The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-01-27
WHAT CAME OF AN OMNIRuS RIDE,
AND GONE PULL TO THE RlGur.~

AND GONE PULL TO THE RlGuT.~
BY FANNY FERN.
Some time ago, (no matter when little
folks shouldn't be curious y was riding in
an omnibus with some half dozen we'll Dress
ed ladies, and white k,ded gentlemen.
AT signal from somebody on the sidewalk,
the driver reined up his horses, and very
old man with tremulous limbs and sive-v
locks. presented himself at the door for ad-
mission. The driver shouted through the
sky-liyht, Room Tor one more, there inside :
but the gentlemen looked at the cd man an,
trowned, and the ladies spread out their ruff
fled skirts. for his hat was shabby, and his
coat was thrcadbare. lie saw how it was,
why there was no room" and mrekly turned
to 90 down the steps, when fine looking
young man, who sat next to me, sprang to the
door, and seizing him by the arm, said, Take
my place, sir; YOU are quite welcome to it.
l am yonng and hearty it wont weary me to
wall" and kindly leading the old man to
the vacant seat, he leaped from the steps and
walked briSkIy down the street. while look
ed a'im'ringly after him, saying TO myself,
THAT young man has had good MOTHER
! We drove on. and the more | looked at
the old mans silver hairs, and fine honest
fare, the more indignant felt at the way he
had been treated. Whether he read my
thoughts in my countenance or not, ! cant
say but, after most of the passengers
had got out, he moved up to me and
said Good good-wasn't he =? My
dear (and here his voice sank to confidential
wh'sper) have got money enough to buy out
all the uIstart people that filled this omnibus.
twenty times over: but like this old coat
and hat. They are as good as crucibc.-
Help me to find out the true metal. Good
morning my dear. Thank YOU for your pity
Just as much as il, needed it"-and the old
man pulled the strap, got out of the omnibus
and hobbl-d off down street.
Some time after, advertised for lodging and
was answered by widow lady. liked the
air of her house, it was neat and quiet; and
then. the towering plants were recommend
alton to me. Your cold-heartcd, icicle peo-
pie never care for flowers: and YOU NAV write
that on the hyieavcs of your primmcr)-
But what particularly pleased me at Mrs
Harris. was the devotion of her son to his
mother. | expected no less. because Tic min
same young man who gave up his seat in the
omnibus to the old gentleman.
John did all the marketing and providing.
as wisely and AS we'll as if he was seventy
instead of seventeen. lie wheeled his mo-
Tiers arm chair to the plcasantcst corner :;
handed her the foot hold and newspaper, and
specfacles offered her his arm up stairs and
down. and spent his evenings bv her side in
stead of joining other Young men in racing
over the city, to find WAYS to kill time.
| 1t was beautiful sight in these ,lavs when
beard'ess boys come stamping and whis,l;nr
into their mothers presence. with th,ir hats
on and call her the old woman.
! spent pleasant antumn under Mrs liar
ris quiet roof And now winter had set in,
with its nice long evenings John came in
to tea one night, with his bright face over
cloudcd. His mother was at lis side in an
instant. Johns master had failed and John
was thrown out of employment
; Then learned that it was only by the
strirtest economy and boarding of every cent
of Johns small salary. that the house rent
was paid and the table provided.
! And now so the widow said the bonse must
be given up. for John might be- long while
getting another place clerkships were so diff
ticut to obtain; and they must not think of
running in debt
1t was such pity. We were all so COM
Portable and happy there, in that cozy little
parlOr, with the sunny bow windows fully of
flowers, and its bri oht Lchigh fire. and softly
cushioned chairs; that coy parIor, where the
/ little round table with its snowy clo'h, had
been so often spread +; and the fragrant cof-
fee, and deliratc tea-hi>cut, and rary news
papers has 'vru often dis, uaa,sl where
John. in his slippers and dressing gown with
his dark hair pushed OIL his broad forehead.
read to us page after page Of some favorite
author, while the wind was welcome to whist
lie itself dumt outside the threshold and old
winter to pile up the snow at the door till b.
got tired of it, 1t was hard.
John walked up and down the floor with
his hands crossed behind, and Mrs. Harris
went round the room. bunting after her spec-
tacles. when they were comfortably reposinc
on the bridge of her fine Roman nose.
knock at the door;
A note for John.
Enclosed. find $500 to paw Mr.. John Harris
mouse rent Tor the coming vear. A FRIEND"
John rubbed his eyes and looked at his
mother; his mother look ed at me. and look
ed at both Of them and then we laughed
and cried, until we had regular Mysteries.
But who was the Friend 2" that was the
question We were all born Yankees, and
did our best at guessing but it did not help
Us. Well, at any rate it was very nice, all
round. had not to be routed. No. nor John
nor his dear old mother And pussy purr-
Ell round as if she had as much reason to bc
glad as any OF us; and the canary trlled so