Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-09-26
THE NATIVES.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS,

When MIR. Tony Dibbon of-'s
dry goods store, New York, went into
the country for a holiday, he had no in
tention of hiding his light under a
bushel. He had not bought his new
summer suit, and made himself irresisti-
bic to the fair sex: with Alaska dia-
monds, to 60 to grandmother Dibbon's,
and fish on the bank of Swan creek, and
take his cousin Sally to singing-school.
He had a hearty invitation to spend his
vacation there, but he did not mean to
take it; when there was Stickup's hotel,
damned full of people, where if he was
content with a small box next the roof,
he could be accommodated very cheaply,
considering how stylish the place was.
He calculated that he could afford two
weeks Of it, and two weeks was all ne
could have anywhere. So one morning
Stickup's stage emptied him out at the
piazza, and all the young ladies with
big hats, who had come out to see if
there were any letters for them, or if
dear grandpa had come down-or for
some such excellent reason-not, of
course, to show themselves-were doubt
less overwhelmed. That was some COM
pensation, it is to be presumed, for the
long, hot night, passed in company with
the chief of the mosquitoes. Tony's
window was only large enough for one of
that size to come in at-a rabid monster,
who stung him on his ear when he was
slapping his cheek, and on his nose when
he turned his attention to his ear, and
who, when at last he enveloped himself
from head to foot in the counterpart.
got under somehow, and bit him all over
at once-at least, it seemed so to poor
Tony. In the morning the looking glass
revealed speckled countenance and
hollow eyes; and Tony having washed
himself in half pint of water-the
chambermaid had forgotten the towels
negotiated for net with the sympathiz-
ing and astonished reporter who was sure
the mosquitoes had come up with the
stage the night previous, as not one had
been seen on Duck Mountain before, and
having breakfasted early, retired to the
woods for the purpose of hiding himself
from the eyes of the world until the
spots which adorned his face should have
vanished.
The woods were cool and shady, and
after an hours ramble he felt much bet
ter too. The ladies would be down by
this time, and jenkins the reporter, with
whom he had made friends when he was
interviewed regarding the burglary at
Yard and Measures had promised to in
troduce him to some "pretty girls" He
would return to the hotel, and a little
powder Che had some Lubin's violet
scented in box) would make him quite
pre,cntable.
Return to the hotel. That was easier
said than done. Having decided that
he should take this course, Mr.. Tony
Dibbon began to recognize the fact that
the forest paths looked all alike-that
there were big trees that resembled other
big trees, and rocks that were the twins
of other rocks in other places, and he
had forgotten to take notice of the situa-
ton of Stickup's Hotel, and did not
know whether it was to the east or on
he west. He was lost in the woods, and
he did aot like the idea at all. Suppose
he should never find his way out, but
should perish miserably. He began to
wish he had gone to his grandmother.
However, something must be done. If
he walked out in any direction, he must
come to the end of the woods in time.
His money was in his pocket. He must
meet wagon or a foot-passenger, and
get taken back to Stickup's in time. So
ne wandered on, now and then giving q
shout, but never receiving any answer.
The chlpmonks came down the trees and
grinned at him, and skurried back; little
dead-leaf colored toads hoped across his
path. Once he thought he saw a wolf,
but it was only dead log. At last he
sat down fatigued and overcome with the
heat, on the short, study woodgrass, and
CALCULATED:
"l'm blessed if believe there are any
natives"
Before the words were out of hi
mouth he heard q laugh, and immedi
ately appeared before him in the patti
two pretty young women, with tin pail
OF blueberries in their hands. They
wore calico dresses, with blouse waists
cut short IN the skirt, thick, well-fttin(
boots, and big straw hats, with no trim
ming whatever. Each had little whit
rufile at her neck; but there wsa nat ,
bow or a pin or an earring about either
straight, light of step, elastic, and un
trammeled by supeIfuous drapery. the,
tripped along, and Tony. Dibbon said {!
himself, "The natives at LAST The,
he arose and advanced. ~ -. y
" Beg pardon, ladies'" he said, "bu
I'm lost here in the woods, Pm iron
New York-and you know, or perhap
you don't know, that New York is yer
ol'''r Mt from the woodA / wouldh'
say anything against the woods, 70