Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-18

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which continued to come down. compelled
me still to hide under cover, so, placing
my chair in corner, and putting my head
against the wall, tried to get a nap
Mso. The naturalist and his companions,
were now the only persons in the room
besides the gardener and myself.
cannot tell half nor quarter what
was said by first one and taen another of
the four persons: nor did understand
some of the phrases which they used.
Bruce and "Worder" ..fax" and
"stuffing" were words often employed by
them. recollected that Bruce" was
the name of the dog, and "Wonder"
that of tho lamb, in the museum before
spoken Of and the other terms, judged,
referred to the materials with which they
were stuffed; but could not see why
they should speak in so low a tone as
they did when they spoke of them.
Once or twice they referred to bird by
some slang phrase. But after-events
made this clear enough.
By-and-by the weather cleared up,
when the men, draining their glasses, got
up and went away. The moment they
were gone, the gardener reused up, took
a memorandum book on, Of his pocket,
and began to write therein, He then
asked me if ! knew who the men were,
aud what their occupation, and if un-
derstood any Of the words uttered in the
lower town Of voice. gave him what
information could. But" | said, ,"both
they and believed you were asleep"
at is well to go into dreamland at
times" he said; and then added: "Did
YOU say the old man keeps u museum:
Have you seen it: Do YOU think could
get look at it,
The questions were put one after the
other in quick succession, as though he
were eager and anxious about something.
| said "ycs,' to each; but was surpris-
ed al the good English in which he now
spoke. and the refinement, which marked
his manners. Still could make moth
ing of it.
pass over the next few days, as they
brought forth no remarkable incident.
The gardener had stuck to his contract
with the landlord, and | had been enab-
led TO get on with my work. The four
men did not again visit us: but as went
ON with my carving | saw first one and
then another of them pass my place.
And once / saw them all in earnest con-
verse in a retired lane.
After supper one night, ! took the gar
dener 10 the barn.like habitation Of the
naturalist. As we went along he asked
me to take particular notice of the dog
and lamb. For" said he, II was struck
with the questions one of the men put
as 10 whether Bruce and Wonder could
take any more cotton or flax. And it
is just possible" he continued, "that he
has way Of taking out and putting
in stuffing after the skin has become set
and hard-a thing worth knowing, |
should think.
When we got to the house, the old
man came to the door, closing it after him.
Being asked if he would allow the gard
ener to see his collection Of preserved an
imals, he at first seemed perplexed, and
saving, "Tll ask my son. he went In,
leaving us outside. Shortly he returned
and said: 1T is not convenient to enter
the room tonight, as it is being cleaned
and the contents re-arranged; but if your
friend viii come tomorrow night, and
come alone, he shall see over it.
We agreed and came away. | was at
a loss to account for the condition i'm
posed, but my companion was set up
with the arrangement.
Next night came, and the gardener set
off on his errand. was all impatience
for his return. But, when he came back,
he seemed unwilling to relate the result
of his adventure simply saying:
"Tm in no humor for talk tonight; III
relate what I've seen and said, tomorrow.
Ny friend had got on well with his gar
den;ng. His potatoes and onions, his tur'
nips and carrots, had been got in. and II
was clear that if the next two days should
prove fine he would finish the job on Sat
urday night.
On Friday night he came to me in th'
kitchen, in corner in which was read
ing. and asked me to take short wall
with him. / got up and went. Th'
night was fine but dark. We walked IL
the direction of the museum. He asket
me if Icould keep secret for day or two
Replying in the affirmative, he said ht
bod . strong suspicion that the old nat