The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-13
Pretty Jane and the PedIar.

EIFTY years ago, the two principal
i characters of this story, were we'll
known in one of the central counties of
Vermont, and to this day the older in
habitants often talk of them, and the
sad incidents connected with their lives
The first character we will introduce to
our readers is Widow Slade, who was
known all through that county as ''Ped-
lar Molly"
A woman of middle age at the OPEN
ing of my story she had devoted herself,
since an early widowhood, to secure a
decent competence for her declining
years, and for her only child the means
of fitting him for the vocation of his
father-that of schoolmaster. Sum-
mer and winter there were few days in
which the light, active figure of Pedlar
Molly might not have been met on her
accustomed round, ever neat, clean and
suitably attired, and there were few
houses that she frequented, in which
her cheerful smile and her kind, clear
voice were not gladly welcomed, for her
conversation was as pleasant as her con-
duct was irreproachable. Even among
the gentry of the district, place was
always freely allotted to her amidst their
domestic circle, in consideration that,
however homely might have been her
training, her appearance and whole
bearing bespoke her lady of Natures
own patent.
The dwelling Widow Slade occupied,
and which it was ruling object with
her one day to call her own, was a cot
tag of the better class, square, stone
building divided into three apartments
two small chambers and larger room
in to which they opened. In this outer
room, which, in the words of the old
song, served "for parlor, for kitchen and
hall" the pedlar woman, one intensely
cold morning in December, sat at break
fast. The first snow of the season had
come the night before, and lay thick
and unbroken on the surrounding fields,
while heavy masses of leaden colored
clouds, drifting wildly before the keen
north wind, threatened to add another
fall to its depth. But none of the ex-
ternal gloom had found entrance within
the walls.
The savory odor of plate of plump,
brown sausages and the foam-like light
ness of wheaton loaf, the staples of the
repast, testified to the skill of the hand
that had compounded them, while the
exhalations of tiny, black coffee. pot
betrayed the presence of luxury that,
in those days, would hardly have been
remarked on such board without re-
prehension. But it was one in which
Widow Slade seldom INDUCED, and never
except when she needed its harmless
stimulus against the fatigues of tour
ofunusal length and difficulty.
swell, Heaven be praised for warm
house and bountiful meal !" she ejacu-
lated, rising from the table with an ex-
preston of gratitude on her fresh un-
wrinkled face ''if this world requires
much care and hard work of me, it also
yields me many blessings to be thank
ful Tor /"
Her words were directed to her son a
tall, mature looking lad of fourteen or
fifteen, whose strongly marked, though
handsome features were singularly i'm
pressed with the character of turbulence
and self-will. He was engaged in pre-
pairing new rifle for use, and OCCASION
ally alternated his employment, as If
unconsciously, by tracing, with a point
ed stick, the device on the broad side
plate Of the stove, the tragedy of Judith
and Holofernes, represented the anachor-
istic machinery of stack of bayonets
and pile Of cannon-balls, to give war
like aspect to the tent. Without appear
ing TO have noticed his mothers address,