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took a quarter from a very fat old pocket…book； and handed it to
her。 She gravely gave him two cents change； and then taking the
bill； receipted it； and handed it back to him。
We were sorry to part with our guest； for he was evidently a good
fellow。 I walked with him a little way up the road； and got him to
let me copy his bill in my memorandum…book。 The original； he said；
he would always keep。
A day or two after the artist's departure； we were standing on the
front piazza。 We had had a late breakfastconsequent upon a long
tramp the day beforeand had come out to see what sort of a day it
was likely to be。 We had hardly made up our minds on the subject
when the morning stage came up at full speed and stopped at our
gate。
〃Hello！〃 cried the driver。 He was not our driver。 He was a tall
man in high boots； and had a great reputation as a manager of
horsesso Danny Carson told me afterward。 There were two drivers
on the line； and each of them made one trip a day； going up one day
in the afternoon； and down the next day in the morning。
I went out to see what this driver wanted。
〃Can't you give my passengers breakfast？〃 he asked。
〃Why； no！〃 I exclaimed； looking at the stage loaded inside and out。
〃This isn't a tavern。 We couldn't get breakfast for a stage…load
of people。〃
〃What have you got a sign up fur； then？〃 roared the driver； getting
red in the face。
〃That's so；〃 cried two or three men from the top of the stage。 〃If
it aint a tavern； what's that sign doin' there？〃
I saw I must do something。 I stepped up close to the stage and
looked in and up。
〃Are there any sailors in this stage？〃 I said。 There was no
response。 〃Any soldiers？ Any farmers or mechanics？〃
At the latter question I trembled； but fortunately no one answered。
〃Then；〃 said I； 〃you have no right to ask to be accommodated； for；
as you may see from the sign； our house is only for soldiers；
sailors； farmers； and mechanics。〃
〃And besides；〃 cried Euphemia from the piazza； 〃we haven't anything
to give you for breakfast。〃
The people in and on the stage grumbled a good deal at this； and
looked as if they were both disappointed and hungry； while the
driver ripped out an oath； which； had he thrown it across a creek；
would soon have made a good…sized millpond。
He gathered up his reins and turned a sinister look on me。
〃I'll be even with you； yit；〃 he cried as he dashed off。
In the afternoon Mrs。 Carson came up and told us that the stage had
stopped there； and that she had managed to give the passengers some
coffee； bread and butter and ham and eggs； though they had had to
wait their turns for cups and plates。 It appeared that the driver
had quarreled with the Lowry people that morning because the
breakfast was behindhand and he was kept waiting。 So he told his
passengers that there was another tavern； a few miles down the
road； and that he would take them there to breakfast。
〃He's an awful ugly man； that he is；〃 said Mrs。 Carson； 〃an' he'd
better 'a' stayed at Lowry's； fur he had to wait a good sight
longer； after all； as it turned out。 But he's dreadful mad at you；
an' says he'll bring ye farmers； an' soldiers； and sailors； an'
mechanics； if that's what ye want。 I 'spect he'll do his best to
git a load of them particular people an' drop 'em at yer door。 I'd
take down that sign； ef I was you。 Not that me an' Danny minds；
fur we're glad to git a stage to feed； an' ef you've any single man
that wants lodgin' we've fixed up a room and kin keep him
overnight。〃
Notwithstanding this warning； Euphemia and I decided not to take in
our sign。 We were not to be frightened by a stage…driver。 The
next day our own driver passed us on the road as he was going down。
〃So ye're pertickler about the people ye take in； are ye？〃 said he；
smiling。 〃That's all right； but ye made Bill awful mad。〃
It was quite late on a Monday afternoon that Bill stopped at our
house again。 He did not call out this time。 He simply drew up；
and a man with a big black valise clambered down from the top of
the stage。 Then Bill shouted to me as I walked down to the gate；
looking rather angry I suppose：
〃I was agoin' to git ye a whole stage…load； to stay all night； but
that one'll do ye； I reckon。 Ha； ha！〃 And off he went； probably
fearing that I would throw his passenger up on the top of the stage
again。
The new…comer entered the gate。 He was a dark man； with black hair
and black whiskers and mustache； and black eyes。 He wore clothes
that had been black； but which were now toned down by a good deal
of dust； and； as I have said； he carried a black valise。
〃Why did you stop here？〃 said I； rather inhospitably。 〃Don't you
know that we do not accommodate〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 he said； walking up on the piazza and setting down
his valise； 〃that you only take soldiers； sailors； farmers； and
mechanics at this house。 I have been told all about it； and if I
had not thoroughly understood the matter I should not have thought
of such a thing as stopping here。 If you will sit down for a few
moments I will explain。〃 Saying this； he took a seat on a bench by
the door； but Euphemia and I continued to stand。
〃I am；〃 he continued； 〃a soldier； a sailor； a farmer； and a
mechanic。 Do not doubt my word； I will prove it to you in two
minutes。 When but seventeen years of age； circumstances compelled
me to take charge of a farm in New Hampshire； and I kept up that
farm until I was twenty…five。 During this time I built several
barns； wagon…houses； and edifices of the sort on my place； and；
becoming expert in this branch of mechanical art； I was much sought
after by the neighboring farmers； who employed me to do similar
work for them。 In time I found this new business so profitable
that I gave up farming altogether。 But certain unfortunate
speculations threw me on my back； and finally； having gone from bad
to worse； I found myself in Boston； where； in sheer desperation； I
went on board a coasting vessel as landsman。 I remained on this
vessel for nearly a year； but it did not suit me。 I was often
sick； and did not like the work。 I left the vessel at one of the
Southern ports； and it was not long after she sailed that； finding
myself utterly without means； I enlisted as a soldier。 I remained
in the army for some years； and was finally honorably discharged。
So you see that what I said was true。 I belong to each and all of
these businesses and professions。 And now that I have satisfied
you on this point； let me show you a book for which I have the
agency in this country。〃 He stooped down； opened his valise； and
took out a good…sized volume。 〃This book；〃 said he； 〃is the 'Flora
and Fauna of Carthage County；' it is written by one of the first
scientific men of the country； and gives you a description； with an
authentic wood…cut； of each of the plants and animals of the
countyindigenous or naturalized。 Owing to peculiar advantages
enjoyed by our firm； we are enabled to put this book at the very
low price of three dollars and seventy…five cents。 It is sold by
subscription only； and should be on the center…table in every
parlor in this county。 If you will gl