The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-09-03

Buffalo seemed like South America
to those left behind in Springdale.
Few OF them had ever been more than
twenty miles from home. and the
thought of her long journey frightened
them. Suppose she should never come
back! There was no Sunday-school
picnic that year, no reception for the
sewing circle, and no garden party.
April. May, and June passed, with
no sign of Miss Binks. Had she for
gotten her native village, or was she
dead! Old Milly, her faithful colored
woman, remained in the Blink cottage
in evident contentment. She knew
Miss Sarah would return. Miss Sarah
always did what she said she would
Miss Binks did return. One morning
early in July the good news spread
through the village. Miss Binks had
returned-and had covered her fence
with tar.
The report was certainly true. Miss
Binks was at home, cleaning, busting.
and sweeping, the tar was there
too. Some years before, Deacon Binks
had kept two pet lambs; hence the ex-
istence of high wooden fence enclos-
ing semi-circle of land on the south
side of the house. Each end of the
circle was fastened to the cottage, and
the only way of entering the enclosure
was from side-door in the kitchen
which opened into it, the fence itself
being far too high too climb. Miss
Binks had often threatened to have it
pulled down. 1t was Il nuisance, she
SAID; it excluded much light and air
Oh account of its height, and she had
absolutely y no use forit. But the fence
le"aincd. Perhaps sentimental re-
gard for her brothers memory kept it
there. Now the entire exterior was
covered with Il thick coat of tar, evi-
IDENTIFY for some purpose. Nearly
every one i'll the village called to sec
Miss Binks as soon as her return was
known, but no one dared to question
her about the tar. Some liked the
odor: others found it very disagreeable;
but there was no one bold enough to
ask Miss Binks why she had put it
there. If Miss Binks did it, it must
be the fashion. No doubt people in
Buffalo all smeared their fences with
tar. 1t was problem to the people
of the village.
If Miss Binks was starting 4 new
fashion, it was clearly their duty to
follow; but was it a fashion?
The general stores supplied them
selves with tar, and waited. For the
first few days after her return people
hocked to the Binks cottage, and then
gradually the visits ceased. Miss
Binks said very little about Buffalo.
She had enjoyed her trip very much,
but was delighted to return to Spring
dale, and that was all she said.
She was certainly looking we'll and
happy, but, in spite of herself she gave
the general impression that she had
much work to do, and would appreci-
ate being left alone.
Hurt by her unusual behavior, her
friends gradually ceased to visit her so
frequently, and she WAS left in undis
turbed tranquility.
An ids. of some originality struck a
young man of the village. Perhaps
Miss Binks was building something in
side the enclosure, and had put on the
tar to keep people away? Bright idea!
No sooner had he expressed his opin-
ion than people began stopping in
front of the tar fence to listen; now
and then distinct clicking sound was
audible, a pause, and then the clicking
again. Hard Ikeman was right.
Without doubt Miss Binks was build
ing something; what they could not
guess. The news spread like magic.
while, all unconscious of the talk she
had aroused, Miss Binks continued to
sweep, dust, and clean.
The Fourth of July dawned bright
and clear, and, shortly after sunrise, i
silk flag was seen waving over the
Binks cottage. The entire village was
decorated with red, white, and blue
bunting, and small flags were fastened
to some of the stores, but Miss Binks's
flag was the observed of all.
Betwceh the tar fence and the flag
the Binks cottage was an especial oh
J(SU VI llUSlCSGs hC SCuOOt Suilttl Si
chose Il neighboring field for their fire
crackers, and later in the day the
grown people found it convenient tc
wander in the same direction.
Contrary t. their expectations, Miss
Binks was cordiality itself. Decked
out in pretty lawn dress. she sat Oh
the front piazza and served cool glasses
of lemonade to all who stopped to wish
her the time of day. Never had she
appeared to better advantage; she was
an improved edition of her fcrmer self
1t was warm day, and Miss Binks
! and her delicious lemonade made de
! lightful combination. Tar and ill feel
ing were forgotten, rs the merry grouI
on the piazza watched the boys, in the
field opposite, with their fireworks