The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-13
NO. SO.

culpability, and for power to make repa-
ration for 1t. She was interrupted by
the entrance of her son, who noisily
dashed down his rifle, of which the bar
rel was broken, and with his foot push
ed aside the little guest seated upon the
floor.
"What is this brat doing here S' he
asked petulently.
She is here as means of trial to me,
George, to prove If can do my duty
toward child by bringing it up more
in accordance with the commandments
of God than have done my own SON.
There is fearful sin and reproach upon
you since you last left this door. Your
disobedience to me has made this little
creature an orphan. Margaret Wilmot
is dead, and died of cold and hunger"
The face of lad flushed, but it was
rather with anger at his mothers tone
of severity than with any emotion for
its cause.
"Then why did you not look after
Margaret Wilmot yourself?" he de-
manded with the rudeness habituaI to
him in his intercourse with his mother;
81 have paid dearly enough on her ac-
count already. Look here, If you had
not been troubling me about her, and
had let me attend to my own concerns,
would have loaded my gun without
mistake, and saved myself from this.
He extended his hand, unrolling from
it thick wrapping, and his mother
saw that he had shot away the fore-fin-
ger at the second joint. She started
with a momentary shudder, but sup
pressing her feelings, she remarked,
''Your punishment has come soon after
the offence, George; can only pray
that no other may be sent upon you."
AS her own mind acquired relief from
the shock occasioned by the fate of Mar
garet Wilmot, the pedlar woman saw,
with deep sorrow. that it had made no
impression upon that of her son. He
even seemed to find satisfaction in prov
ing SO to her by every act of petty tyran-
ny that he could wreak upon the infant
she had adopted, and her perception at
once thoroughly awakened to his faults,
she became solictous to follow the ad-
vice of her neighbors, and place him
where he would have steady employ
ment and be under beneficial restraint.
But he was hardened in self-will beyond
his years. He scoffed at the idea of la
Dor and control, and few months after
the change had been suggested, he sud-
denly disappeared, and with him, from
her secret depository, the hoardings of
several years. His death could scarcely
acute than such desertion. Undutiful
as he had been, and inclined to evil
ways, he was the only hope of her wild.
owhood, and to her grief was added the
reproaches of her conscience for the
weak indulgence that had failed to form
him to better things.
To those acquainted with her circum
stances it was touching to witness the
the devotion of the pedlar woman to-
ward the child of her adoption. De-
pendent upon her daily exertions for
her own livlihood, it was burthen to
her, and heavy one, yet to acknowl-
edge it so even to herself, never entered
her generous mind. Many time, when
her outdoor business might have -four
ished proftably, she was kept at home
for days by its infantile infirmities, and
not only then but constantly it was a
serious hindrance to her vocation, for
her house having no other inmate she
made it the companion of her rounds
whenever its strength and season allow
ed. Nestled against her shoulder If
awake, or, If asleep, carefully sheltered
in basket balancing that of her null
tifarious wares, she bore 1t uncomplain-
ly with her during the first year or two
of her guardianship, and. as it increased
in size and vigor, as patiently she led
it by the hand and Accommodated her
own pace to its uncertain steps. 1t was
however, well worthy of her affection,
for seldom has the heart treasured or the
eye rested on a gentler or lovlier child.
Ever fair, delicate and graceful as a lily,
Notwithstanding its exposure and its
humble nature, with its long, soft fax
curls floating around its stately neck,
and with an expression Of angelic puri-
ty and meekness on its beautiful feat
ures, there was not a family in the coun-
try, no matter how high their estate,
that would not have been proud Of such
an offspring. Its beauty and sweetness
were the glory Of the foster mother,and