Eleanor H. Porter

“ Professor Marvin is now unanimously conceded to be the greatest entomologist living. He knows his Hex-a-poda and Myri-a-poda as the most of us know our alphabet. ... The humble home of the learned man has become a Mecca, toward which both great and small of the scientific world are bending eager steps. ... The career of Marvin reads like a romance, and he has fought his way to his present enviable position by sheer grit, and ability, having had to combat with all the narrow criticism and misconceptions usual in the case of a progressive thinker in a small town. ”

“ Fletcher folded the paper and brought his fist down hard upon it.
"There's more—a heap more," he cried excitedly.
"But how—what—" stammered Jared, whose wits were slow on untrodden paths.
"It's old Marvin's son—don't you see?" interrupted Squire Fletcher impatiently. "He's big!—famous!"
"'Famous!' What for?"
"Zounds, man!—did n't you hear?" snarled the Squire. "He's a famous entomologist. It's his bugs and spiders."
"Gosh!" ejaculated Jared, his hand seeking the bald spot on the back of his head. "Who'd ever have thought it? Gorry! Let's have a look at it." ”

“ Why, it's about Professor George Marvin, to be sure," rejoined Squire Fletcher. "Pray, what else should it be about?"
"I guess you know what it's about all right, stranger," chuckled Seth Wilber, with a shrewd wink. "You can't fool us. Mebbe you're one o' them fellers what thinks we don't know enough ter 'preciate a big man when we've got him. No, sir-ree! We ain't that kind. Come, ye need n't play off no longer. We know why you're here, an' we're glad ter see ye, an' we're proud ter show ye the way ter our Professor's. ”