Eastborough Centre."

"I hope you're enjoyin' your stay at Mason's Corner," said Mr. Benoni
Hall, "though I don't s'pose you city folks find much to please yer in a
country town, 'specially in the winter."

"So far I have found two things that have pleased me very much," replied
Quincy.

"The milk and eggs, I suppose," remarked Tilly.

"No," said Quincy, "I refer to Miss Lindy Putnam's fine singing and the
beautiful playing of a young lady who is called Miss James."

"I have heard," said Tilly, "that you city gentlemen are great
flatterers. That is not the reason why I am obliged to leave you so
suddenly, but the fact is the tea caddy ran low this morning and
grandma's nerves will remain unstrung until she gets a cup of strong
tea."

With a graceful bow and a parting wave of the hand to the three
gentlemen, the bright and popular young lady left the store.

"Mr. Hill," said Quincy, addressing the elder gentleman, "I've smoked
all the cigars that I brought from Boston, but Deacon Mason told me
perhaps you had some that would suit me. I like a good-sized, strong
cigar and one that burns freely."

"Well," said Mr. Hill, "Professor Strout is the most partikler customer
I have in cigars; he says he always smokes a pipe in the house, 'cause