and heritage,
and the sun glinted through the trees
overhead; while the scent of the hay,
now being made into ricks, filled the air
with its delicious fragrance.
When Susan turned into the high
road, she found it full of carts, horse
men and farmers, all bent on the same
errand as herself.
1t was of no moment whether she ar
rived at Hazleton sooner than her neigh
bors, so she took no pains to urge on the
steady-going horse, and she was soon
left alone at the foot of steep ascent.
Before many minutes had elapsed, a
gentleman on fine bay horse overlook
her, and, refining him in with difficulty,
asked If he were right for Hazleton, and
If it were market day there
Susan looked round at him, and was
struck with the handsome aquline face
and piercing dark eyes which seemed to
read her through. Dressed in the best
fashion of the time, his horse carefully
groomed till its glossy coat shone bright
ly in the sunlight, he made marked
contrast to Susan on her thick. made
clumsy animal.
You are bound for the market, too,
little maid ?" inquired the gentleman,
raising his hat as he spoke.
" Yes, sir. All the folks are going
there, almost, this morning, l Think
answered Susan, shyly.
"And what have you there? Chickens
and butter ?" her interlocutor went on
to say. "Do you like the business of
buying and selling ?"
1t depends on the prices L get for
them," returned Susan, quickly.
The gentleman laughed, and stopped
for moment to arrange the leather of
his stirrup more to his liking; while
Susan rode on, wondering what we'll
bred man, on thoroughbred horse,
could want at Hazleton on market
day.
While she mused on these points, he
again overlook her.
May ask your name Y' he said.
"My name is Susan Stidolph," she
answered simply; and Although she
would have given much to ask him the
same question, she refrained from innate
feelings of courtesy.
AS if he OWNED her thoughts, he said:
My name is Hamilton st. John. Do
you like it ?"
Very much; and what do you call
your horse, sir ?"
Wildfire; and a famous stopper he
is Goodbye, Susan 1 hope you'll get
good prices for your fowls and ducks"
And away he sped at tremendous pace.
The market was becoming very full
when Susan reached HazIeton, and
many sounds of life resounded on all
sides.
Susan having met Thomas, and given
Jerry into his charge, entered the mar
ket, and did her best to effect the sale of
her poultry; while the farming-man
undertook the vending of cows, submit
ting his bargains to Susans Judgment
before concluding them.
The day soon came to close; all their
marketings were attended with good
success, and Susan having made her
purchases at the draper's-an old friend
of her aunt's, at whose house she usual
ly dined on these occasions-concealed
her money, to the amount of thirty
pounds in gold and notes, in the secret
pockets of her stays, purposely made to
stow away these treasures, and mounted
Jerry for her ride homewards. Very
blithe was Susan at the result of her
days work. The cows had fetched a
capital price, and the heifer alone re-
manned unpurchased. Her poultry was
all sold, and not pot of butter remain
ed in her basket
Susan determined to return by a lane
which wound circuitously from the town
of Hazleton to the borders of Dingle
Farm. By this she would avoid the un-
pleasant society of several half-tipsy
farmers and rough horsemen, whose
proximity was very undesirable. Jerry
stepped out as was his wont when he
scented his stable in the far distance; !;
and Susan hummed to herself as she
looked on the beauty of the evening and
the scenery around.
Susan had not proceeded two miles
when the sound of horses hoofs
struck on her ear; and as she turned to
look up the lane to see who 1t might be,
her well-dressed acquaintance of the