VOL XXVII. WALL PAPER! Believing tbat it is best to close out each season's styles before the CDSuiDg s -asf-u begins, even at H great sacrifice, I bave marked over two-thirds ot my entire stock of pa per hangings, the largest beet seclected line in Butler, AT HALF PRICE The balance of the paper was mark ed so low before that half price would be giving them a war. These yea will get below cost notwithstanding their forme r cheapness. Just imagine Drowns at LOCAL OR TRAVELING. In well (nr Nureerj tock, salary, expenses and M "•"» empUivn .-lit Kiiirinteed. I BKUTIIKKN ( OXPIST. Kro» hester, N. Y. 0U C NI INDmSEJ 0 I'L- »I i'JTi I.' ,i ltn> A.I-1-rl -M< L.urem. <>F °u , HEKLNGTOIT BEOS. will contract lor adveriiauig at lowe»t r^iea. THE BUTLLR CITIZEN. i PROFESSIONAL, CARDS. L. BLACK, PHYSICIAN AND SIRIJEON. NO. 3M, S. Main St.,—Butler, l'a Dr. A. A. Kelty, l Office at Rose Point, Lawrence county. Pa. ! K. N. LEAKK. M. D. J. E. MANN, M. D. Specialties: Specialties: S Gynaecology and Sur- Eye. Ear. Nose anil firy. Throat. DRS. LEAKE & MANN, Butler, Pa. G. M. ZIMMERMAN. rij Y:iCIA> AND SURGEON, | Office atNo. 45, P. Main street, over Frank & j Co'# Diujf SU,r»*. Butler, Pa, SAMUEL M. BIPPUS. Physician and Surgeon. £«o. 22 Last Jefferson St., Cutler, Pa. W. R. TITZEL. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON. 9. W.Comer Main and North Sts., Butler, Pa. J. J. DONALDSON, Dentist: Butler, Penn'a. j Artificial Teetti Inserted rn the latest im proved plan. «.old Filling a specialty. Office— I over ScnauFß Clothing Store. DR. S. A. JOHNSTON. DENTIST, - - BUTLER, PA. All work pertaining to the profession; execut ed in the neatest manner. Specialties : —Gold Killings, and Painless Ex traction of Teeth, Vitalized Air administered. Offlrr on Jefferson Mrwl, one door Emit of Lowrj >lou*e, Ip Stairs. Office open daily, except Wednesdays and Thursdays. Communications by mall receive prompt attention,! S. B.—The only Dentist In Butler nsing£the b*»t makes or teeth. J. W. MILLER, Architect, C. E. and Surveyor. Contractor, Carpenter and Builder. Maps, plans, specifications and esti mates; all kinds of architectural and en gineering work. No charge for drawing if I contract the work. Consult your best in terests; plan before you build. Informa tion cheerfully given. A share of public patronage is solicited. P. O. Box 1007. Office S. W. of Court House, Butler, Pa. C. F. L. McQUISTION, C.\GL\£EK AND SURVEYOR, ORRICE KEAB DIAMOND, BUTLBB, PA. J. w. HUTCHISON, ATTOHNEY AT LAW. Office ou second floor of the lluselton block. Diamond, Butler, Fa., Koorn No. 1. A. T. bCOTT. J. T. WILHON. SCOTT & WILSON, ATTOR X E YB-AT-LAW. collections a specialty. Office at No. 8, South Diamond, Duller. Fa. JAMES N. MOORE, ATTOKJ.KY-AT-LAW AND NOTARY PUBLIC. onicc in Room No. 1. second floor of lluselton Block, entrance on Diamond. A. E. RUSSELL, ATTORNEY AT LAW. Office on second floor ot New Anderson Block Main St..—near Diamond. IRA McJUNKIN. Attorney at Law, Office at No. IT, East Jeffer son St., Butler, Fa. W. C. FINDLEY, Attorney at Law awl Real Estate Agent. Of llct- rear ot L. 7.. Mitchell's office ou north side of Diamond. Butler, r». H. H. GOUCHER. Attorney-at-law. Office on second floor of Anderson building, near Court Ilou.se. Butler, I'a. J. K. BRITTAIN. Att'y at Law—office at 8. E. Cor. Malb St, and Diamond, Butler, I'a. NEWTON BLACK. Att'y at Law—Office on South side of Diamond Butter. Pa. L. S. McJUNKIN, Insurance and Real Estate Agt 17 EAST JEFFERSON ST. BUTLER, - PA. E. £■ ABEAMS & CO Fire and Life INSURANCE Insuraitf-i> Co. of North America, incor porated 179 4 , capital $3,000,000 and other Htroug companies represented. New York Life Insurance Co., assets »'J0,000,000. Office New Huselton building near Court House. UKE SHORE NURSERIES. ERI&PA. All stock guaranteed to be in good con dition when delivered. We replace all trees that fail to grow. REFERENCES IN BUTLER: J. F. Lowry, W. T. Mechling, Jame Shanor, Jr., J. E. Forsythe, Geo. Shaffner (3. "Walker, Esq., Ferd Reiber, Esq. and D L. Cleelaud. G. F. KING, AGT. EITEMJUILtkR IIOCIHB, BUTLER, PA. BUTLER COUNTY Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Office Cor. Main & Cunningham Sts. •■k. C. ROEiSSING, PUESIDENT. 11. (J. ItEiNEMAM, toiCKKTAhr. DIRECTORS: I.C. HoesstDß, Henderson Oliver, I.Purvis, .lanes Mteph>-nsoii, v. Trout man, H. 0. Ileinrmiui, vitrei Wick, N. Ueltzel. ir. W. Irvlii. ~ (r . Btckenbach. . W. Horl.hart. I). T. Morris. jOYAL M'JUNKIN, Gen. Ae't- BUTLER, FA. —Adyerticw in tbe CITIZEN. Wit Li AM iuMQ, # * i/AJ Ji JLl_?r'V , *- ■■ • - i — * *-" 1 30 S MAINST - Ml EST 01 Tffl FLY. - k / J We wore fishing on the sly C-Z 'J' ( "* n( * caught on the fly, ft », rrf~jfcr'\ \ Jnet-abore the eye. viM] xZ 7 y KJ _Ji—7 Catching a tucker is an easy thing. * '■'■ e are pot after that kind of game. tl y / The fact is we've got no bait for suckers _ in our sure. We are after whales. Our rfT jfry™h •-1,. ; t i.-j bargains; genuine bargain?, re ' • Ti "taX A>a number; ieal bargains. We don't use '• «K J|p jl Hrtificial bait, got up just to catch cus -4y ton). About one man iu ten does not ~ trade with us. We're after that then About one in ten does not know that an. other nine of his fellow mortals have come to-the conclusion that it is always safest to trade with Hfion Clothier. Hatter and Furnisher. 121 North Main St. - DufTy's Block, Butler, Pa. WHEN IN NEED OF CALL ON HENRY BIEHL 122 NORTH MAIN STREET, btjtleb . - - - - penn , a Where you can haye your choice oot of the largest assortment of cooking and heating Moves in Butler county; alfo dialer in Hardware, Lansing Wagons, Wheeler Jc Wilton and Standard Sewing Machine*, Hanging and staud Lamps. Manufacturer of Tinware; Tin Hoofing and Spontinfc a Specialty. WHERE A CHILD CAN BUY AS CHEAP AS A MAN WEST END GROCERY. F. W. LIMBERG, PROP. stock of teas, coffees, canned goods, country produce and everything usually kept in a first class grocery, tobacco and cigars; also dry goods, notions, etc. We make a specialty of flour and leed. A Full Line of Fall Dry Goods Just Received Ooods Delivered Free to any part of Town- J. R.GRIEB. PROF. R. J. LAMB. GRIEB & LAMB'S MUSIC STORE. NO. 16 SOUTH MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA. /• * Sole Ajrents foi Butler, Mercer and Clar 'oll cuuil^es f° r Behr Bros. &Co s Magnificent t 'iano? - . JShoninger, and Newby & Evans ijinos, I'acK trd, Crown, Carpenter and f w England Organs. L'ealers in Violins, -tiiiigs, Bruno Guitars, and All Kinds of Musical Instrume ts. SHEET MUSIC A SPECIALTY Pianos and Organs sold on ii bailments. Old Instruments taken in exchange. ( on;e and see us, a.s we can save you money. Tuning and Repairing ol all kinds of Musical Instruments Promptly Attended to. -BI'TLKK. PA- FRIDAY. OCTOBER3I, IBHO Grandma Baker's Thumb. sorniE SWKTT IS HARPER'S WEEKLY. ••Vhen is that giii over to Manning's a- goin' homeT" demaided t like a saior's blouse, and there ' was anchors sewec on to it. I put my head out of the *Tltier, and says I. 'Be | you aboard of the nivyt* She laughed jest a< pleasant as conll be, though the giri that was with her, aid was dressed pretty much the same riditkerlons way, she flush ed np. and looked r«al mad. Says old Mi-' Nlckerson. tbat was a-scttin' here with me, say- >he. -'Twori't do for her to be mad. seein' >he's a-gettin' Radolphus.' 'You hadn't ought to talk so. Mis' Xickerson,' say* I, -when everyb«dy knows that llu- I dolpbus has fceni krfpm' Company with 1 Aurilly Cleaves these two years, and she's hooked six rugs, anl made a beautiful worsted motto that >®ys, "God bless our home," to -ay notbin of sheets and table tablecloths that wou.d do your heart good to see, and five hundred dollars in the bank, and a cranb'O' mt-dder j'ir'i' ours.' j 'She's a ketch for «iy youcp man, Aurilly i is,' says Mis' Nickirson; 'but the other one, ! she's a tyrant.' Jiul I dedare if tbat girl don't make me thbk of on« of them creturs with fishes' tails that folks used to tell about that com«s it over sailors. Ru dolphus! Rudolpius! I declare when j folks is helpless 'iis is tie way they're I treated. 'Twa'n't so whet 'twas t'other J way, and I had to :are for rou." ! This pathetic reninder w»s lost upon Ru j dolphus, who wasclimbing the light-house ! stairs, not to attend to the lamp, which, in J its daylight coveiing, like a hnge | sheeted ghost, witl no sipi of the unwink ; ing eye which kept nifhtly watch over j dreary sand dunes, ahalthidden, gnawing I rock ledge, and the endless shifting waves. I Rudolphas turned the >py-glass toward I Manning's Point, in the lope of catching a ! glimpse of the "zebry"' dress which had | offended bis graridniither. Manning's Point was but a drca-y waste without those fluttering strifes. Grandmother Baker had been bedridden for nearly a year, having had a paraluic shock; it wa.- agreeable to reflect that she could not climb the light-house stairs to see the di rection in which that spy-glass was point ed. And her thin, shrill '.ones -«ould not penetrate the iron door or the brick walls of the light-house; neveitheless the re flection that she was still talking caused Rudolphas to wipe his brow wearily, lie was a brawny six-footer, lut his blue eyes were mild, and something gave him a sub inisnive aspect; it may hare been his stoop ing shoulders, but people generally ascribed it to living with Grandma Baker. She was but a morsel of a woman, and almost nine ty, «nd her face was like a little withered apple, but a spark still lurked in the depths of her deeply sunken black eyes, and her •»»» <-hiii looked to time and fate. < Rudolphus, meditating in the light house tower while the fig settled sadly down upon Manning's Point, felt in himself the strength to conquer poverty, ignorance, obscurity, but there remained the depress ing conviction that Grandma Baker would be too much for him. He knew that it was his duty to go at once, for the fog was thickening, and bring Aurilly Cleaves over from '"the main" lo do the house-work ami take care of his grandmother. Guly Silva had been a inns' capable Louse-keeper and nurse,but Grand ma Baker "couldn't put up with Portcrgee ways." She bad discovered this as soon as Aurilly Cleaves came home from Province town, where she had been visiting, and (July was dismissed. Xo one but Aurilly would do, and this was somewhat em barrassing, since Kudolphus had been aware of Aurilly - s red cheeks and curly hair, and had escorted those charms to the harbor picnics and to singing schools, until Mary Ilobart, from New Bedford,had come down to Manning's Point to spend the summer, and cast them utterly into eclipse. "Keeping company" was the equivalent of being engaged in Dangerfield society. Kudolphus was aware that he might have at one time permanently attached himself to the curls and red cheeks, if Aurilly had not had an unpleasant habit of comment ing severely upon the "shiftlessness" of young inc.: who had "no stiddy trade." She disapproved of bis taking the Method ist melodeon to pieces and putting it to gether again for nothing, and although clock-repairing was not to prove a very remunerative calling in so sparsely settled a region, it was, nevertheless, very short-sighted to repair one's neighbors' clocks and not charge at all, and in Aurilly's opinion it was much better to do "stiddy days' works" than to spend one's nights in trying to invent new-fangled inachiuerv. Xow Mary Ilobart understood and sym pathized; she predicted success for the in ventions, and Kudolphus had made the mature discovery that congenial tastes are more satisfying, in the long run, than curls and red cheeks. It was Aurilly'# influence which had led him to secure the position of light house keeper, a step which he constantly regret ted. The immediate cause had been Grand ma Baker's uncontrollable desire to "live under gover'munt. Them that was under gover'munt was always sure of their pay." But Grandma ISaker, in her normal state of mind, liked "to see passin'," and abhor red isolation, and it was perfectly clear to Kudolphus's mind that Aurilly bad her ear. Aurilly was one of the few people who could influence Grandma Baker; she had five hundred dollars in the bank and a c ranberry meadow, and grandma respected "proputty " When the fog had entirely swallowed the Point, with all its possibil ities, Kudolphus hurried down stairs, and put off his row-boat from the sandy beach of the little island. Grandma's voice hail followed him through the house. "Folks that flew in tin? face of Proverdunce," was the burden of her discourse. '-Them j'inin' cranb'ry medders" were providential guides to matrimony, in Grandma Baker's opinion. Aurilly, with her small and thrifty trunk, came back with him in the boat. She had an air of injured dignity— rumors of the attraction at Manning's I'oint had spread as far as Provincetown— and it seemed to Kudolphus that her hair curled more crisply and her cheeks were redder than ever. Sitting on her trunk in the stern, she loomed through the fog like »n avenging fate. How could he ever—. lut there art' no eipl»nations vouchsaft d to puzzled humanity of its own glamours when they have vanished. "I expect I might as well have Btaid. down to Provincetown. Folks seem to be getting along well enough without me up here," said Aunlly, when KuJoiphus had declined to rise to less direct personal bait. There were tears twinkling upon her lashes, and Piudolphus felt himself to be a deeply dyed villian. He had pressed her hand and her waist, and whispered soft nothings in her ear; if she had not been so business-like and sj disapproving of his way of life, he would now be a lost man. '"I m goin' up to Xew Bedford to morrow, Aurilly," he said. "Tin goin' long of some folks that have been sum meriu over to the Point. I'm goin' to try to get a patent on a lamp-burner that I've been workin' on. I expect it 'll amount to something. Miss Uobart's nnele is a patent lawyer; that's—that's why I'm goin' with her." And then Rudolphus knew himself to be a blacker villain than ever. Rut grandma must be pacified: he must depend on Aurilly lor that office. "I expect you'd better stay to home; ther. 's a hundred fails where one makes out with them patent fixin's," said Aurilly. But her tone was somewhat mollified;, per haps it struck her being too much so, for she hastened to add: "I expect them patent men won't do nothing for you 'thout yon court their nieces. It's sur prisin' how handy business does come to some folks that hain't never been oil"in the It was evident that not ninc-h of an ally against grandma was to be looked for in that quarter. But Rudolphus resolved to strengthen his faipting courage. To some extent his cause was j(<-t; there ira.« some thing in that lamp-bnruer. He worked away at the finishing touches all that evening, while Aurilly hooked a rug in lonely industry beside the living room fire, and grandma heroically post poned the hearing of Aurilly's budget of gossip, in the vain hope that Rudolpus was "courting" Aurilly and her "proputty." He hurried off at noon, with but a hasty explanation to grandma, to take the train at the nearest station. "He's goin' 'long of that striped girl," said grandma, sitting up in bed for the first time in months, with the sparks gleaming in her little sunken eyes. "If you'd had a mite of spunk you'd have hindered him, Aurilly Cleaves." "I ain't drove so hard for a beau that I've got to hold on to no man," said Au rilly, with dignity. But she furtively raised her apron to her eyes; and, after a moment, she added: "I don't know but what Proverdunce is Joey Atwood says that a freight train got stove np on the track, and the afternoon train up can't leave Provincetown till four o'clock." Grandma Baker silently picked at the bedclothes with her little bird-claw hands. Some people said tbat that habit of grand ma's was a sign that she was going to die; but she picked chiefly when her mind was verv active. "I expect Rudolphus give you a sight of charges about the lamp, didn't he Aurilly?" was the first thing she said. "Rudolphus is one that feels responsibility. I don't know what he would do if anything should happen to the light." "1 ain't one to let anything happen to the light," said Aurillv." "I know you ain't, Aurilly. I didn't mean nothin' like that," said grandma. "It'll be nigh about dark before ho takes ♦he train over to the Walwich depot, won't it—nigh about dark?" "It'll be along into the evening; but they wro'i cure nnthiu'* akoot it, tbem two," said Aurillv, bitterlv. "Along into the evening," repeated grandma, meditatively; and she offered no consolation to Aurilly, although she was wont to feel tbat one could not be too con siderate to the owner of a cranberry mead ow and five hundred dollars in the bank. She sat up in bed, with the spark in ber eyes gr< wing brighter and brighter, and picked away at the bedclothes in a way that almost "gave Aurilly a turn," as she afterwards confided to a friend. And then suddenly sbo wanted flapjacks for supper. "There hadn't been no taste to her victuals," but if Aurilly would make some flapjacks she thought she could cat them. And when Aurilly, having lighted the lamp as carefully as if she had no thought of the pair who would see its rays from the Walwich station, prepared to get sup per, grandma earnestly enjoined her to keep the kitchen door closed, lest "smel ling 'em beforehand should set her agin 'em." While Aurilly made flapjacks wiih the kitchen door closed, grandma got out of bed and stood upon her feet. "It's jest as that healin' woman said: if you can only believe that you hain't got no body nor feelin's, why, you hain't. It bad ought to be easier for me than for folks that's got more of a body." And grandma laughed grimly at her joke as she hitched along, shaking—shaking like a leaf in the wind, catching for support at chairs and table, her little withered face beaded as with drops of rain. When it came to the light-house stairs it was worse. "I've got to believe I'm a sperit, nothiu' but jest a sperit, or I never shall do it," groaned the suffering old woman. "And I've been such a dretful long time about it that Aurilly'll get the flapjacks done, and be comin' to see where 1 be; and like as not'twon't be no use, after all. Mcbbe he'll be too kerried away to notice whether there's a light or not; but that wouldn't bo Kudolphus." Aurilly was too deep in thought to be iu a hurry; moreover, it was her way to have the flapjacks doue to just the proper brown ness, and carefully sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. As she turned the last one she heard a queer little bumping noise from the direction of the tower. "1 should think some young one was sliding down them stairs bumpity bump," she said to herself, and thought no more about the noise, perhaps because her thoughts had a strong tendency to revert to Kudolphus. "Why, Mis' Baker, you're all pale and tremblin', and dretful bet up, too," she ex claimed, when she carried to grandma's bedside the flapjacks and the cup of strong tea which she loved. "I had kind of—kind of a sinking spell," gasped Grandma Baker; "but I lit it off. You jest sit right here by me, Aurilly. You won't want to go out doors; it's dret I'ul raw. I ain't a-goin' to die yet, Aurilly, you needn't think I be." But, in spite of this assurance. Aurilly was alarmed by Grandma Baker's altered appearance and her strange agitation, and obeyed her injunction to sit beside her as constantly as possibly. Towards eight o'clock Kudolphus came rushing in. It was raining, and he was drenched. Ho had come on foot over sand hills and through swamps. the matter with the light V he gasped. "I lit it just as you told me. There ain't nothin' the matter that I know of," Paid Aurilly. He flung open the d"or and showed the tower as dark as the grare. "I'm sure I don't k' iw how it came to o out/' faltered auri y. "1 lit it just as ou told me." She followed him, wonder ing, up the dark stairs. The great flame leaped up under Kudol phus's angry tiugers. Aurilly was fright ened. his face was so white. "It was lighted. I saw it I waited at the station for over two hours. I saw it go out. I waited as long as I dared to see it lighted again. It couldn't have gone out of itself: somebody put it out. I ought to have known better than to have trusted—" Aurilly went down stairs in indignant silence. Little old Grandma Raker, in her bed. chuckled almost audibly. She beck oned Rudolphus to her as soon as she had an opportunity for privacy. " 'Twould tech most men's feelin's to have a girl do such a rcsky thing as that to get him back to ber," she said. « "A girl ought to be ashamed of herself that would disgrace a man like that!" said Ivudolphus hotly. "As for what she did it for—well, a man wants to do bis own courtin'." Some confidences had been exebauged between him and Mary Hobart in that long waiting at the TValwieh station, with the result that Mary bad said that he ought to go back to Aurilly. He had declined to do this until the light went out in the tower. Then he had allowed Mary to take his model to her uncle, the patent solicitor. There would be no need for him to go for some time. tirandma was secretly exultant when she heard this, but Rudolphus chafed under the chains of duty and was cross. Aurilly had an air - her eyes, and even sanguine Grandma iia ker could not say that there was any "courtin'." Rudolphus took his own parlor organ to pieces and put it together egaiu, which was not a good sign, and he went over to Walwich and repaired the Baptist church clock for nothing as usual. And Grandma Baker wept when the minister came to see her, because her "posterity hadn't the fear of the Lord before their eyes." When at length he heard from bis inven tion Rudolphus had not the strength of mind to keep the news from grandma. He felt reckless, and even grandma's reminis cences of Joel Freets, who "went crazy a-tryin' to get np a new way of tryin' out cod-liver oil, and died on the town," failed to increase his misery. The invention was not new; another man hid patented it be fore him ; and electricity was so rapidly superseding oil for lighting that i 3 was likely to prove of little value in any case. "I guess I'd better stick to tinkerin' clocks," said Rudolphus, bitterly. "II" go round with a big one on my back for a sign, like Jud Atkins." "Jud was a stiddy, likely fellow, and made a good livin'," said Aurilly, severely. "The works of the Lord is better than the works of man," said grandma, piously. "Cramb'ries will always fetch their price. This hint like many another of grandma's, produced no apparent effect, but she was sure a young man with no more flattering prospects iu life than Rudolphus would not long be blind to the desirability of securing a wife with "proputty." She feltheresell to be an ally of Providence, and was ready to climb the light house stairs again if there was any occasion, although she had suffer ed frightful pains in consequence of tbat expedition. IJut, alas for grandma's faith in Providence ! Only a few weeks after the overthrow of Rudolphus's hopes, and after he had worked to secure Aarilly's cranberries from a frost v> ith a zeal which, to grandma's mind, promised much, the brig For tuna tux dropped her anchor in the harbor with Smith Kingsbury ou board. Smith had been reported to have been drowned in the wreck of a vessel six years before, but instead of being food for fishes, he had come home Irom Australia with five thousand dollars in solid cash, aud it was roported that he meant to buy out the harbor store aud build himself a fine house on the mam street. Before he went away, Smith had "kept company" with Aurilly Cleaves; people began to say now that if she were not going to luarry Rudolphus Baker, perhaps she might do better. Aurilly combed her hair into twice the ordinary number of ringlets, and rubbed ber cheeks with a piece of flannel, and went to a harvest party with Smith, and then he immediatly bought a handsome top buggy aud a high stepping horse, aud took her to drive. Aurilly privately packed her trunk not long after these events, and one fine morn ing she took her leave of Kudolphus. "I kind of thought 'twas prudent not to let on to grandma that I was goin', bein' she's so easy upset," she said. "And she has kind of got an idee into her head that you and me was keepin' company. I am sure I don't know how sftie came to, for I never was one to be willin' to resk my bread and butter to them patent fiiin's, and a girl that bas got some property of her own has got a right to look for something kind of solid and substantial in a husband, if I do say it. I've got Lucindy Mitchell to come over and take my place. I thought this would he as good a day as any for me to go, for you know at the anniversary town meetin' they voted to hire a carriage to send Aunt Keziah Plummer —she's my great aunt —to see grandma, because they're about of an age, and the oldest folks in town, and they hain't seen each other for as much as twenty years. I thought like enough you hadn't heard of it, not bein' the kind that goes to town meetin'." There was a tinge of contempt in Aurilly's voice. "Mr. Kingsbury he told me, and I thought 'twould lie best to surprise grandma, kind of take her mind off of—off of things not turnin' out jest as she wanted 'em to. There ain't no reason why you and me shouldr't part friends"—Aurilly extended her band graciously—"and I do hope you'll get a good wife, with a faculty to keep things goin', for that's what you need." Kudolphus winced sensitively at this thrust. IJe thought to himself that it was deserved, and it caused him to straighten his shoulders as he went to break the news of Aurilly's departuie and of the prospec tive visitor to his grandmother. "Lucindy Mitchell! What business has she a-sending her here? If I want Lucin dy Mitchell, I ean send for her. I hired her once,and she wasted good victuals and scum off the cream to take off her freckles, and was always a starching her own petti coats," Grandma sat up in bed, and her little witchlike face quivered with anger "If you'd a-courted Aurilly up spry, like a man, I should 'a' had somebody to depend upon. Here I be, bedrid on a foundering bark, as y«u might say, and nobody to come nigh me. Keziah Plummer a comin' to see met I don't want to see Keziah Plummer. What if I hain't seen her for twenty years? I don't care if it's forty. There's a sight of folks in this world that I hain't seen at all. And 1 ain't so put to it to invite company that the town has got to do it for me! She ain't so old as 1 be, not nigh. She was never one that you could depend on what she said she used to dress-make, and lived round, here and there, a-tattling her board. It's jest like her to pretend she's dretful old to make f'iiik» notice her. She used to pretend she was dying sick. She said she got the lung fever from wearin' borrowed night t ips that warn't aired, and the minister's wife—she wu.s kind of a peaked little thing -she cried all one meeting-time becau-.- « a.-> her nightcap* that Keziali meant. They took it to church-iueetiu', and it like to broke up the church. 1 don't ask the town to pick company for me, and Kcziah I'luuinier wouldn't never be my choice. She's an old maid of all the earth. I don't believe she ever had a chance, without 'twas 'Lias Ramsdell, that was under wit ted. If they go to blowin' horns for yon to go off in the boat to fetch Keziah Plummer over to see me, don't you take a mite of notice." Hut there were no horns blown. The town, determined to do things handsome ly. had provided a boat, and Deacon Cyrus Doane, the blandest of the select men, ac companied the visitor. "This is a very interestin' occasion, Mis' Baker," said Deacon Doane. rubbing his hands in innocent satisfaction at being the representatve of the town's liberality. "I don't see nothin' so drettul interestin' about it," said grandma. She had declined te follow Rudolphus's suggestion that she should have her best cap put on, and her little withered face frowned at her visitors under a black silk skull cap, whose severity could not be said to be becoming. Miss Pluuimer was a little woman also, and her back was bent like a bow. but her head was so disproportionately large that she looked like a gnome in a picture-book, and her voice was so harsh and gruff that it seemed remarkable that it could come from so small a body. Her manner was timid and deprecating, and she wiped her eyes as she advanced to grandma's bedside. "Land sake! what be you a-cryin' for, iveziath I*l uin inert" demanded- grandma. "I—l hain't seen you for more'p twenty years, and the last time was to little Phrebe Jane's funeral," said Miss Plum uier. her harsh voice breaking. "I've been to a sight of funerals," said grandma, grimly, but the muscles of her old face quivered. "I've got plenty of troubles that ain't dead and gone ones. Where's that good-for-nothin' niece of yours,Aurilly Cleaves, traipsed off to with out givin' me a mite of warnin'T" "Girls will get married," said Miss Pluui mer, apologetically; "and 6he's got a real good chance." "Get marriedt Who's she a-goin' to get married tot" cried Grandma Baker. "Hain't you heard that her old beau, Smith Kingsbury, has got home —him that she wore a mournin' bonnet fort" "A mournin' bonnetf What do I care about her mournin' bonnetst" cried grand ma. shrilly. "She was keepin' company with mv grandson." "I expect she hadn't ought to," said Mi.- 8 Plummer, mildly; "but seein' she'd wore a mournin' bonnet for him—" "She's terrible set up with the little mite of proputty she's got. 'Tain't as if Hudolphus couldn't look higher. There's one of the first ladies in New Bedford a tryin' her best to get him." (The outer door was heard to close as Rudolphus went out.) "I hain't a mite of doubt of it," said Miss Plummer, pacifically. "I always heard Hudolphus was real smart, and I thought Aurilly would be doing real well to have him, but seems as if after she'd wore a mourning bonnet the other one —" "You never heard that Rudolphus was real smart; 'tain't no such a thing!" said Grandma Baker, sharply. "He's kep' his head above water because Ive kep' a-yan kin' him, that's all the reason. He ain't much, but he' good enough for Aurilly Cleaves." "I always said Aurilly couldn't do bet ber'n to have him," repeated Miss Plum mer, meekly. "You're dretful polite," said Grandma Baker, sarcastically. "Wher. you're as old as I be, you'll find out that talk don't go a great ways. You ain't a day more'n oighty-five if you be that." Grandma Ijaker make this last remark with such an air of direct attack that the placid old blood arose to Miss Plummets withered cheeks. "I Khali be ninety come my next birth day. I'm six weeks older'n what you be, and I always was."' Mi.sn Plummer arose from her chair, and her little bent back seemed to straighten, and the volume of her voice was wonderful. "You're a terrible old woman, Grandmarm Baker, and yon always was! You've sot on all your folks till you've sot the sperit clear" n out of 'em. Where'f your first husband, young 'Lias Appleby, that yon drove off to Californy, aud he got killed in the mines before he was twentyfiveT Where's your boy lliram, that run away to sea and got drowndedf Where's Mary Ellen, that you made her marry a man she hated and died broken-heartedT Where's your grand daughter Lyddy, that had to wear clothes jest like an old woman, and never went nowhere with the rest of the girls till she run away with a scanipT Where's Mary Olive, that you made ber keep school, wulkin' ten miles a day, whea she wa'n't hardly fit to lift her hand, and died in consumption? Where's Rudolphus's father, that you harried into his grave, because he wa'n't so smart as some? You've had all them folks, aud here yon be without no body but Rudolpbus, and folks do .say you've got every mite of spunk and sprawl out of him. You've had all of 'em under your thumb, but they'll rise up agin you at thejedgment day. They'll come a troopin' up before the Lord, them that you've ground down and harried out of their lives, and where'll you be thenf Grandma Baker actually shrank back, cowed and trembling, while Miss Plum mer's withered forefinger was shaken in her very face. "Ladies! ladies!" exclaimed poor Deacon Doane, in groat distress. "It seems a pity that after the town's bein' so liberal, this occasion shouldn't be more—propit-i-ous. Ucbbe we'd better be a-goin', Miss Plum- Tr.»r. Seems as if it had ought to tend to edification when mothers in Isr'el meet, but —" The good deacon completed his sentence by a mournful shaking of the head. Miss Plummer's dramatic vigor bad given way as suddenly as it arose. She was weeping helplessly, and ad she followed Deacon I)oane she looked a more bent and shrunken little figure than ever. Grandma Baker still Rat up in bed, star ing at the door by which her victors had gone out. Vheu Rudolphus came in, be thought her half delirious. •'I never done what she said, did I, Ru dolphus?" she said, her old fare working pitifully. "She's a lyin' old woman, ain't >be? I couldn't have kep' folks under my thumb; it's such a little mite of a one.'' She held up her small, withered thumb in proof of her innocence. "I done the far-best always. 1 was smarter'n the rest of my folks, and if they would have been said by me, things would have been different. But they was dretlul headstrong, every one of'em; that was why things went wrong. It was. wasn't it, RudolphusT" Grandma looked up at her grandson with a wistful look which changed her whole face. "Jest think of her namin' 'em over to rae, all them that's gone. I say 'em over to my self often enough a-layin' hero alone, bnt 'twas different to have her. What a cnr'us world it is, when folkß can see no wrong, and blame folks that always done their best. I got so nervous when she was >i talkin' that way to rae that my little mite hi u thumb looked jest like a great meetiu'- house steeple thut bad fell atop of folks and crushed 'em right down, as she said. Twa n't so, not a mitfe M, wa» it, Radol- NO 51- phust If they'd have been said b/ me, things would have gone right. Why don't you say that you think they would, Rudol phust" "I think it's a queer, mixed up kind of a world, and maybe there are more thai mean to do right than folks think," said Rudolphus somewhat lamely. "I meant to, always," said grandma. "And she hadn't no business to come here and heave it in my face that things went wrong with my folks. They was head strong. every one of em. Seemed as if I couldn't have things go wrong with yon, Hudolphus—you that's the last one of all. That's why I put out the light. Yes, 'twa'n't Aurilly; 'twas me, for all you don't believe it. 1 climb up them stairs, and Islid down bumpity-bump. I don't kuow how I ever done it. and I hain't never felt jest the same since. Out I never was one to value what I dolie for nff folks; I knew 'twonld fetch you back, and I thought mebbe it would kind of tech you like to think Auril ly thought enough of yon to do such a thing. But nothin won't seein to go right forme. It only seemed to turn yon agin her." "It didn't make any difference, grand ma," said Kudolphns, consolingly. "You was set agin her anyway; seemed as if 'twas jest because she had proputty— cranb'ries, too, that'll always fetch their price. But there! all my folk* "ran heaunj>., summer complaints, colic, (also in horses), Uiurrha-a, dysentery and flux. If satisfaction not given money returned.