The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-09
BUTLER SPOON STORY.
John Budd's Defense o. His Old Com
mander's Memory.

mander's Memory.
John Budd, of Wiscasset. the oldest
and quaintest toll gatnere in Maine.
now has more singular tale to relate
than the story of his life; and just one
little chapter in hrs life is strange
enough for most people.
Budd was one of twin brothers. His
parents died when he was an infant,
and the two little shavers We're taken
in hand by charitable people. No one
family desired both Of the twins, and 20
the boys were separated. John Budd
was adopted by q French-Candian fam
lily and was taken into Canada and there
reared. His BROTHER Thomas was taken
into Scotch family in che provinces
and there arrived at manhood. After
traced each other cut and met. but they
required an Interpreter before they
could converse. John Had Mved among
French Canadians all his life and had
not then learned to speak English; the
brother had broad Scotch accent tina.
hight bother even a Yankee ear.
For years John Budd had been the
toll gatherer at the end of the Wiscas-
set bridge, the longest in the state of
Maine. It Is built on trestles and Is
something over a mile long. Whenever
Chief Justice Peters, now retired. held
court at WEscasset each April and Octo-
Der he never allowed day to pass with
out calling on John Budd at the toll
office. The chat Of the old: man unused
the justice very much. for, as the most
noted wit and recounter in Maine, he
loves picturesqueness of character more
than any other attribute. He knows in
tbrnately every quaint old chap in the
state.
A few days ago Budd was sitting in
the sun at the door of his little booth
smoking his pipe. Two young neH. evil
IDENTIFY city boys on a pedestrian tour.
came along across the bridge and
stopped to pay their toll. They eased
their knapsacks off their shoulders and
sat down on a bench at the side of the
booth for moments res.. Budd ma
turally asked them whence they had
come and whittier they were going:
''Our home is in New Orleans" said
the older of the young men. 1--WE are
up here in Maine for the summer"
II stopped in New Orleans at one
time," said Budd.
When was that?"
"When I was with General Butler"
The faces of the young men hard
ened. The older one said, with much
bitterness of tone:
well, you can't be very proud of
that"
And why not you young snippet?"
demanded Budd,> with just as much as
perity.
Because Butler was an insulter OF
women. q tyrant and an old thief; that's
what he was, and the boys of New Or
leans who never saw him hate him just
as much as the men ana women who
suffered from his orders. And, besides.
he stole all the spoons out Of my grand
fathers hotel"
He did, eh?" snapped Budd. What
was the name of your grandfather's no.
tel?"
THE St. Charles"
You Just wait a moment young man."
Bucd went upstairs into his living
room and brought down heavy can
vas bag.
He opened it and took out handful
of spoons On the handle of each was
engraved est. Charles"
what do those look like?" demanded
Budd.
"Why. those are some Of the spoons
from my grandfather's hotel! gasped
the young man. Where did you come
on those?"
IT stole 'em," said Budd placid!y.
"And know who stole the rest of EN-
and we all did it at the risk of our lives.
for II General Butler had known 1t he
would have had US strung up. NOW
you take back what you said about hlm'
Take Il back or I'll dump you both
over the rail there
Daunted by the glare in the eyes OF
the old man, the boys apolosied Tor
their hasty words. Then the older saio:
"Sir, my father will pay any price TOR
those old spoons. I don't know just now
much money I have with re. but VIII
give it to you. every CERT IL you VIII
give me those memorials Of my grand
father. They CEN be worth nothing
more to you now"
Let me tell you." replied Budd. that