Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-05-26
Vol 2O.-----NHmber g7.
very particular friend. Mr.. TOmpkins Of Ken.

will afford me inexpressible pleasure 10 cbsl
your hat BY which means you will not opI
escape the payment Of fare, but all accident
so long as you travel on this road
Aston. .ish-ing ! said the Hooser. who clad
chalk.
The pretended President marked with ehal
IN large letters on the crown Of his hat Ere
I-paid-Reuben-TOmpkins-eyeryb body TAX
!; notice. The hat was returned to his head
and all the passengers in the car, who by thi
time understood the joke, burst into laugh, a
Mr. Tompkins eyeing himself in the glass. de
clared that he was some punkins.'
About this time the conductor, who had beel
Informed of the joke, and he had receive,
TomPkins' fare from third person, approach
cd Reuben and asked of him:
Your ticket, sir .....
Ticket Looky here, kurnel, guess vor
don't know who you're talking to !
NO. sir, and it's not my business-I wan
your ticket or your fair, and that too, without
ceremony
Now look sharp, kurnel, or there'll be fuss,
| amt so green as you might take me to be.
Don't you see nothin . go. ....
1 see neither ticker or money, and
Jist looky at my hat, what do you think Of
that eh?'
'Chalked, by heavens = exclaimed the con-
ductor. i beg your pardon, for if | had
known your hat was chalked, would not have
lnhmated anything about pay, you have the
freedom of the cars, sir. Please make your.
self at home .........- ....
Lord, won't have heap to tell on 'em,
when get home ! exclaimed he, overjoyed at
the change in the behavior of the conductor to-
wards him, when the chalk was observed.
'RaaIy, it's surprsin, and are umpunkins sure,
away down here What will the old gall say
when tell her all about it, .
1t is needless to say that Reuben's end of the
car was soon crowded with passengers, whose
merry faces and bosterous laughter indicated
the amusement Reuben's conduct afforded
them. He took it all in right down earnest and
laughed with the rest of them, and once SO
delighted was he with his chaked hat, that
he passed around pound of butter crackers,
which he had laid in at Urbana He consid-
cred Mr.. Brown genuine friend, and freely
communicated to him all his secrets, with the
history OF his family, from his grandfoks to
his 'one year DID, The passengers were kept
IN continual roar of laughter, by the conver-
'ation, and particularly, as Reuben fully appre-
'iated the Importance of chalked hat, and
acted accordingly.
When within ten miles Of Kenton, Mr.. Brown
Jumped up as if astonished, gave sudden
glance out of the window and then clappinr
lis hands said
1t amt possible-yes it is--t is too bad,
you have been deceived, Reuben
Thunder the boss amt runnin off, is it? /,
houted Tompkns.
No sir, it is far worse. The conductor fail l.
ID to notify you when we were at Kenton. We
IRE now twenty miles beyond it,
Sugar and salvation Tell him to turn back.
No! Stop the team what will Josh say to
his {? I,
This is bad business, Mr.. Tompkins, But 1
will see the conductor, and try to get him to
urn around; if he can't you must go to the
Worlds Fair .'.
Mr. Brown then stepped into another car,
While Reuben raved, stamped, and swore to the
o little amusement of bis fellow passengers.
Iatters passed on thus until the train stopped
t Kenton.
In moment Reuben spied the conductor
alking near the cars, and instantly ran out af-
n him, followed by the passengers. The con- I
uctor endeavored to evade Tompkins, but !,
ould not do it. Reuben chased him around !
lie cars until he overlook him, and then in the I
ercest manner demanded that the team should 5
e turned around. The good people of Ken
IN, attracted by the confusion, could not i'm |,
CINE what was the matter, and gathered !,
round the cars in great numbers. Some laugh !
without knowing what they were laughing
t--others gaped without stirring muscle, and Il
Iany pressed inquiries as to what was the mat v
r. Brown came to the rescue of the conduct Il
r, and taking Tompkins aside, privately ad-
sed him to run up to magistrates office, and =,
ct an injunction against the railroad. 4
He pointed out a house short distance up e
lie street. which he said was the magistrates '
fice. He started for the house on full run =
ut he had not proceeded but short distance l'
sfore the iron horse gave a significant whis- II
e. He knew it was the signal for starting, .
i'd fearing that the train would be off before o
3 could get back, he changed his course and 81 >
,ed for the cars. He reached the platform of !, !
e last car Just as the train commenced NOV u
9, and cutcaiug it with firm grasp endeav- g
ed to stop it, Finding his puny strength n \
,ailed nothing, he yelled while he still held 3
/: E a its' (
Stop her tell the driver got junction : :
op or I'll tell the squire ! s y
The iron horse had no ears, and the cams :: =
Reuben had no other effect than to create !.
ling laughter among those who heard him. " "
he speed of the locomotive gradually increas- u u
!, and at last Reuben's legs gave out, and he y y
ID the train were forced to part company. Z
c let go and as he did so, turned half .
mmerset which sent the chalked hat whiz- !"
ng into mud-puddle, AS soon as he re a u
lined his feet he shook his fist terribly at the Y
RS, in which act he was engaged when the ., a
ain turned curve and the passengers lost u
yht of him.
What he thought when he returned to Ken :,
n, and found that the place Of his destination, y
know not, but I am quite confident he can =
ever again be persuaded to travel With a !,
halked hat y