The Worthington advance., 1890-07-31
CATCHING BUTTERFLIES.
His Latest Specim an the Rarest
and Most Valued of All.

''Is this the stage for Ford's Mills?"
said bright, daintily-appareled young
girl to . afarmer-like man who was idly
watching the passengers alighting from
the north-bound train.
The man moved his head, but not his
body. He was too comfortable. it
seemed, although the old leather
cushion of the stages front seat did not
iaok so very soft, and certainly the
harI. straight back would not have
tempted Sy ybarite.
E Eyes, but it don't ~ there fur nigh
onto two hours; it waits fur the train up
from 'Gusty. Wuz you thinkin' O. goin'
to Ford's Mills to-day?" he said, leis-
urely.
Bessie Meredith smiled as she replied
in the affirmative. She had never vis-
tied Maine until to, day, but she felt as
ii she had always known this stage
driver, Saml Gardner, for she had often
heard her father describe his leisurely
manner. his rustic appearance, and his
inquisitiveness.
Don't be offended at Saml Gardners
questions, Bessie" her father had said
w AOAs AOu uuoV oO0A EAA AAAAN Vudt
he is not hireling hackman, but a
well-to-do and highly respected resi-
dent, who has driven the stage between
Eddington and Ford's Mills for thirty
years, and consequently knows and is
known by every one in the neighbor-
hood"
''Got folks there?' queried Gardner.
my father has cousins there, one Of
whom am going to visit.''
."Sho now. Never ben there before,
know. never furgit any pooty little
gal that goes in my stage. fur somehow
all the young creeturs takes to me.
Who did you say you was goin' to visit?'
MRS. William Ford; you know her, I
am sure" -
Wilson Ford's widder? Course ! do.
But I thought knew all his kin folk.
Whose girl be you, anyway"
Not wilson Ford; father cautioned
me not to let you make a mistake. I
mean Mrs. William Ford"
II see! Hammer, Bills widder; her
thet was q Meredith. Yes! yes! So
you're one of the Boston Merediths, eh?''
YES" replied Bessie, laughing. II
am the daughter of Henry Meredith;
father said you'd remember him."
'Sho now! Is Henry's gals gr~ led up
80 big? How time doos fly! wonder
Hammer didn't tell me she was expectin'
:. company; they mostly do, so kin keep
an eye out fur 'em.> Well, you go an
set in the depot, an I'll call you when
its time to start; you shall sot on the
front seat, an I'll tell you about a
prank that father O. yourn played OH me
onct He was q master hand to train!
Chuck full O. the old Nick! Mis- Wilson
Ford-her thet wuz Carline Oakes-was
some expectin' one o her nieces from
Hol'will, an must go and see if she's
anywhere round"
Evidently the niece from Hallowe]l
had postponed her visit, for there were
but three other passengers, elderly
women, in Saml Gardner's stage, and
they got out at farm-houses long before
Ford's Mills was reached -...----- .------
lis Mis- Ford to home?'' said the
driver. as the stage stopped at trim
little house in the middle of a luxurjant
orchard. The person to whom he spoke
WAS just leaving the house; in one hand
she carried little basket, and in the
other tin pail.
mo, she hain't. She was 1ottin' on
.goin' down to Eddin'ton with you, this
afternoon, providin' her company hedn't
come; but she was sent for, sudden, to
go an see Mis- Snow; her little boys
a-dyin'."
$50 Capn Snow told me as wuz goin'
down the hill by the meetin' house. Is
Mis- Ford's door open?"
mo; but the key is under the step,
and you can just walk in an make your
self to home till Mis- Ford gifts back.
You'll find all the vittles in the butt'ry;
so jest cook yourself up what you like. u
said the neighbor to Bessie, and then
walked away.
When Bessie was At last in the COW
kitchen, out of which the '.butt'ry''
opened, she sat down in the patch-cush.
toned rocker, and laughed until the
tears came into her eyes.
This must be Arcadia! Fancy a
stranger being set down 1T our front
door in the city. with house locked and
the family away! What different fate
would await her! Evidently Cousin
Hannah failed to receive papa's letter
" telling her that was to arrive to-day K
= make my first and long-deferred visit K
ner, 80 l must make myself at home un
til she returns."
The sink was full Of unwashed dishes
which convinced Bessie that Mrs. Snow'e
summons must indeed have been
urgent for Cousin Hannah was . mos,
nethodical honsekeeper; 80 she cover.
: Cd Asr pretty dress With one OF the capa'
cious sprons which she found hanging
b0hind the sloset door and then pro