East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-01-06
What Came of ON Omnibus Ride
and one Pull to the Right.


What Came of ON Omnibus Ride
and one Pull to the Right.
Some time ago, (no matter when,
little folks shouldn't be curious,) ]
was riding in an omnibus with half q
dozen well dressed ladies, and white
kidded gentlemen.
At q signal from somebody on the
sidewalk, the driver reined up his
horses, very old man, with trcmu-
lous limbs and silvcry locks, presented
himself at the door for admission
The driver shouted through the sky
light, Groom for one more, there, in
side; )" but the gentlemen looked at
the old man and frowned, and the la
dies spread out their rufiled skirts,
for his hat was shabby, and his coat
very threadbare. He saw how it was,
and why there was "no room," and
meekly turned about to go 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
qmte welcome to it, 1 am young and
hearty: it won't weary me to walk, !"
and kindly leading the old man To
the vacant seat, he leaped from the
steps and walked briskly down the
street, when / looked admiringly af-
ter him, saying to myself, "That
young man had good mother"
We drove on, and tho more / look
ed on the old mans silver hairs, and
fine, honest face, the more indignant
felt, at the way he had been treated.
Whether he read my thoughts in my
countenance, or not, l can't say but,
after most of the passengers had got
out, he moved up to me and said,
Good boy-good boy, want he I?
My dear land here his voice sank to o
confidential whisper) have got mon
ey enough to buy out all the upstart
people that filled this omnibus twenty
times over, but like this old coat and
hat. They are as good as q crucible.
Help me find out the true metal
Good morning my dear. Thank you
for your pity, just as much as if l
needed it."--and the old man pulled
the strap, got out of the omnibus and
hobbled off down the street.
Some time after, l advertised for
lodgings, and was answered by Wild
ow lady. i liked the airo tho house, it
was so neat and quiet; and tho flower
ing plants in the widow were let
ter of recommendation to me. Your
cold hearted, icicle people never care
for flowers (you may write that in
the fly leaf of your primer.) But
what particularly pleased me ut Mrs.
Harris's was the devotion Of her son
to his mother. l expected no less, be-
cause, the minute opened the door
l saw that he was the same young
man who gave up his seat in the om-
nibus to the old gentleman.
John did all tho marketing and
providing as well as if he was seventy
instead of seventeen. lie wheeled
his mothers arm chair to the pleas
antest corner; handed her the foot
stool and newspaper, and specticles
offered her his arm up stairs and
down, and spent his evenings by her
side, instead of joining other young
men in racing over the city to find
ways to kill time.
1t was beautiful sight in those
days, when beardless boys came
stamping into their mothers presence,
with thoir hats on, and call her the
cold woman"
l spent a pleasant autumn under
Mrs. Harris's quiet roof And now,
winter had set in, with its nice long
evenings. John came to tea one night
with his face overclouded. His moth
er was at his side in an Instant
Johns master had failed, and John
was thrown out of employment.
Then l learned that it was only by
the strictest economy, and boarding
every cent of Johns small salary, that
the house rent was paid, and the table
provided.
And now, so the widow said, the
house must be given up, for John
might be long while getting anoth-
er place, clerkships were SO difficult to
obtain; and they must not think of
running in debt.
1t was such pity. We wore all so
comfortable and happy there, in that
cosy little parlor, with its sunny bow
window full Of flowers, and It's bright
Lehigh Ere, and COSY cushioned chairs;
that cosy parlor, where the littleround
table, with its snowy cloth, had been
so often spread; and the fragrant cof-
fee, and delicate tea biscuits, and racy
newspapers, had boon so often discuss
cd whore John, in his slippers and
dressing gown, with his dark hair
pushed off his broad forhead, read us
pago after page of some favorite au-
thor, while the wind was welcome to
whistle itself dumb outside the thrcsh-
hold, and old winter to pilo up the
snow at the door till he got tired Of it.
II was hard
John walked up and down the
floor, with his hands crossed behind,
and Mrs. Harris went round tho room
hunting after her specifics, when
they werc comfortably reposing OH
tho bridge of her Roman nose.
A1knock at the door!
A note for John
" Enclosed find $500, to pay Mr..
John Harris's house ront for the com-
ing year.
A FRrEsb."
John rubbed his eyes, and looked
at his mother. bia tnofhor loolo1 "a