The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-11-16
A BLESSED MISTAKE.

and her mothers tear falling over an
open letter In her lap.
" What's the matter ?" cried Katie,
" Mother, has anything happened :"
F" Nothing but what we expected"
said Hannah before Mrs. Derwent could
open her lips to reply. The agent
writes that we must give up the farm
next Monday"
The tears started to Kltty's blue eyes.
"And this is Wednesday," she said;
ait is too bad just hate that Mr..
Ariel Why does he, with all his wealth
want to take away our little farms Oh,
dear Can't anything be doneY"
Mrs. Derwent only sobbed in answer,
but Hannah looked keenly at her young
sister, as she said, meaningly
You are the one who can best
answer that question, Katie"
Katie's face turned crimson, and then
pale.
ooh, Hannah, she said, imploringly,
don't ask me to do that, for l cannot;
no, never can !"
You would rather see us turned out
OF home than make small sacrifice,
then ?"
"a small sacrifice, Hannah = To me
it seems very large"
Heaven only knows what we are to
dol" walled Mrs. Derwent. "We
haven't fifty dollars in the world"
Cant we borrow enough money
from Squire Davis to pay off this mort
gage?" asked Katie, desperately.
"You must think Squire Davis has
no sense,'' said Hannah, sharply. "He
would know well enough there was no
chance of our ever paying him back.
We mapage to make just enough off the
farm to live and that's ALL"
Is To think that 1 should have to go to
the almshouse in my old age" moaned
Mrs. Derwent.
Oh, mother! surely not quite so
bad as that ?" said Katie.
Perhaps you will kindly suggest
some plan," said Hannah, sarcastically.
- know of but one way in which we
can keep our home, and that does not
appear to suit you"
"I'll think it over" said Katie, "and
while L am thinking, / will catch that
gray rooster you want for dinner, Han
nah."
Very well but Paul can't help you,
for I've sent him on an errand. And
hope you'll think to some purpose,
Katie.''
Hannah began to wash up the break
fast dishes as she spoke, knowing that
her sister understood very well what she
meant by her last remarks, for Katie
sighed heavily as she put on her straw
hat and went out to the farm-yard in
search of the gray cock, which she
found scratching in some straw, utterly
unconscious of his impending doom.
But at the first f1utter of her apron,
which she tried to throw over him, he
fled, closely pursued y the young girl,
whose seventeen summers had not given
her dignity, or taken from her childish
love for racing and climbing.
But running proved hard work in the
hot August sun, out of breath at last.
Katie stopped in clover-field, the
frightened fowl still safe distance off.
In Squire Davis great meadow she
could see the busy laborers loading the
immense wagons with new-mown hay,
and just beyond the stone wall which
divided his farm from the Widow Der
vents lay one of the men under the
shade of spreading oak tree his hat
pulled over his eyes, and his rake lying
on the green grass beside him.
A sudden inspiration seized Katie
who, putting her feet on the jutting
stone of the wall, sprang lightly to the
top.
Manl'' she called loudly" oh
man will you help me catch my
rooster know Squire Davis won'
mind if you do
The man thus singularly addressed
sat up suddenly, and thereby revealing
wealth of curly chestnut hair. Hi
clothes were rough and ill-fitting, it i
true, but his face, refined and hand
some one, and his bearing far abov
that of the average hired man.
81 will help you in any way 1 can,
he said, after quick glance at tn
flushed, pretty face of the girl on th
stone wall. did you say you wante'
noe to help you catch rooster ?" hest
tating just little.
= Yes, my sister wants him for dinner
and I've run until Pm tired out. d
you suppose the squire will scold if yol
L.. l. l.