The Portland daily press., 1891-08-28
Our Summer vIsitors


ine summer season is now drawing to a
oiose. ana our summer visitors are leaving
u.s. IL native" may venture to patronize
'nem' 1t may be remarked that they are good
people; but they do funny things sometimes.
a case In point occurred on the Boston &c
Maine train that left Old Orchard for Boston
the other day. In the big crowd of other
people who came on to the train was a little
nervous woman. having a little boy with her
and numerous friends out on the platform.
Inc car was crowded, so the little boy was
put into one seat while his mother took half
Oh another. The friends on the platform
Kept up running fire of farewells through
the window until the car was out of the sta.
ton. Then the little woman turned atten-
ton to herself and her baggage. She rum
mayed through large handbag, pulled out
Oh the bag portmonnaie. looked through 1t
eagerly, and then threw up her hands tragi-
cally, as she exclaimed:
II do believe have packed my ticket in
my trunk"
Then she hunted nervously through the
bag again.
YES. l have. and have not money enough
to pay my fare to Haverhill. What shall 1
dow
Pretty soon the conductor came around,
aud the sad story was told him. He was
nonplussed, and left the question pending
while he completed his rounds. When he
returned the little woman had thought that
her husband lived near the depot at Haver-
hill. Perhaps the conductor could stop his
train there and run. down and call on the
man, who would pay the fare. This did not
suit the conductor, who asked for the check
to the trunk that held the ticket.
lob. dear me-" said the lady, "there are
three trunks and three checks, and don't
know which is which, or in which trunk the
ticket is" Then she settled back in her
seat in despair, and the conductor walked off
likewise in despair.
Pretty soon the conductor returned. by
this time they were approaching Newmarket
junction. He would have the trunks set
out, and the lady could 60 through them and
find the ticket during the stop for refresh
ments. So. when the train stopped, the little
lady hurried out. She was gone ten minutes
and then, just as the train was starting,
came aboard with an air of triumph.
II have found It," she announced gleefully
to the people in the car. 81 did not care
anything for the ticket, but thought that
conductor believed was lying"
A party of gentlemen were discussing the
ubiquity of the Colorado potato bug the 9TH
er day.
II have seen potatoes planted on a cleared
place in the midst of forest, miles from
any house or farm" began one, and "the pc
tot0es would no sooner be up than the bugs
would be there" THAT is nothing" said an
other, "those bugs cruise all over Casco
Bay. They go on the water. either floating
unaided or on small chips and slivers of
criftwood. The fishermen, In pulling in
their nets, find potato bugs crawling all over
them"
Potato bugs like the seashore as we'll as
fashionable people do" spoke up quiet
New Yorker. II have seen millions Of them
lat Coney Island. They come in on the
waves, and have seen winrow Of them a
foot wide along the beach,
II am not surprised at what you say, gen.
tlemen." added the most serious member of
the party. IL was up to the White Noun
tains the other day. While there party
came into the hotel from visit to Tucker
mans Ravine. They reported that they had
found the snow arch covered with potato
bugs. Everyone laughed at them, but they
adhered to their story. l was curious, and
with friend, determined to visit the arch.
When we arrived at the arch we were
amazed 20 find those bugs crawling all over
the snow, apparently enjoying themselves
as in potato field. There were no potatoes
within miles, What those bugs could find
to interest them on that snow arch we could
not guess"
Probably the potato bug is getting well
enough-to-do to be able to spend his vacation
at the seashore and mountsin," remarked
the youth of the party. and this was as sat
isfactory as any explanation ventured to &C
count for the ubiquity of the potato bug.