The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-02-18

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the party as they drove by.
" Pa" said Josie, who was shrewd,
sallow. faced child Of eleven, "don't Miss
Poole love us as well as Miss Peck, and
Mrs. Clapp, and Miss Barbara Bow
yer 2"
81 hope so, my child" said the be-
nign deacon. "Why do you ask the
! question Y'
Because she never gives us any
thing" said Josie.
She is poor, child-she is poor" the
deacon said. But I'm sure YOU all
have her good wishes"
"I'd rather have houey' Tommy
said.
" And gooseberries and dolls" added
little Dorothy.
But when the deacon sat alone by his
hearth-stone, that evening, his sis
ter, Miss Mahala Ann Grinders ex-
pressed herself on the subject with great
plainness and perspicacty.
p" If you've really made up vour mind
to marry again joshua said she.
=" think it would add to my domestic
felicity" said the deacon, sereneIy.
"In that case" said Miss Mahala
Ann, y" do hope you II make sensible
choice, and not allow yourself to be i'm
posed upon by pack of selfish widows
and scheming old maids"
g SISTER" said the deacon, mildly,
"you are severe"
" No, ain IT." said Miss Mahala Ann.
4" If you wasn't well to do i'm the world,
and hadn't nice house and barn, and a
farm, and money at interest, they
wouldn't none of them, look twice at
you"
" DO you think so ?'' said the deacon
and he pondered the question long and
earnestly in his own mind. Upon the
whole" said he,bringing down his palm
upon the table, " l amt sorry that those
investments of mine i'm the Mariposa
Silver Mining Company have proved a
failure"
"What dc you mean 2" asked Miss
Mahala Ann, curously eyeing him over
the top of her spectacles.
But the Deacon only shook bis head
and smiled.
Time will show" said he, time
will show"
The news that Deacon Grinder was
wrecked in Marposa Silver Mining
stock flew like wildfire through the
peaceful community at Fitchvile Four
Corners.
"Well, said Miss Philena Peck, ''I'm
beat !"
"He never had no Judgment in mon
ey matters" said the widow Clapp.
''I've thought all along that he was
living too fast" said Barbara Bowyer.
"Those poor little children what is
to become of them?" said Naomi Poole,
wistfully.
The next day the deacon made his ap-
pearance at Miss Peck s homestead, pale
and rather shabby, with a child in each
hand, and one following him.
Miss Peck, said he, II suppose you
have heard the news ?"
Yes said Miss Peck, looking vine
gar and tack nails. " If it's your fail
ure as you mean 2"
4" L think of going to California" said
the deacon, ''to see what can do, and
If, in the meantime, you could be in
duced to give my children home"-
I" Oh, dear, no |" said Miss Peck. &C L
never could get along with pack of
children dare say you could find
some half orphan asylum, or place of
that sort, by inquiring around a lit
tle."
Miss Peck sat so very upright, and
glared so frightfully ont of her light blue
eyes at the deacon, that he was fain to
beat as rapid retreat as possible.
He knocked nexta the widow Clapp's 3
door. A slip shod servant maid opened
it.
"Is Mrs. Clapp at home 2" asked the
deacon.
A head was thrust over the stair rail.
ing and the widows shrill voice cried
out:
is that Josiah Grinder, with his
swarm o. young onesp Tell him I'm
particular engaged. Do you hear Betsy
particular"
Miss Barbara Bowyer was arranging
trimmed hats and rolls of bright color
ed ribbons in her bow window as the
deacon and his little ones entered the
shop.
:" Miss Bowyer,n said the deacon