The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-16

Tor MS Dlftnuhy, anu senb 10 nlIn Inelf
best wishes at Christmas In Rlmmel's
highly. scented envelopes in vain Jack
sent him pound of the most excellent
snuff that Bacon Is emporium could fur
nlsh, at the beginning of every term
He always wrote back civil letter of
thanks, in clear and clerkly letter, but
there was never any enclosure. When
Mrs. Isaac asked him to dinner, he de-
cllned In caustlc manner,-avowing
that he did not feel himself comfortable
at the arlstocratlc tables of the West End
--and sent her pineapple for the des-
sert, of his own growing. He had real
ly no ILL., feeling for his relatives, although
he kept himself so estranged from them;
but think this sort of conduct tickled
the old gentleman's 3 sense of humor. If
he could have found some legitimate ex-
cuse for "making up' with his sister
inlaw, within the first year or two of
their falling out, perhaps he would have
been glad to do so but time had now so
widened the breach, that it was not so
easily repaired what he had satirically
written when he declined her invitation
had grown to be true he rarely went in
to society, and almost never went into
the company of ladies', the elder portion
of whom he considered frivolous and
vexatious, and the younger positively
dangerous. He had a few old. bachelor
friends, however, with whom he kept
a cordial intercourse, and spent with
them the various festivals of the year as
regularly as they came round.
On the 3lst of December for instance,
he never omitted to go down to Reading,
and see the old year out and the new
year in" in company of Tom Wharton,
with whom he had worn the yellow
stockings in those school-days that bad
passed away more than half a century
ago. Tom and Isaac had been even
greater cronies as boys than Tom and
John, but the latter did not like Tom
the less on that account secretly, L
think, he esteemed him the more highly
as link between himself and that luck
less family whose very existence lie yet
chose to ignore. Mr.. Wharton had in
innate relations with them still; they
came down to stay with him whenever
his sister paid him visit, and could act
as their hostess; but this never happen
in the last week of the year. Tom was
never to speak of them to his old friend,
that was not only tacitly understood,
but had even been laid down in writing,
as the basis of their intimacy.
On the 3lst of December last, Mr..
John Beardmore found himself, as usual
at the Paddington Station, looking for
an empty compartment, for his own
company had got to be very pleasing to
him. Having attained his object, and
rolled himself up in the corner of the
carriage in several greatcoats, with his
feet upon a hot tin, and his hands cloth
ed in thick mittens, and looking alto
gether like a polar bear who liked to
make himself comfortable, e,-when every
thing was arranged, say to the old
gentleman's complete satisfaction, who
should invade his privacy, just as the
train was about to start, and the whistle
had sounded, but one of the most be-
witching young ladies you ever set eyes
on
Madam, this carriage is engaged" +"
growled he, pointing to the umbrella,
carpet-bag and books, which he had dis
tributed on all the seats, in order to give
it that appearance.
Only engaged to you, think, SIR"
replied the charmer flippantly. Hap
! py carriagel / wish 1 was. Isn't that
pretty?'
Mr.. Beardmore had never had any,
thing half so shocking said to him in
all his life, and if the train had not al
ready set in motion, he would have
called the guard for help and left the
carriage forthwith. AS it was, he could
only look at this shameless young per-
son with an expression of the severest
repyobation. AT the same time his heart
sank within him at the reflection, that
the train was not to stop till he reached
his destination, ,-Reading. What in
dgnities might he not have to suffer be-
fore he could obtain protection She
was understanding young lady, too,
very simply dressed, and her voice was
particularly sweet and prepossessing,
Notwithstanding the very dreadful re-
marks in which she had INDUCED. Per-
haps she was out of her mind, and at
this idea Mr.. John Beardmore broke out,
notwithstanding the low temperature,
into very profuse Precipitation.