The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-13

| ruptly, II shall want some money to-
day; If you are going out on your beat,
be sure that you leave me some"
money to-day !" she repeated, stop
ping with surprise in her occupation Of
removing the breakfast things; "where
can you be going, George, that you will
need money on such day as this 7"
"To the shooting-match at the Elk;
there's to be famous one, and want
to win either the prize bear or a prime
old turkey for our Christmas dinner"
One of the turkeys of our own feeding
will do well enough for our Christmas
dinner, George, and as to the bear, 1
want no such beast about me. Besides,
it is bad habit for boy like you to get
into, this going to shooting matches"
"Good or bad, intend to CO." said
the lad insolently $50 you may as well
leave me the money to pay for my
chances If you don't choose to do 1t,
1 dare say could find out where there
is enough kept to answer my purpose"
The widow turned with deep sigh to
window, and her eyes wandered va.
cantiy over the wide expanse of snow
before it, but after moment they rested
on dwelling, the only one within sight
of her own, which stood at the farther
side of trackless field, and her train of
thought was changed
"Strange that should have been SO
forgetful," she observed, as if in self-re-
proach; 'this is no time, George, to be
disputing about your idle amusements,
while fellow creature near us may be
in grievous want of our aid. 1 ought
not to have neglected till this late hour
my duty toward poor Margaret Wilmot.
There is not curtain drawn from her
window, nor a curl of smoke rising from
her chimney; perhaps she is too weak
to leave her bed, and is suffering for
food and fire. must go and look after
her,though indeed 1t will be hard enough
for me to spare the time. 1 promised to
be at Colonel Melvin's against twelve,
with the white peeling ribbon for Miss
Julia's wedding dress, besides leaving
the paregoric for old Madam Greely on
the way.
"But the money-the money for the
shooting-match," interrupted George,
impatiently, and with pertinacity that
showed his determination to carry his
point.
His mother hesitated and then replied
as If relieved to be able to make her con-
scious weakness subservient to some
good purpose; If you sOiH go to the Elk,
George, your nearest way will be by
Margaret Wilmot's, and on condition
you do my errand there, L will crafty
you this time in what you ask. Will
you promise me to stop and do any thing
for her that she may require ?''
George carelessly nodded, and with
frightened countenance his mother pre-
pared him for his mission. "I shall put
up some victuals for her." said she,
"and you can give them into her own
hand. Here is loaf of bread with some
rusks and cold meat for herself, and a
bottle of milk for the child. See that
there is water in plenty from the spring,
and make fire for her-a good one that
will last awhile; and carry in wood
enough to do till tomorrow. Should
she be so much worse as to need nv
help, wait to let me know when you
reach the toll-gate, and can turn into
the lane and stop with her; there will
be good excuse for it, and hope my
customers would rather put up with
little disappointment than that she
should suffer. If, however, she is as
usual, keep on your course, and, as 1
return in the evening, will come that
way and look after her.''
The pedlar woman took from the till
of strong oak chest few pieces of
silver, which she gave to her son, and
saw him depart with the basket of pro-
visions in his hand and the rifle on his
shoulder. She then changed her home
dress for better one, and placing in her
basket some of the various little COM
modities which comprised her stock in
trade, started off as usual upon her daily
task. A walk of mile brought her to
the gate at which she was to decide upon
the result of her arrangement with her
son. He had evidently.passed on, for
in the lane connected with the dwelling
of Margaret Wilmot, which there join
ed the main road, foot tracks that she
knew to be his, the only ones by which
path had. been opened, and satisfied
with the belief that the necessities of