The Newtown bee., 1892-08-12
Merit alone has made the reputation of WELcoM =Z{ SOAP Beware of substitutes. Nothing is as
 good as the genuine Use no other.

answered him, Yankee fashion, withan-
 other question.
 1 Are you traveller, then?' Yes. I'm come up from New York to spend a few days and find you've no
 tavern here.'
 New York, eh? You don't happen to
 know cousin of mine there named Tom Somers, do you|
 That is my name, sir | 'Ahn said the old gentleman, with | laugh, q thought couldn't be mistaken | in your nose. It's as good as family
 label all the world round. But what on
 earth do you want to find tavern for?' Tom explained.
 'Nonsense,' said his cousin. Jump right in. You can't come too soon. The
 girls will be glad to see you. They
 couldn't say enough about you when
 they came home.'
 If you are sure l shan't put you to 1 any inconyenience.'
 Inconvenience! not a bit. Jump right in, l say. We are country folks
 and don't put ourselves out for our friends. You must take us as you find
 us. Dittie was deep in some furbelow
 or other when l came off, but Nelly will see you. Bless her little heart. She's
 never too busy to do anything that's i wanted, if it only makes somebody else comforta bte.'
 | So off they drove and, after half a
 mile, turned in at an open gate and stop
 ped in front of large, low, comfortable
 homestead. The old gentleman sprang
 out like a boy and, opening the door, be-
 gan to call in loud voice: 'Dittie-Nelly-girls This way, Tom. Here's the keeping l room and there's fire-or ought to be-. We'll, Dittie, what's the matter? Why
 don't you come and speak to your cous- 1 in TomY
 l And Tom stood and stared, for the fig
 ure before him was very little like the ex-
 quisite fairy he had been dreaming about for month back. Dittie was cuddled up in corner of the hearth with candle beside her and her lap full of blue silk petticoat upon which she was sewing Her pretty hair was all tucked up out of the way and looked rough and careless. Her dress was a sort of faded bedgown, evidently put on in hurry and, as she
 got up and shuffied unwillingly forward, | there could be no doubt that her slippers l were down at the heel. Now, children, if there is any one thing above another woman cannot afford to
 be, it is untidy. No matter how beauti-
 full she is, it spells it all Venus herself couldn't make an impression in an old
 bedgown, with her hair rumpled and collar awry. And as Tom stared at his lady 1oye-sullen and mortified and in this unpromising guise-he felt his senti-
 ment for her ooZing out at the tips of his fingers and, what's worse, it never came
 back again. Remember that girls! We didn't expect you so soon,' was all Dittie could find to say in the confusion of the moment.
 But we're very glad, Cousin Tom, joined in another voice and then he be- came conscious for the first time that Nelly had entered. She carried candle in each hand and when she set them down and had given Tom welcome and found chair for him and her father, she
 moved about the room giving bright, little housewifely touches here and there -poking the fire to blaze and making things look neat and cheerful. Her dress was only common print, but it was fresh and spotless; her hair was glossy as satin; and the neat little collar and bow of ribbon made the simple garb as becoming as richer material.
 All the time she was arranging the room, she went on talking in 9 pleasant voice, asking questions about the journey and diffusing that atmosphere of home and welcome which is so acceptable to stranger.
 Dittie slipped away, but Tom forgot to miss her, he was so we'll entertained. By-and-by she came back in a smart gown, with her hair cnrled; but, some how, Tom couldn't think her as pretty as he used to. The vision of the shabby dressing gown and rough locks were too recent to be forgotten.
 We'll, supper appeared and first rate supper it was. Tom was glad to see