Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-04-17
.istellaneolls 1Rea0inp
Inconvenience Of Pride.
BY THOMAS HOOD.

either case, should your horse think proper tC
die on the road you have no survivor to drag
your carriage through the rest Of the stage; ol
to be sent of galloP;ng with the coacbman OF
mis- back for a cOadjutOr.
This was precisely Miss NOrman's dilemma
If horse could be supposed to harbOr Sc
deadly spite against his proprietor, should
verify believe that the one 10 question chose tC
vent his animOsity by breathing his last, JUS
at the spot where itwould cause most annOya anct
and Inconvenience,
1t was just at this moment that came uE
with my gig, and knowing something of the
iady's character, halted. in expectation Of q
scene. Leaving my own bay, proceeded tc
assist Humphrey, the coachman, 10 extracting
his horse, but the nag Of ofroyal line was stone
dead. ... -.......
r''If you please man," said Humphrey,
''Planly -ginit be stone dead"
The lady acquiesced with the smallest nod
ever made.
"I'ye took off the collar, and the bit out,
and got TN out Of harness entirely; but he be
so as unanimate as lis oFn Shoes" and the
informant looked earnestly at the lady to OBJ
serve the effect of the communication. But
she never moved muscle and Honest Hum
phrey was Just shutting the coach door to go
and finish the laying out Of the corpse when
he was recalled.
Humphrey p . a... AL.
Whats your pleasure 'mA'am ?"
Remember another time"
Eyes ma'am."
when horse Of mine is deceased"
eyes, ma'am." ..a..
"Touch your hat" ..
The abashed coachman instantly paid up the
salute in srrear Unblessyd by birthright
with self possession, he had not even the ad-
vantage of experience in the first families,
where he might have learned little from good
example; he was raw. uncopth country SER
want, with the great merit of being cheap whom
Miss Norman had undertaken TO educate: but
he was still far from being proficient. so that
in the importance of announcing the death to
his mistress, he had omitted one of the minor
tokens Of respect which she always vigorously
exacted.
Il was my own turn 10 come forward and as
deferentially as she had been indeed the last
o. the ConquerOr's Normandy pippins, l ten
dered seat in my chaise, which she tacity de-
c,ined, with gracious gesture of head and
land.
''Ifyou please, ma'am," said Humphrey,
taking care to touch his hat, and shutting his
head into the carriage so that might not over
hear him, "he's a respectable kind ola gentle
man enough, and connected with some of the
first houses"
"The gentleman's nameH' ..'I
"To be sure ma'am the gentleman can't
help his name" answered Humphrey, fully a.
ware Of the peculiar prejadices Of his mistress;
"but il be Higgins"
"Shut the door,"
It appeared, on explanation with The coach
man, that he had mistaken me for person in
the employ of the opuIent firm Of Nayor and
Company, whose province it was to travel
throughout Britain with samples of hardware
in the box seat Of his gig, did not take the
trouble 10 undeceve him,
After terrible long pause on all sides, my
expectation was excited by the appearance of
the W coach coming through the Binn
Gate, the only public vehicle that!.used the road.
AT sight Of the dead horse, the driver (the no.
ted Jem Wade) reigned up-.alighted--and
standing at the carriage door with his hat off,
as II he knew his customer, made an offer OF
his service. But Miss Norman, more digni-
fed than ever waived him off with her hand.
Jem became more pressing and the lady more
rigid. "She never rode" she cOndescended
to say, "in PUBLIC vehicles" Jem entreated
again; but ''she was accustomed 10 be driven
It was in vain that, in answer, he praised the
quietness Of bis team, the safety of his patent
boxes, besides promising the utmost steadiness
and sobriety on his own part. Miss Norman
still looked perseveringly at the back of the
coach box, which. on an nnlucky assurance
that he would take as much care of her as of
his own mother" she exchanged for a steady
gaze at the side window, opposite the coach
man, SO long as he remained In her presence.
"By your leave, ma'am," said Humphrey.
putting his hand to his batand keepingitthere.
"Nr. Wade be very civil spoken, careful
whip, and his coach loads very respectable So
ciety. There's Sir Vincent Ball on the box"
'If Sir Vincent chooses to degrade himself